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Selected Verse: Numbers 7:6 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Nu 7:6	Strong Concordance	And Moses [04872] took [03947] the wagons [05699] and the oxen [01241], and gave [05414] them unto the Levites [03881].
	King James	And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Moses took the wagons and the oxen--The Hebrew word seems to be fairly rendered by the word "wagons." Wheel carriages of some kind are certainly intended; and as they were covered, the best idea we can form of them is, that they bore some resemblance to our covered wagons. That wheel carriages were anciently used in Egypt, and in what is now Asiatic Turkey, is attested, not only by history, but by existing sculptures and paintings. Some of these the Israelites might have brought with them at their departure; and others, the skilful artisans, who did the mechanical work of the tabernacle, could easily have constructed, according to models with which they had been familiar. Each wagon was drawn by two oxen, and a greater number does not seem to have been employed on any of the different occasions mentioned in Scripture. Oxen seem to have been generally used for draught in ancient times among other nations as well as the Hebrews; and they continue still to be employed in dragging the few carts which are in use in some parts of Western Asia [KITTO]. gave them unto the Levites--The principle of distribution was natural and judicious. The Merarites had twice the number of wagons and oxen appropriated to them that the Gershonites had, obviously because, while the latter had charge only of the coverings and hangings (the light but precious and richly-embroidered drapery, [Num 4:24-26]) the former were appointed to transport all the heavy and bulky materials (the boards, bars, pillars, and sockets) in short, all the larger articles of furniture [Num 4:31-32]. Whoever thinks only of the enormous weight of metal, the gold, silver, brass, &c., that were on the bases, chapiters, and pillars, &c., will probably come to the conclusion that four wagons and eight oxen were not nearly sufficient for the conveyance of so vast a load. Besides, the Merarites were not very numerous, as they amounted only to thirty-two hundred men from thirty years and upward [Num 4:44]; and, therefore, there is reason to suppose that a much greater number of wagons would afterwards be found necessary, and be furnished, than were given on this occasion [CALMET]. Others, who consider the full number of wagons and oxen to be stated in the sacred record, suppose that the Merarites may have carried many of the smaller things in their hands--the sockets, for instance, which being each a talent weight, was one man's burden (Kg2 5:23). The Kohathites had neither wheeled vehicles nor beasts of burden assigned them, because, being charged with the transport of the furniture belonging to the holy place, the sacred worth and character of the vessels entrusted to them (see on Num 4:15) demanded a more honorable mode of conveyance. These were carried by those Levites shoulder high. Even in this minute arrangement every reflecting reader will perceive the evidence of divine wisdom and holiness; and a deviation from the prescribed rule of duty led, in one recorded instance, to a manifestation of holy displeasure, calculated to make a salutary and solemn impression (Sa2 6:6-13).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Moses took the wagons and the oxen--The Hebrew word seems to be fairly rendered by the word "wagons." Wheel carriages of some kind are certainly intended; and as they were covered, the best idea we can form of them is, that they bore some resemblance to our covered wagons. That wheel carriages were anciently used in Egypt, and in what is now Asiatic Turkey, is attested, not only by history, but by existing sculptures and paintings. Some of these the Israelites might have brought with them at their departure; and others, the skilful artisans, who did the mechanical work of the tabernacle, could easily have constructed, according to models with which they had been familiar. Each wagon was drawn by two oxen, and a greater number does not seem to have been employed on any of the different occasions mentioned in Scripture. Oxen seem to have been generally used for draught in ancient times among other nations as well as the Hebrews; and they continue still to be employed in dragging the few carts which are in use in some parts of Western Asia [KITTO].

gave them unto the Levites--The principle of distribution was natural and judicious. The Merarites had twice the number of wagons and oxen appropriated to them that the Gershonites had, obviously because, while the latter had charge only of the coverings and hangings (the light but precious and richly-embroidered drapery, [Num 4:24-26]) the former were appointed to transport all the heavy and bulky materials (the boards, bars, pillars, and sockets) in short, all the larger articles of furniture [Num 4:31-32]. Whoever thinks only of the enormous weight of metal, the gold, silver, brass, &c., that were on the bases, chapiters, and pillars, &c., will probably come to the conclusion that four wagons and eight oxen were not nearly sufficient for the conveyance of so vast a load. Besides, the Merarites were not very numerous, as they amounted only to thirty-two hundred men from thirty years and upward [Num 4:44]; and, therefore, there is reason to suppose that a much greater number of wagons would afterwards be found necessary, and be furnished, than were given on this occasion [CALMET]. Others, who consider the full number of wagons and oxen to be stated in the sacred record, suppose that the Merarites may have carried many of the smaller things in their hands--the sockets, for instance, which being each a talent weight, was one man's burden (Kg2 5:23). The Kohathites had neither wheeled vehicles nor beasts of burden assigned them, because, being charged with the transport of the furniture belonging to the holy place, the sacred worth and character of the vessels entrusted to them (see on Num 4:15) demanded a more honorable mode of conveyance. These were carried by those Levites shoulder high. Even in this minute arrangement every reflecting reader will perceive the evidence of divine wisdom and holiness; and a deviation from the prescribed rule of duty led, in one recorded instance, to a manifestation of holy displeasure, calculated to make a salutary and solemn impression (Sa2 6:6-13).

