Then they shall put on it a covering of goatskin and spread on top of that a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles.
We have here a second muster of the tribe of Levi. As that tribe was taken out of all Israel to be God's peculiar, so the middle-aged men of that tribe were taken from among the rest to be actually employed in the service of the tabernacle. Now observe, I. Who were to be taken into this number. All the males from thirty years old to fifty.
Commenting on Numbers 4:1-20
And shall put thereon the covering of badgers' skins,.... Not that which covered the tabernacle, for that was committed to the Gershonites, Num 4:25; but a covering made of these on purpose for the present use, to preserve the ark from rain and dust; and this covering was put not immediately upon the ark, but upon the other coverings that were over the ark, and...
covering of badgers' skins--(See on Exo 25:5). The covering, however, referred to was not that of the tabernacle, but one made for the special purpose of protecting the ark. put in the staves--These golden staves were now taken out. (See on Exo 25:15, compared with Kg1 8:8).