Read Numbers 4 at Bible Gateway.
When the camp of Israel was about to move on, Aaron and his sons had the solemn task of preparing the sacred furniture for the journey. These were not ordinary objects—they were the very things that made the Tabernacle the place where the living God dwelt among His people.
First they covered the ark of the covenant—the golden chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments and where God’s presence dwelt between the cherubim. They wrapped it in the heavy veil that normally separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place, then added protective skins, and finally a rich blue cloth over the whole.
Likewise the table of showbread—which held twelve loaves of bread representing the twelve tribes of Israel—was covered with a deep red (scarlet) cloth.
The golden lampstand that gave light inside the Holy Place, and the golden altar of incense where sweet-smelling smoke rose to God every morning and evening, were both wrapped in blue cloth.
Out in the courtyard, the large bronze altar of burnt offering was wrapped in a purple cloth.
Once everything was properly covered and its poles inserted into its rings, the sons of Kohath carried these things on their shoulders. But they had to take care that they did not even watch Aaron and his sons getting them ready to move, or touch the sacred furniture themselves, lest they die.
Why This Matters. God was patiently teaching Israel that He is separated in His holiness, and sinful people cannot casually approach Him. The deaths of Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10:1-2) had already burned that truth into the nation’s heart.
But look closer at the colors He chose for the coverings—He was painting a Natural Picture teaching spiritual truths.
- Blue (the ark, the lampstand, and the incense altar) speaks of God—His heavenly presence, His light, and the fragrance of prayer that rises to Him.
- Scarlet (the table of showbread) speaks of man. The Hebrew for “man,” adam, comes from the same root as “red” and “blood” (think of the ruddy color of blood in the face). That scarlet cloth covered the twelve loaves representing the twelve tribes of Israel—a metaphor for humanity, in all its tribes, present before God.
- Purple (the bronze altar) is the royal color made when blue and scarlet are combined. It pictures the Messiah to come—the Lamb God would provide for Himself (Gen 22:8) as the perfect sacrifice—as fully God and fully Man in One person.
The Torah is already proclaiming the divine nature of the coming Messiah; God was gently preparing His people to recognize Him when He arrived!
Teaching Tools. Natural Pictures
Numbers 4 Hebrew paragraphs.
4:1-16 {p} The duty of Kohath and Eleazar the priest
4:17-20 {p} That Kohath may live and not die
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