Don Isaac Abravanel, sometimes spelled Abarbanel (1437-1508) was a probing and penetrating Jewish thinker, as well as a prolific
Biblical commentator. In the first half of Numbers 4, he explains the prestigious role given to Kohath,
son of Levi.
“This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting – the
holiest of matters.”
Levi, son of Jacob had three sons: Gershon, Merari, and Kohath. In time, their respective clans would be
entrusted with and responsible for specific desert tasks within the rubric of assisting the priests.
Abravanel puts things into perspective, regarding Levi’s three sons. At this juncture, however, we shall
only focus on Kohath, son of Levi. He stood out as the most prominent of Levi’s three sons.
“And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the holy furniture, and all the holy vessels,
as the camp is to set forward – after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear them.” How do we
know Kohath rated as Levi’s number one son? “This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of
Meeting – the holiest of matters.”
Abravanel teaches that Kohath’s job was to transport the holy ark, as our verse writes: “the holiest of
matters.” Ensconced within the holy ark was, inter alia, the Torah. By dint of the fact that Kohath carried
the Tabernacle’s most sacred furniture, we understand his greatness.
Indeed, from all of the Tabernacle’s fixtures, the ark stood out as “the holiest of matters.” Apropos to
the ark’s uniqueness, God demanded that it be bedecked with no less than three distinct coverings.
- The partition. “And drew the covering of the partition and covered the ark of the testimony with
it.” - Tachash skin: “And they put over it a covering made of tachash leather.” This served as
protection against rain or sand sandstorm. - Rich blue cloth. “And they covered that from the top with a wholly rich blue cloth.” This
outermost coating sat over the tachash leather. Its hue was reminiscent of a gorgeous azure sky,
creating an ambience as if one peered right through to the highest heavens.
In sum, we have shown Kohath, son of Levi’s illustriousness over his two brothers Gershon and Merari,
evidenced by Kohath’s being entasked to carry the holy ark – “the holiest of matters” – throughout the
desert sojourn.
