Numbers 1:53
New International Version
The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law.”

New Living Translation
But the Levites will camp around the Tabernacle of the Covenant to protect the community of Israel from the LORD’s anger. The Levites are responsible to stand guard around the Tabernacle.”

English Standard Version
But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel. And the Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.”

Berean Standard Bible
But the Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the congregation of Israel. So the Levites are responsible for the tabernacle of the Testimony.”

King James Bible
But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.

New King James Version
but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony.”

New American Standard Bible
But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there will be no divine wrath against the congregation of the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall be responsible for service to the tabernacle of the testimony.”

NASB 1995
“But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there will be no wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.”

NASB 1977
“But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.”

Legacy Standard Bible
But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony so that there will be no wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.”

Amplified Bible
But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, so that there will be no wrath against the congregation of the Israelites. The Levites shall be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony.”

Christian Standard Bible
The Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the Israelite community.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the Israelite community.”

American Standard Version
But the Levites shall encamp round about the tabernacle of the testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.

Contemporary English Version
But the Levites will camp around the sacred tent to make sure that no one goes near it and makes me furious with the Israelites.

English Revised Version
But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of the testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Levites will camp all around the tent of God's words. In this way [the LORD] won't be angry with the community of Israel. So the Levites will be in charge of the tent of God's words."

Good News Translation
But the Levites shall camp around the Tent to guard it, so that no one may come near and cause my anger to strike the community of Israel."

International Standard Version
But the descendants of Levi are to encamp on all sides of the Tent of Meeting so that divine wrath won't fall on the congregation of Israel. The descendants of Levi are to take care of the Tent of Meeting."

Majority Standard Bible
But the Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the congregation of Israel. So the Levites are responsible for the tabernacle of the Testimony.”

NET Bible
But the Levites must camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that the LORD's anger will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the testimony."

New Heart English Bible
But the Levites shall camp around the Tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be responsible for the Tabernacle of the Testimony."

Webster's Bible Translation
But the Levites shall pitch around the tabernacle of testimony; that there may be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.

World English Bible
But the Levites shall encamp around the Tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel. The Levites shall be responsible for the Tabernacle of the Testimony.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the Levites encamp around the Dwelling Place of the Testimony; and there is no wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel, and the Levites have kept the charge of the Dwelling Place of the Testimony.

Young's Literal Translation
and the Levites encamp round about the tabernacle of the testimony; and there is no wrath on the company of the sons of Israel, and the Levites have kept the charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the Levites shall encamp round about the dwelling of testimony; and there shall not be anger upon the assembly of the sons of Israel: and the Levites shall watch the watch of the dwelling of testimony.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the Levites shall pitch their tents round about the tabernacle, lest there come indignation upon the multitude of the children of Israel, and they shall keep watch, and guard the tabernacle of the testimony.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Moreover, the Levites shall fix their tents all around the tabernacle, lest there be an indignation over the multitude of the sons of Israel. And they shall stand watch as guardians over the tabernacle of the testimony.”

New American Bible
but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the covenant to ensure that God’s wrath will not fall upon the Israelite community. The Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the covenant.

New Revised Standard Version
but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the covenant, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the Israelites; and the Levites shall perform the guard duty of the tabernacle of the covenant.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of the testimony, that there be no wrath against the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Levites shall be setting up around the Tabernacle of the Testimony and there shall not be wrath on the assembly of the children of Israel and the Levites shall keep watch of the Tabernacle of the Testimony."
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of the testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But let the Levites encamp round about the tabernacle of witness fronting it, and so there shall be no sin among the children of Israel; and the Levites themselves shall keep the guard of the tabernacle of witness.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Exemption of the Levites
52The Israelites are to camp by their divisions, each man in his own camp and under his own standard. 53But the Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the congregation of Israel. So the Levites are responsible for the tabernacle of the Testimony.” 54Thus the Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.…

Cross References
Exodus 40:36-38
Whenever the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out through all the stages of their journey. / If the cloud was not lifted, they would not set out until the day it was taken up. / For the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel through all their journeys.

