Discovery BoxNumbers 4:27-28 
Context4:27 “All the service of the Gershonites, whether 1 carrying loads 2 or for any of their work, will be at the direction of 3 Aaron and his sons. You will assign them all their tasks 4 as their responsibility. 4:28 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites concerning the tent of meeting. Their responsibilities will be under the authority 5 of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 6
1 tn The term “whether” is supplied to introduce the enumerated parts of the explanatory phrase.
2 tn Here again is the use of the noun “burden” in the sense of the loads they were to carry (see the use of carts in Num 7:7).
3 tn The expression is literally “upon/at the mouth of” (עַל־פִּי, ’al-pi); it means that the work of these men would be under the direct orders of Aaron and his sons.
4 tn Or “burden.”
5 tn Or “the direction” (NASB, TEV); Heb “under/by the hand of.” The word “hand” is often used idiomatically for “power” or “authority.” So also in vv. 33, 37, 45, 48.
6 sn The material here suggests that Eleazar had heavier responsibilities than Ithamar, Aaron’s fourth and youngest son. It is the first indication that the Zadokite Levites would take precedence over the Ithamar Levites (see 1 Chr 24:3-6).
