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Numbers 4:20

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

But they must not go in to see the sacred objects while they are being covered, or they will die.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

God is establishing that certain holy items are so sacred that even looking at them improperly could be fatal.

📚 Historical Context

This verse is part of God's instructions to Moses about how the Levites should handle the sacred objects in the tabernacle when the Israelites moved through the wilderness. The Kohathites were responsible for carrying the most holy items, but only the priests could actually see and cover these objects before transport. This was during Israel's 40-year journey from Egypt to the Promised Land around 1440-1400 BC.

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