KJV ORIGINAL
Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
From now on, the people of Israel must not come close to the tent of meeting, or they will be guilty of sin and die.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
God is establishing that only the priests can approach the sacred tabernacle, while ordinary Israelites must keep their distance to avoid deadly consequences.
📚 Historical Context
This command came after Korah's rebellion in Numbers 16-17, where 250 men died for inappropriately offering incense and challenging priestly authority. God was reinforcing the sacred boundaries between the holy tabernacle and the people, establishing clear roles for the Levites and priests as mediators. The tabernacle was considered so holy that unauthorized approach would result in death.
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