Discovery BoxNumbers 3:7 
Context3:7 They are responsible for his needs 1 and the needs of the whole community before the tent of meeting, by attending 2 to the service of the tabernacle.
Numbers 3:31
Context3:31 Their responsibilities included the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, and the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, 3 the curtain, and all their service. 4
Numbers 3:36
Context3:36 The appointed responsibilities of the Merarites included the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, its posts, its sockets, its utensils, plus all the service connected with these things, 5
Numbers 4:31
Context4:31 This is what they are responsible to carry as their entire service in the tent of meeting: the frames 6 of the tabernacle, its crossbars, its posts, its sockets,
Numbers 7:8-9
Context7:8 and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites, as their service required, under the authority 7 of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 7:9 But to the Kohathites he gave none, because the service of the holy things, which they carried 8 on their shoulders, was their responsibility. 9
Numbers 18:31
Context18:31 And you may 10 eat it in any place, you and your household, because it is your wages for your service in the tent of meeting.
Numbers 31:14
Context31:14 But Moses was furious with the officers of the army, the commanders over thousands and commanders over hundreds, who had come from service in the war.
1 tn The Hebrew text uses the perfect tense of שָׁמַר(shamar) with a vav (ו) consecutive to continue the instruction of the preceding verse. It may be translated “and they shall keep” or “they must/are to keep,” but in this context it refers to their appointed duties. The verb is followed by its cognate accusative – “they are to keep his keeping,” or as it is often translated, “his charge.” This would mean whatever Aaron needed them to do. But the noun is also used for the people in the next phrase, and so “charge” cannot be the meaning here. The verse is explaining that the Levites will have duties to perform to meet the needs of Aaron and the congregation.
2 tn The form is the Qal infinitive construct from עָבַד (’avad, “to serve, to work”); it is taken here as a verbal noun and means “by (or in) serving” (see R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 36, §195). This explains the verb “keep [his charge].” Here too the form is followed by a cognate accusative; they will be there to “serve the service” or “work the work.”
3 tn The verb is יְשָׁרְתוּ (yÿsharÿtu, “they will serve/minister”). The imperfect tense in this place, however, probably describes what the priests would do, what they used to do. The verb is in a relative clause: “which they would serve with them,” which should be changed to read “with which they would serve.”
4 tn The word is literally “its [their] service.” It describes all the implements that were there for the maintenance of these things.
5 tn Heb “and all their service.” This could possibly be a hendiadys: “and all their working tools.” However, the parallel with v. 26 suggests this is a separate phrase.
6 sn More recent studies have concluded that these “boards” were made of two long uprights joined by cross-bars (like a ladder). They were frames rather than boards, meaning that the structure under the tent was not a solid building. It also meant that the “boards” would have been lighter to carry.
7 tn Heb “hand.”
8 tn The verb is the imperfect tense, but it describes their customary activity – they had to carry, they used to carry.
9 tn Heb “upon them,” meaning “their duty.”
10 tn The verb is the perfect tense with vav (ו) consecutive; it functions as the equivalent of the imperfect of permission.
