(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Numbers 7: 1-9, “And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them; That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered: And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service. And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service: And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.”
By this time Israel were on their way to the Promised Land, even though they chose to take a long detour. In order for them to travel according to the Lord’s directions, the Tabernacle was set up and completely prepared for service. They would be aware of the Lord’s presence in the middle of their camp for their entire journey. The Tabernacle was anointed to show that the Lord approved of the structure and that it was fit for its holy purpose. The leaders of the tribes were called upon to give to the tribe of Levi so that they could carry out their duties. The family of Gershon was responsible for carrying all the curtains in the Tabernacle and they were given two wagons and four bullocks for this task. The family of Merari were responsible for carry the underlying skeleton of the structure, the posts, pillars and other things so they were given four wagons and eight bullocks. The weight and volume of the structure was greater than the weight and structure of the hangings so Merari had more carts and bullocks. The family of Kohath were charged with carrying the most sacred parts of the Tabernacle, like the ark and the candlestick and these had to be carried on their shoulders so they weren’t given any carts.
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