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THE MESSAGE

Numbers 4:13

"They are to remove the ashes from the Altar and spread a purple cloth over it. They are to place on it all the articles used in ministering at the Altar—firepans, forks, shovels, bowls; everything used at the Altar—place them on the Altar, cover it with the dolphin skins, and insert the poles.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Altar;   Colors;   Levites;   Priest;   Skin;   Tabernacle;   Thompson Chain Reference - Purple;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Levites, the;   Priests;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Kohath;   Levites;   Tabernacle;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Skin, Coats Made of;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Badger;   Levites;   Priest;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Badger Skins;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Kohath, Kohathites;   Moses;   Numbers, Book of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Badgers' Skins;   Cloth;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Table;   Uzzah;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Koliath;   Tabernacle;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Priest;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Priesthood, the;   Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Color;   Ezekiel;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Ark of the Covenant;   Curtain;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth on it.
King James Version
And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:
Lexham English Bible
They will remove the fat-soaked ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it;
New Century Version
"They must clean the ashes off the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it.
New English Translation
Also, they must take away the ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it.
Amplified Bible
"Then they shall clean away the ashes from the altar [of burnt offering], and spread a purple cloth over it.
New American Standard Bible
"Then they shall clean away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Also they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth vpon it,
Legacy Standard Bible
Then they shall take away the ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it.
Contemporary English Version
They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar and cover it with a purple cloth.
Complete Jewish Bible
After removing the greasy ashes from the altar, they are to spread a purple cloth over it
Darby Translation
And they shall cleanse the altar of the ashes, and spread a purple cloth thereon;
Easy-to-Read Version
"They must clean the ashes out of the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it.
English Standard Version
And they shall take away the ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it.
George Lamsa Translation
And they shall take apart the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it;
Good News Translation
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Christian Standard Bible®
“They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it,
Literal Translation
And they shall remove the ashes of the altar, and shall spread over it a purple cloth;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
They shal swepe the asshes also from the altare, and sprede a clothe of scarlet ouer it, and set all his vessels theron,
American Standard Version
And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:
Bible in Basic English
And they are to take away the burned waste from the altar, and put a purple cloth on it;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And they shall take away the asshes from the aulter, and spreade a purple cloth thereon.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon.
King James Version (1611)
And they shall take away the ashes from the Altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And he shall put the covering on the altar, and they shall cover it with a cloth all of purple.
English Revised Version
And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:
Berean Standard Bible
Then they shall remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it,
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But also thei schulen clense the auter fro aische, and thei schulen wlappe it in a clooth of purpur.
Young's Literal Translation
and have removed the ashes of the altar, and have spread over it a garment of purple;
Update Bible Version
And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:
Webster's Bible Translation
And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth upon it:
World English Bible
They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth on it.
New King James Version
Also they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it.
New Living Translation
"They must remove the ashes from the altar for sacrifices and cover the altar with a purple cloth.
New Life Bible
Then they will take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it.
New Revised Standard
They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then shall they remove the fat-ashes from the altar, - and spread over it a wrapper of purple;
Douay-Rheims Bible
They shall cleanse the altar also from the ashes, and shall wrap it up in a purple cloth,
Revised Standard Version
And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it;
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Then they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it.

Contextual Overview

1 God spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said, "Number the Kohathite line of Levites by clan and family. Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age, all who enter the ministry to work in the Tent of Meeting. 4 "This is the assigned work of the Kohathites in the Tent of Meeting: care of the most holy things. 5"When the camp is ready to set out, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the covering curtain and cover the Chest of The Testimony with it. Then they are to cover this with a dolphin skin, spread a solid blue cloth on top, and insert the poles. 7"Then they are to spread a blue cloth on the Table of the Presence and set the Table with plates, incense dishes, bowls, and jugs for drink offerings. The bread that is always there stays on the Table. They are to cover these with a scarlet cloth, and on top of that spread the dolphin skin, and insert the poles. 9"They are to use a blue cloth to cover the light-giving Lampstand and the lamps, snuffers, trays, and the oil jars that go with it. Then they are to wrap it all in a covering of dolphin skin and place it on a carrying frame. 11 "They are to spread a blue cloth over the Gold Altar and cover it with dolphin skins and place it on a carrying frame. 12 "They are to take all the articles used in ministering in the Sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover them with dolphin skins, and place them on a carrying frame. 13"They are to remove the ashes from the Altar and spread a purple cloth over it. They are to place on it all the articles used in ministering at the Altar—firepans, forks, shovels, bowls; everything used at the Altar—place them on the Altar, cover it with the dolphin skins, and insert the poles. 15 "When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and the camp is ready to set out, the Kohathites are to come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are in charge of carrying all the things that are in the Tent of Meeting. 16 "Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, is to be in charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular Grain-Offering, and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire Dwelling and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

The embers of the sacred fire seem to have been removed in the grate, which was carried apart from the brazen altar; both being covered from view by purple cloths. Numbers 4:6-9, Numbers 4:11, Numbers 4:12, Exodus 27:3-5, Exodus 39:1, Exodus 39:41, Leviticus 6:12, Leviticus 6:13

Reciprocal: Exodus 27:7 - bear it

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon. Having cleared the holy of holies, and the holy place, they were to come forth from thence into the court of the tabernacle, where stood the altar of burnt offering, which is here meant, and on which sacrifices being daily burnt, there were always ashes to be removed; and which at this time was highly necessary to be done, when the tabernacle was taken down, and all belonging to it to be carried away; and though no mention is made of the fire, which was always burning on it, it was doubtless preserved, and care was taken for the carrying it along with the altar, or in a separate vessel from it. Bishop Patrick supposes it might be carried upon the grate.


 
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