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⁶ And when they came [0935] to Nachon's [05225] threshingfloor [01637], Uzzah [05798] put forth [07971] his hand to the ark [0727] of God [0430], and took hold [0270] of it; for the oxen [01241] shook [08058] it.
⁷ And the anger [0639] of the LORD [03068] was kindled [02734] against Uzzah [05798]; and God [0430] smote [05221] him there for his error [07944]; and there he died [04191] by the ark [0727] of God [0430].
⁸ And David [01732] was displeased [02734], because the LORD [03068] had made [06555] a breach [06556] upon Uzzah [05798]: and he called [07121] the name of the place [04725] Perezuzzah [06560] to this day [03117].
⁹ And David [01732] was afraid [03372] of the LORD [03068] that day [03117], and said [0559], How shall the ark [0727] of the LORD [03068] come [0935] to me?
¹⁰ So David [01732] would [014] not remove [05493] the ark [0727] of the LORD [03068] unto him into the city [05892] of David [01732]: but David [01732] carried it aside [05186] into the house [01004] of Obededom [05654] the Gittite [01663].
¹¹ And the ark [0727] of the LORD [03068] continued [03427] in the house [01004] of Obededom [05654] the Gittite [01663] three [07969] months [02320]: and the LORD [03068] blessed [01288] Obededom [05654], and all his household [01004].
¹² And it was told [05046] king [04428] David [01732], saying [0559], The LORD [03068] hath blessed [01288] the house [01004] of Obededom [05654], and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark [0727] of God [0430]. So David [01732] went [03212] and brought up [05927] the ark [0727] of God [0430] from the house [01004] of Obededom [05654] into the city [05892] of David [01732] with gladness [08057].
¹³ And it was so, that when they that bare [05375] the ark [0727] of the LORD [03068] had gone [06805] six [08337] paces [06806], he sacrificed [02076] oxen [07794] and fatlings [04806].

¹⁵ And when Aaron [0175] and his sons [01121] have made an end [03615] of covering [03680] the sanctuary [06944], and all the vessels [03627] of the sanctuary [06944], as the camp [04264] is to set forward [05265]; after [0310] that, the sons [01121] of Kohath [06955] shall come [0935] to bear [05375] it: but they shall not touch [05060] any holy thing [06944], lest they die [04191]. These things are the burden [04853] of the sons [01121] of Kohath [06955] in the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150].

²³ And Naaman [05283] said [0559], Be content [02974], take [03947] two talents [03603]. And he urged [06555] him, and bound [06696] two [08147] talents [03603] of silver [03701] in two [08147] bags [02754], with two [08147] changes [02487] of garments [0899], and laid [05414] them upon two [08147] of his servants [05288]; and they bare [05375] them before [06440] him.

⁴⁴ Even those that were numbered [06485] of them after their families [04940], were three [07969] thousand [0505] and two hundred [03967].

³¹ And this is the charge [04931] of their burden [04853], according to all their service [05656] in the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150]; the boards [07175] of the tabernacle [04908], and the bars [01280] thereof, and the pillars [05982] thereof, and sockets [0134] thereof,
³² And the pillars [05982] of the court [02691] round about [05439], and their sockets [0134], and their pins [03489], and their cords [04340], with all their instruments [03627], and with all their service [05656]: and by name [08034] ye shall reckon [06485] the instruments [03627] of the charge [04931] of their burden [04853].

²⁴ This is the service [05656] of the families [04940] of the Gershonites [01649], to serve [05647], and for burdens [04853]:
²⁵ And they shall bear [05375] the curtains [03407] of the tabernacle [04908], and the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150], his covering [04372], and the covering [04372] of the badgers [08476]' skins that is above [04605] upon it, and the hanging [04539] for the door [06607] of the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150],
²⁶ And the hangings [07050] of the court [02691], and the hanging [04539] for the door [06607] of the gate [08179] of the court [02691], which is by the tabernacle [04908] and by the altar [04196] round about [05439], and their cords [04340], and all the instruments [03627] of their service [05656], and all that is made [06213] for them: so shall they serve [05647].