Kohath
“Assembly, or allied”
Summary
The second son of Levi and founder of the Kohathite clan, which included Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, and was assigned the most sacred duties in caring for the tabernacle.
☩Life and Family
Kohath was the second of Levi's three sons, born before the family's migration to Egypt. He accompanied Jacob's household to Egypt and lived to the age of 133 years. His sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, who became heads of important Levitical families. Through Amram, Kohath became the grandfather of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam—the three figures who led Israel out of Egypt. The total number of Kohathite males a month old and upward at the time of the wilderness census was 8,600.
☩The Kohathite Ministry
The Kohathites received the most honored duties among the Levites—responsibility for the most sacred furniture of the tabernacle. When the camp moved, after the priests had covered the holy objects, the Kohathites carried the ark of the covenant, the table of showbread, the lampstand, the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary. They were forbidden to touch or even look upon the holy things until they were properly covered, on pain of death. Their position in camp was on the south side of the tabernacle, and they numbered 2,750 men between ages 30 and 50 who performed the service of carrying.
☩Later Kohathite Roles
After the settlement in Canaan, the Kohathites received cities in the territories of Ephraim, Dan, and western Manasseh. During David's reorganization of the Levites, Kohathite families served as singers and musicians in the sanctuary, with Heman the Kohathite leading one of the three main choirs. Kohathites also served as treasurers and keepers of the temple offerings under various kings. The family of Korah, though descended from Kohath, became famous both for the rebellion against Moses and for the godly sons of Korah who wrote many psalms.
Related Verses30 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Kohath," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Kohath," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Kohath," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Kohath," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).