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Numbers 4:13

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

They must remove the ashes from the altar and cover it with a purple cloth.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse describes the careful process of preparing the sacred altar for transport by covering it with purple cloth after cleaning it.

📚 Historical Context

This instruction was given to the Kohathites, one of the Levitical families responsible for transporting the most sacred items of the tabernacle when the Israelites moved through the wilderness. The altar mentioned here is the bronze altar of burnt offering, where daily sacrifices were made. Purple cloth was expensive and associated with royalty and holiness, showing the reverence required when handling God's sacred furniture.

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