8 "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 . 9 "Then they shall take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand for the light , along with its lamps and its snuffers , and its trays and all its oil vessels , by which they serve it; 10 and they shall put it and all its utensils in a covering of porpoise skin , and shall put it on the carrying bars . 11 "Over the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth and cover it with a covering of porpoise skin , and shall insert its poles ; 12 and they shall take all the utensils of service , with which they serve in the sanctuary , and put them in a blue cloth and cover them with a covering of porpoise skin , and put them on the carrying bars . 13 "Then they shall take away the ashes from the altar , and spread a purple cloth over it. 14 "They shall also put on it all its utensils by which they serve in connection with it: the firepans , the forks and shovels and the basins , all the utensils of the altar ; and they shall spread a cover of porpoise skin over it and insert its poles .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 4:8-14
Commentary on Numbers 4:4-20
(Read Numbers 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.