Numbers 4:32

And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(32) Ye shall reckon.—Better, ye shall assign or appoint. (See Note on the preceding verse.)

Benson Commentary

Numbers 4:32. Ye shall reckon — Every part and parcel shall be put in an inventory; which is required here rather than in the foregoing particulars, because these were much more numerous than the former; because, being meaner things, they might otherwise have been neglected; and also to teach us that God esteems nothing small in his service, and that he expects his will should be observed in the minutest circumstances. The death of the saints is represented as the taking down of the tabernacle. The immortal soul, like the most holy things, is first covered and taken away, carried by angels unseen, and care is taken also of the body, the skin and the flesh, which are as the curtains, the bones and sinews, which are as the bars and pillars. None of these shall be lost. Commandment is given concerning the bones, a covenant made with the dust. They are in safe custody, and shall be produced in the great day, when this tabernacle shall be set up again, and these vile bodies made like the glorious body of Jesus Christ.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:21-33 We have here the charge of the other two families of the Levites, which, though not so honourable as the first, yet was necessary, and to be done regularly. All the things were delivered them by name. It intimates the care God takes of his church and every member of it. The death of the saints is represented as the taking down of the tabernacle, 2Co 5:1, and the putting it off, 2Pe 1:14. All shall be raised up in the great day, when these vile bodies shall be made like the glorious body of Jesus Christ, and so shall be for ever with the Lord.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

By name ye shall reckon the instruments - Or, assign them to their bearers singly, and "by name." These "instruments" comprised the heavier parts of the tabernacle; and the order seems intended to prevent individual Merarites choosing their own burden, and so throwing more than the proper share on others.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

29-33. As for the sons of Merari—They carried the coarser and heavier appurtenances, which, however, were so important and necessary, that an inventory was kept of them—not only on account of their number and variety, but of their comparative commonness and smallness, which might have led to their being lost or missing through carelessness, inadvertency, or neglect. It was a useful lesson, showing that God disregards nothing pertaining to His service, and that even in the least and most trivial matters, He requires the duty of faithful obedience.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Every part and parcel therefore shall be put in an inventory; which is required here rather than in the foregoing particulars, partly, because these were much more numerous than the former; partly, because being meaner things, and such as might easily be supplied, they might otherwise have been neglected; and partly, to teach us that God esteems nothing small in his worship and service, and that he expects his will should be observed in the minutest circumstances.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets,

and their pins, and their cords,.... These belonged to the court of the tabernacle; the pillars were what the hangings were hung upon, and the sockets, into which the pillars were set, and the and cords, with which the hangings were fastened; see Exodus 27:9,

with all their instruments, and with all their service; whatever else were used in, and served for the support of this part of the tabernacle:

and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden; everything, even the least that were committed to their charge, and they were to bear and carry, either they themselves, or in wagons, were to be mentioned by name; and not only every board, pillar, and socket, were to be told out to them, and particularly named, how many they were, to what they belonged, from whence they were taken, and where to be replaced; but every pin, and cord, and the use of them, that so when they came to set up the tabernacle again, there might be nothing wanting in its place to secure it, and make it as firm as at first: such particular notice and care does God take of all his people, and Christ of all committed to him, and so should ministers of the word of all that are their charge, who must one day give an account to God, Hebrews 13:17.

Geneva Study Bible

And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by {r} name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden.

(r) You shall take inventory of all the things, which you commit to their charge.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

32. the instruments of the charge of their burden] i.e. the articles committed to their charge to carry.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 32. - By name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden. This injunction only occurs here. The Septuagint has "number them by name, and all the articles borne by them." Perhaps the solid parts of the fabric were numbered for convenience of setting up, and, therefore, were assigned each to its own bearer. Numbers 4:32

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

לכל־כּליהם: with regard to all their instruments, i.e., all the things used for setting up, fastening, or undoing the beams, bolts, etc.; see Numbers 3:36 and Exodus 27:19.