Numbers 4:3
Context4:3 from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company 1 to do the work in the tent of meeting.
Numbers 4:13
Context4:13 Also, they must take away the ashes from the altar 2 and spread a purple cloth over it.
Numbers 4:10
Context4:10 Then they must put it with all its utensils in a covering of fine leather, and put it on a carrying beam. 3
Numbers 4:39
Context4:39 from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting –
1 tn The word “company” is literally “host, army” (צָבָא, tsava’). The repetition of similar expressions makes the translation difficult: Heb “all [who] come to the host to do work in the tent.”
2 tc The Greek text has “and he must place the cover upon the altar” instead of “and they must take away the ashes from the altar.” The verb is the Piel form; its nuance seems to be privative, i.e., stating that the object is deprived of the material – the ashes are removed. This is the main altar in the courtyard.
3 tn The “pole” or “bar” (מוֹט, mot) is of a different style than the poles used for transporting the ark. It seems to be a flexible bar carried by two men with the implements being transported tied to the bar. The NEB suggests the items were put in a bag and slung over the bar, but there is no indication of the manner.