Numbers 3:7-8
They are to perform duties for him and for the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, attending to the service of the tabernacle. / They shall take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting and fulfill obligations for the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle.

Numbers 18:5
And you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and of the altar, so that wrath may not fall on the Israelites again.

Deuteronomy 10:8
At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day.

Joshua 3:3-4
and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it. / But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you can see the way to go, since you have never traveled this way before.”

1 Chronicles 23:32
So the Levites were to carry out the responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting and the Holy Place, and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, the service of the house of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 35:3
To the Levites who taught all Israel and were holy to the LORD, Josiah said: “Put the holy ark in the temple built by Solomon son of David king of Israel. It is not to be carried around on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel.

Ezekiel 44:10-16
Surely the Levites who wandered away from Me when Israel went astray, and who wandered away from Me after their idols, will bear the consequences of their iniquity. / Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the temple and ministering there. They shall slaughter the burnt offerings and other sacrifices for the people and stand before them to minister to them. / Because they ministered before their idols and became a stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel, therefore I swore with an uplifted hand concerning them that they would bear the consequences of their iniquity, declares the Lord GOD. ...

Hebrews 9:6-8
When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties. / But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. / By this arrangement the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.

Hebrews 8:5
The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”

Hebrews 9:1-5
Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. / A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place. / Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, ...

1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:6
who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

Revelation 5:10
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”

Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.


Treasury of Scripture

But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.

shall pitch

Numbers 1:50
But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.

Numbers 3:7
And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.

Numbers 18:3
And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.

there be

Numbers 8:19
And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.

Numbers 16:46
And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.

Numbers 18:5
And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel.

and the

Numbers 3:7,8
And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle…

Numbers 8:24-26
This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: …

Numbers 18:3-5
And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die…

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Numbers 1
1. God commands Moses to number the people
5. The princes of the tribes
17. The number of every tribe
47. The Levites are exempted for the service of the Lord














But the Levites
The Levites were a distinct tribe set apart for special service to God. Their role was unique among the tribes of Israel, as they were not counted among the warriors but were dedicated to the service of the tabernacle. The Hebrew root for Levites, "לֵוִי" (Levi), signifies attachment or joining, reflecting their role in connecting the people to God through their priestly duties. Historically, the Levites were chosen after the incident of the golden calf, where they stood with Moses in loyalty to God (Exodus 32:26-29).

are to camp
The instruction for the Levites to camp around the tabernacle signifies their protective and mediating role. The Hebrew word "חָנָה" (chanah) means to encamp or settle, indicating a position of readiness and vigilance. This arrangement underscores the importance of the tabernacle as the center of Israel's spiritual life and the Levites' role in safeguarding it.

around the tabernacle
The tabernacle, or "מִשְׁכָּן" (mishkan) in Hebrew, was the dwelling place of God among His people. It was a portable sanctuary that accompanied the Israelites during their wilderness journey. The Levites' encampment around it symbolizes their duty to protect the holiness of God's presence and to facilitate worship and sacrifices.

of the Testimony
The "Testimony" refers to the tablets of the Law, the Ten Commandments, housed within the Ark of the Covenant inside the tabernacle. The Hebrew word "עֵדוּת" (edut) means testimony or witness, emphasizing the covenantal relationship between God and Israel. The Levites' proximity to the Testimony highlights their role as guardians of God's law and covenant.

so that wrath
The term "wrath" here, "קֶצֶף" (qetseph) in Hebrew, refers to divine anger or judgment. The presence of the Levites around the tabernacle served as a buffer, preventing the wrath of God from breaking out against the Israelites due to their sinfulness. This reflects the seriousness of God's holiness and the need for mediation.

