8 and they have spread over them a garment of scarlet, and have covered it with a covering of badger skin, and have placed its staves, 9 and have taken a garment of blue, and have covered the candlestick of the lamp, and its lights, and its snuffers, and its snuff-dishes, and all its oil vessels wherewith they minister to it; 10 and they have put it and all its vessels unto a covering of badger skin, and have put 'it' on the bar. 11 'And on the golden altar they spread a garment of blue, and have covered it with a covering of badger skin, and have placed its staves; 12 and have taken all the vessels of ministry wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and have put 'them' unto a garment of blue, and have covered them with a covering of badger skin, and have put 'them' on the bar, 13 and have removed the ashes of the altar, and have spread over it a garment of purple; 14 and have put on it all its vessels wherewith they minister about it, the censers, the hooks, and the shovels, and the bowls, all the vessels of the altar, and have spread on it a covering of badger skin, and have placed its staves:
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.