Numbers 4 (JND) - Bible Truth Library

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Articles on

Numbers 4

Num. 4:13 KJV (With Strong’s)

And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:

More on:

Altar,

Ashes,

Cloth,

Purple

Cross References

Ministry on This Verse

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.

Num. 4:6‑9,11‑12• ⁶and shall put thereon a covering of badgers' skin, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put its staves to it.
⁷And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue; and put thereon the dishes, and the cups, and the bowls, and goblets of the drink-offering; and the continual bread shall be thereon.
⁸And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skin, and shall put its staves to it.
⁹And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and its lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff-trays, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they perform its service;
¹¹And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skin, and shall put its staves to it.
¹²And they shall take all the instruments of service, wherewith they serve in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers' skin, and shall put them upon a pole. (Num. 4:6‑9,11‑12)

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Ex. 27:3‑5• ³And thou shalt make its pots to cleanse it of the fat, its shovels, and its bowls, and its forks, and its firepans; for all the utensils thereof thou shalt employ copper.
⁴And thou shalt make for it a grating of network of copper; and on the net shalt thou make four copper rings at its four corners;
⁵and thou shalt put it under the ledge of the altar beneath, and the net shall be to the very middle of the altar. (Ex. 27:3‑5)

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Ex. 39:1,41• ¹And of the blue and purple and scarlet they made garments of service, for service in the sanctuary, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as Jehovah had commanded Moses.
⁴¹the garments of service, for service in the sanctuary; the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons' garments, to serve as priests. (Ex. 39:1,41)

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Lev. 6:12‑13• ¹²And the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning on it: it shall not be put out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt-offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace-offerings.
¹³A continual fire shall be kept burning on the altar: it shall never go out. (Lev. 6:12‑13)

• With regard to the brazen altar it was different. Its covering was a purple cloth, the royal color. If we suffer, we shall reign. There is a connection between the cross and the crown upon the earth and in heaven….the very throne of God was the answer to His sufferings. (“Numbers 4” by J.N. Darby)

• All who wrote the Old Testament testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. We get the sufferings in the altar of burnt offering; but the purple cloth tells us that the Holy Sufferer is going to have supreme authority. (“Chapter 1.” by J.A. Taylor, of Worthing)

• When you read only “the altar” it always means the brazen altar. The altar of incense is always qualified, and either called so, or the “golden altar.” (“Chapter 4.” by J.A. Taylor, of Worthing)

• That altar takes us to Calvary, and tells of Him who suffered there, the One capable of enduring the wrath of God against sin, and in Himself the Righteous One. Gold speaks of righteousness where God is; brass, of righteousness where man is, in the place of responsibility. The ashes speak of the fire having done its work, and tell of the sufferings of Christ. That is specially so in Numbers 19. (“Chapter 4.” by J.A. Taylor, of Worthing)

• They shall “spread a purple cloth thereon.” In Exodus the word “purple” is used twenty-two times; in Numbers only once, and that is here, in connection with the brazen altar. What voice has God for us in that? On the very surface the child of God ought to be able to see that purple is the imperial color; and the One who was the Holy Sufferer will have universal sway, and is going to reign. “Behold, a King shall reign in righteousness,” the “Great King” mentioned in the Psalms and referred to by the Lord. He will sit on the throne of His father David, and reign over His ancients gloriously. The One disallowed indeed of men will reign. God has Him up there in His bright glory, and will put all His foes under His footstool. “He must reign.” (“Chapter 4.” by J.A. Taylor, of Worthing)

J. N. Darby Translation

And they shall cleanse the altar of the ashesc, and spread a purple cloth thereon;

JND Translation Notes

See Lev. 1.16.

W. Kelly Translation

And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon.

WK Verse Note

(Note: Words in italics have been inserted from the J. N. Darby translation where the W. Kelly translation doesn’t exist.)