Numbers 4 in the early church

30 passages quote, allude to, or echo Numbers 4, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 24 · 29 · 31 · 46 · 47 · 48

Numbers 4:2

“Take a census of the Kohathites among the Levites by their clans and families,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 4:2	Homilies on Numbers 4.2 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 4:3

men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 4:3	Arabic Pentateuch fragment XV (on Num 3.4) · Hippolytus of Rome	allusion, high confidence	unknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)
Num 4:3	Homilies on Numbers 4.2 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 4:3	Letter 78.32 · Jerome	echo, low confidence	ca. 370–419
Num 4:3	Letter 82.8 · Jerome	allusion, high confidence	ca. 370–419

Numbers 4:4

This service of the Kohathites at the Tent of Meeting regards the most holy things.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 4:4	Homilies on Numbers 4.1 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 4:5

Whenever the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 4:5	Homilies on Numbers 4.2 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 4:5	Homilies on Numbers 5.1 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 4:6

They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 4:6	Homilies on Numbers 4.2 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 4:7

Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and place the plates and cups on it, along with the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to remain on it.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 4:7	Homilies on Ezekiel 7.2 · Origen	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 238–250 (Jerome's translation in the 380s)

Numbers 4:14

and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 4:14	Homilies on Numbers 4.2 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 4:15

When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 4:15	Homilies on Joshua 25.1 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 4:15	Homilies on Numbers 4.3 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 4:15	Homilies on Numbers 5.1 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 4:15	Oration 32.17 · Gregory of Nazianzus	allusion, high confidence	ca. 362–383
Num 4:15	Question 101, section 2 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 370–384
Num 4:15	Question 101, section 3 · Ambrosiaster	allusion, low confidence	ca. 370–384

Numbers 4:16

Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall oversee the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including the holy objects and their utensils.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 4:16	Homily on 1 Samuel 1.7 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 4:18

“Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be cut off from among the Levites.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 4:18	Homilies on Numbers 4.2 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 4:18	Homilies on Numbers 5.1 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 4:19

In order that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 4:19	Homilies on Numbers 5.1 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 4:20

But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.”
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 4:20	Homilies on Numbers 4.3 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 4:24

This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transport:
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 4:24	Homilies on Numbers 4.1 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 4:29

As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their clans and families,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 4:29	Homilies on Numbers 4.1 · Origen	allusion, low confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 4:31

This is the duty for all their service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and bases,
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 4:31	Homilies on Numbers 4.1 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 4:46

So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel numbered by their clans and families all the Levites
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 4:46–49	Numbers, lines 25–50 · Cyprianus Gallus	allusion, high confidence	early 5th cent.

Numbers 4:47

from thirty to fifty years old who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 4:47	Homilies on Numbers 5.2 · Origen	quotation, high confidence	ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 4:47	Commentary on the Song of Songs 0.79 · Origen	allusion, high confidence	ca. 240–245 (Rufinus's translation ca. 410)
Num 4:47	Homily 1 · Gregory of Nyssa	allusion, medium confidence	ca. 379–394

Numbers 4:48

And the number of men was 8,580.
BSB

Reference	Passage	Kind	Date
Num 4:48	Arabic Pentateuch fragment XV (on Num 3.4) · Hippolytus of Rome	allusion, high confidence	unknown (transmitted in a medieval Arabic catena)