Numbers 4:8
◄  Numbers 4:8  ►
New International Version (©2011)
They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles in place.

New Living Translation (©2007)
They must spread a scarlet cloth over all of this, and finally a covering of fine goatskin leather on top of the scarlet cloth. Then they must insert the carrying poles into the table.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Then they shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet and cover the same with a covering of goatskin, and shall put in its poles.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"They shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet material, and cover the same with a covering of porpoise skin, and they shall insert its poles.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put in the staves thereof.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with a covering made of manatee skin, and insert the poles in the table."

International Standard Version (©2012)
They are to spread over them a scarlet cloth and a leather-dyed skin covering and then insert its poles.

NET Bible (©2006)
They must spread over them a scarlet cloth, and cover the same with a covering of fine leather; and they must insert its poles.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
They will spread a bright red cloth over everything on the table. They will cover all this with fine leather. Then they will put the poles in place.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badger skins, and shall put in its poles.

American King James Version
And they shall spread on them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put in the staves thereof.

American Standard Version
and they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in the staves thereof.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And they shall spread over it a cloth of scarlet, which again they shall cover with a covering of violet skins, and shall put in the bars.

Darby Bible Translation
And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skin, and shall put its staves to it.

English Revised Version
and they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in the staves thereof.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put in the staffs of it.

World English Bible
They shall spread on them a scarlet cloth, and cover the same with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.

Young's Literal Translation
and they have spread over them a garment of scarlet, and have covered it with a covering of badger skin, and have placed its staves,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:4-20 The Kohathites were to carry the holy things of the tabernacle. All the holy things were to be covered; not only for security and respect, but to keep them from being seen. This not only marked the reverence due to holy things, but the mystery of the things signified by those types, and the darkness of the dispensation. But now, through Christ, the case is altered, and we are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8. - Shall put in the staves thereof. This formula is repeated alike with reference to the ark, the table, and the two altars. It would therefore be natural to suppose that the staves had all been taken out while the various coverings were put on. On the other hand, it is expressly directed in Exodus 25:15 that the staves of the ark shall "not be taken from it." Two explanations are possible. Either the former command does not contemplate the necessity of wrapping up the ark, and only applies to all times when it was at rest, or in movement; or else the latter direction only means, in the case of the ark, that the staves should be adjusted for the purpose of bearing.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet,.... Upon the dishes and other vessels belonging to the shewbread table, and on the shewbread itself:

and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins; this was clearly the outward covering, and seems to confirm the observation made in Numbers 4:6; that the same sort of covering was the outermost covering of the ark:

and shall put in the staves thereof; which belonged to the table, and were made to carry it with on occasion, from place to place; see Exodus 25:27; and the same phrase being used as here of the staves of the ark in Numbers 4:6; seems to confirm the sense of them there, that they were taken out and put in upon this occasion, though otherwise fixed.

Numbers 4:8 Parallel Commentaries
Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Duties of the Kohathites
…7And on the table of show bread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover with: and the continual bread shall be thereon: 8And they shall spread on them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put in the staves thereof. 9And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his firepans, and all the oil vessels thereof, with which they minister to it: …

Exodus 25:5 ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather; acacia wood;
Numbers 4:6 Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather, spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place.
Numbers 4:7 "Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings; the bread that is continually there is to remain on it.
Numbers 4:9 "They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays, and all its jars for the olive oil used to supply it.