提要
本章對利未人的組織及他們明確的職責有更詳細的說明。摩西二度數點利未人，核算各家中有資格、有能力在會幕任職、服事的人數。他們主要的責任是保護會幕，一路上搬運、組合、拆卸它；所有的工作都要十分小心，並心存敬畏。上帝對這些敬拜所需用品、器材及象徵如此看重，顯示出它們的神聖；人不可對它們掉以輕心或以凡物視之，而要小心的保護並尊敬。
屬摩西和亞倫家的哥轄族負責搬運會幕內至聖之物的重要事工。在他們搬運聖物之前，亞倫和他兒子要先照著上帝的指示將會幕內的陳設蓋好，並將不同的器物包好。祭司也要把槓子穿上，讓哥轄的子孫可以直接把聖物扛在肩上。他們扛抬聖物時不可觸摸、甚至偷看聖物，否則必死無疑。上帝吩咐祭司要警告哥轄人他們所承擔之責任的危險性，因為他們作祭司的助手，與聖物有密切的接觸，違背律令的可能性也最大（4︰15、18；參撒下6︰6~7）。亞倫的兒子以利亞撒是未來的大祭司，他個人負責搬運油和香料，同時要監督所有哥轄人的搬運工作，防止他們觸犯律法或粗心大意而招致上帝的怒氣。
哥轄的子孫在恐懼中執行他們的任務，但藉著耶穌基督，我們今天有了奇妙的改變。那些在上帝面前服事的人不必害怕過於親近祂的聖潔，因為我們有親近主的特權︰「論到從起初原有的生命之道，就是我們所聽見、所看見，親眼看過，親手摸過的」（約壹1︰1）。耶穌基督已經向我們顯明祂自己，祂的血「也洗淨我們一切的罪」（約壹1︰7）。明白了這個真理，我們便有「充足的喜樂」（約壹1︰4），並能「坦然無懼的來到施恩的寶座前」（希4︰16）。
我們可能覺得革順家族（負責搬抬帳幕和幕幔、門簾等）和米拉利子孫的職任（負責像帳幕的板、閂這些小東西）不算什麼神聖的工作，但那些的確是聖工，因為那是上帝對他們一生的呼召。事實上，所有利未人都被呼召從事艱難的工作，並且每一個人都要在這些工作中投入二十年（從三十歲到五十歲，4︰39）的黃金歲月。那些可能不是最迷人、最令人感到興奮的工作，卻是促使上帝的事工順利進行不可缺少的部份。負責較卑微工作的人仍應像是為服事主而作，因為上帝把他們安排在那個崗位上。我們要順服耶穌基督的主權，在凡事上榮耀祂，因為凡是為主做的事，不論多微小，主都必紀念。
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Overview
Here again we find more details concerning the organization and the specific ministries of the Levites. We learn of a second census to establish the number of Levites from each family that was eligible and able to serve in the tasks of the Tabernacle. Their main responsibilities were to guard the Tabernacle, transport it, assemble and disassemble it; all with great care and reverence. These divinely given directions emphasize the holiness of the sacred symbols of worship, which were to be carefully guarded and respected; not to be treated in a casual way, nor made to be something common.
The Kohathites, the family of Moses and Aaron, had the important ministry of carrying the most holy articles of the Tabernacle. Before they could do their job, Aaron and his sons were to wrap and cover the pieces of furniture and the different articles in the prescribed manner. The priests were also to insert the poles that the Kohathites would use to carry them upon their shoulders. Upon the treat of death, they were not to touch, nor even take a glance at the holy things. The responsibility was put upon the priests to warn the Kohathites of the danger involved in their duties, for they were especially exposed to the risk of violating the law since they worked so closely with these items as assistants to the priests (4:15, 18; cf. 2 Sam.6:6-7). Eleazer, the son of Aaron and the future high priest, was to personally carry the holy oil and incense, as well as supervise and oversee all the activities of the Kohathites that they might no violate the law nor handle their law nor handle their loads carelessly, but remain safe from God’s wrath.
The Kohathites did their jobs in fear, but for us today, through Jesus Christ, there is a lovely change. Those who minister before God need not fear getting too close to His holiness, because we have been privileged: “we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life” (1 John 1:1). Jesus Christ was made manifest to us, and His blood “cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). With this knowledge, our “joy may be full” (1 John 1:4) and we may “come boldly to the throne of grace” (Heb.4:16).
We may find it hard to see the jobs of the Gershonites (in charge of carrying the tent and the curtains, and Merarites (responsible for the smaller things like the tent pegs) as sacred duties, but they were, for it was God’s calling for their lives. In fact, all the Levites were called in the service of hard work, and each was to do this kind of work for a period of 20 years, from ages 30 to 50 (4:39). It was not the most glamorous or exciting work, but was necessary that the work of the Lord might go smoothly and with unity. Those who do more menial jobs should still do them as a ministry unto the Lord, for that is where the Lord has placed them. We need to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and strive to glorify Him in all things, for that is which is done as unto the Lord, no matter how small, will not go unrewarding.
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