will not fall
The phrase "will not fall" indicates the prevention of divine judgment. The Hebrew "לֹא־יִהְיֶה" (lo-yehiyeh) suggests an assurance or promise that disaster will be averted. The Levites' service was crucial in maintaining the spiritual order and preventing chaos or destruction among the people.

on the congregation
The "congregation" refers to the assembly of the Israelites, the community of God's chosen people. The Hebrew "עֵדָה" (edah) signifies a gathering or assembly, emphasizing the collective identity and responsibility of the Israelites. The Levites' role was to intercede and minister on behalf of the entire congregation, ensuring their right standing with God.

of the Israelites
The Israelites, or "בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" (b'nei Yisrael), are the descendants of Jacob, chosen by God to be His people. This phrase underscores the covenant relationship between God and Israel, a relationship marked by divine promises and expectations. The Levites' service was integral to the Israelites' identity as a holy nation set apart for God's purposes.

The Levites are to be responsible
This phrase highlights the duty and accountability of the Levites. The Hebrew "שָׁמַר" (shamar) means to guard, keep, or watch over, indicating their role as custodians of the tabernacle and its sacred functions. Their responsibility was not only a privilege but a serious obligation to uphold the sanctity of worship and the presence of God among His people.

for the service
The "service" refers to the various duties and functions performed by the Levites in the tabernacle. The Hebrew "עֲבֹדָה" (avodah) encompasses work, worship, and service, reflecting the comprehensive nature of their ministry. This service was an act of worship itself, a daily offering of their lives to God.

of the tabernacle
The tabernacle was the focal point of Israel's worship and the dwelling place of God's presence. The Levites' service ensured that the tabernacle functioned as a place of meeting between God and His people. Their work maintained the order and sanctity necessary for the Israelites to approach God in worship and obedience.

(53) That there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel.--The word kezeph (wrath) is used to denote some immediate visitation of the hand of God, as, e.g., the plague. Thus, after the plague which broke out in consequence of the sin of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, we read in Numbers 18:5 "that there be no wrath (kezeph) any more upon the children of Israel." In Numbers 8:19 the word negeph (plague) is used in the same sense as kezeph is used here. (Cf. Joshua 9:20; 2Kings 3:27; 1Chronicles 27:24.)

. . .

Verse 53. - That there be no wrath upon the congregation - that no man, not being a Levite, intrude himself through ignorance or presumption upon the sacredness of the tabernacle, and so bring death upon himself, and displeasure upon the people. The Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle. Out of this command grew the Levitical guard of the temple, which afterwards played a considerable part in the history of Israel (2 Kings 11).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But the Levites
וְהַלְוִיִּ֞ם (wə·hal·wî·yim)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

are to camp
יַחֲנ֤וּ (ya·ḥă·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2583: To incline, to decline, to pitch a, tent, gen, to encamp

around
סָבִיב֙ (sā·ḇîḇ)
Adverb
Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around

the tabernacle
לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ן (lə·miš·kan)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4908: A residence, the Tabernacle

of the Testimony
הָעֵדֻ֔ת (hā·‘ê·ḏuṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5715: Testimony

and watch over it,
וְשָׁמְרוּ֙ (wə·šā·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

so that no
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

wrath
קֶ֔צֶף (qe·ṣep̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7110: A splinter, rage, strife

shall fall
יִהְיֶ֣ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the Israelite
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

congregation.
עֲדַ֖ת (‘ă·ḏaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5712: A stated assemblage

So the Levites
הַלְוִיִּ֔ם (hal·wî·yim)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

are responsible
מִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת (miš·me·reṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4931: A guard, watch, charge, function

for the tabernacle
מִשְׁכַּ֥ן (miš·kan)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4908: A residence, the Tabernacle

of the Testimony.”
הָעֵדֽוּת׃ (hā·‘ê·ḏūṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5715: Testimony


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OT Law: Numbers 1:53 But the Levites shall encamp around (Nu Num.)
Numbers 1:52
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