Numbers 4:2
 Numbers 4:2 
New International Version (©2011)
"Take a census of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families.

New Living Translation (©2007)
"Record the names of the members of the clans and families of the Kohathite division of the tribe of Levi.

English Standard Version (©2001)
“Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their clans and their fathers’ houses,

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"Take a census of the descendants of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers' households,

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Among the Levites, take a census of the Kohathites by their clans and their ancestral houses,

International Standard Version (©2012)
"Take a census of the descendants of Kohath from among the descendants of Levi according to their tribes and ancestral houses

NET Bible (©2006)
"Take a census of the Kohathites from among the Levites, by their families and by their clans,

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"Take a census of the Levites who are descended from Kohath. List them by families and households.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by the house of their fathers,

American King James Version
Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,

American Standard Version
Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers houses,

Douay-Rheims Bible
Take the sum of the sons of Caath from the midst of the Levites, by their houses and families.

Darby Bible Translation
Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, according to their fathers' houses,

English Revised Version
Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers' houses,

Webster's Bible Translation
Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers;

World English Bible
"Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers' houses,

Young's Literal Translation
'Take up the sum of the sons of Kohath from the midst of the sons of Levi, by their families, by the house of their fathers;

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:1-3 The middle-aged men of the tribe of Levi, all from thirty years old to fifty, were to be employed in the service of the tabernacle. The service of God requires the best of our strength, and the prime portion of our time, which cannot be better spent than to the honour of Him who is the First and Best. And the service of God should be done when we are most lively and active. Those do not consider this who put off repentance to old age, and so leave the best work to be done in the worst time.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - Take the sum of the sons of Kohath. The Levites having been separated from the other tribes, the Kohathites are now to be separated from amongst the other Levites for the most honourable and sacred duties. To them the preference was given presumably because the priests were Kohathites.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi,.... They were to begin with them first, and number them:

after their families, by the house of their fathers; as many as were of the age after mentioned; and the reason why they began with Kohath, and not Gershon, the eldest son, as in the former numbering, was; not as Aben Ezra suggests, because of Moses and Aaron, who sprung from him, for that, if it had any strength in it, would have held good before; but rather, as Chaskuni and others, because the Kohathites carried the ark and other holy things; though the true reason seems to be, because of the order observed in taking down the tabernacle, and removing the parts of it, and the things in it; and it was most proper and reasonable, when they were about to take it down, first to take out the ark, table, &c. which was the business of the Kohathites to carry; next to take down the curtains, coverings, and hangings for the tabernacle and court, and the doors thereof, which were the charge of the Merarites; wherefore, in this order the sum out of each of them fit for business were ordered to be numbered.


Numbers 4:2 Parallel Commentaries
Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Duties of the Kohathites
1And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers, 3From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. …

Numbers 4:1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron:
Numbers 4:3 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.