21 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying, 22 'Take up the sum of the sons of Gershon also by the house of their fathers, by their families; 23 from a son of thirty years and upward, till a son of fifty years thou dost number them, every one who is going in to serve the host, to do the service in the tent of meeting. 24 'This 'is' the service of the families of the Gershonite, to serve—and for burden, 25 and they have borne the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tent of meeting, its covering, and the covering of the badger 'skin' which 'is' on it above, and the vail at the opening of the tent of meeting, 26 and the hangings of the court, and the vail at the opening of the gate of the court which 'is' by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the vessels of their service, and all that is made for them—and they have served. 27 'By the command of Aaron and his sons is all the service of the sons of the Gershonite in all their burden, and in all their service; and ye have laid a charge on them concerning the charge of all their burden. 28 This 'is' the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonite in the tent of meeting; and their charge 'is' under the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. 29 'The sons of Merari, by their families, by the house of their fathers, thou dost number them; 30 from a son of thirty years and upward even unto a son of fifty years thou dost number them, every one who is going in to the host, to do the service of the tent of meeting. 31 'And this 'is' the charge of their burden, of all their service in the tent of meeting; the boards of the tabernacle, and its bars, and its pillars, and its sockets, 32 and the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, of all their vessels, and of all their service; and by name ye do number the vessels of the charge of their burden. 33 'This 'is' the service of the families of the sons of Merari, for all their service, in the tent of meeting, by the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 4:21-33
Commentary on Numbers 4:21-33
(Read Numbers 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, 2 Peter 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.