Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

KOHATH

(Heb. qĕhāṯ)

The second son of Levi (Gen. 46:11) and the father of Amram, Izhar (called Amminadab in 1 Chr. 6:22), Hebron, and Uzziel (Exod. 6:16, 18). Among his descendants were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam.

During the wilderness wanderings the Kohathites camped on the south or left side of the tent of meeting and guarded the sanctuary complex from the south. Their duties show them to be the most important of the levitical families. They were responsible for carrying the ark, table, lampstand, altars, sanctuary vessels, and screen, everything required for the service — but only after Aaron and his sons had wrapped them in cloth and placed them in leather bags. They were not permitted to touch the objects themselves (Num. 3:27-31; 4:1-20; 7:9).

Like the rest of the Levites, the Kohathites were assigned towns and pasturelands in Canaan. In the area of Ephraim these included the towns of Shechem (a city of refuge), Gezer, Kibzaim, Jokmeam, and Beth-horon. From the area of Dan they included Elteke, Gebbethon, Aijalon, and Gath-rimmon. Out of the half-tribe of Manasseh they were Taanach and Bileam (Josh. 21:20-26; 1 Chr. 6:66-70[MT 51-55]).

During the Second Temple period a branch of the Kohathites, the Korahites, were the gatekeepers, guardians of the thresholds and of the treasuries, in charge of the guarding, inventory, and upkeep of the utensils, furniture, and foodstuffs of the service (1 Chr. 9:17-33). The Kohathites were also secular officers and judges throughout the land, and probably in charge of legal decision-making, conscription, corvée labor, and taxes for the secular and cultic affairs of the temple (1 Chr. 26:22-30). During the time of the Chronicler the temple singers claimed descent from Levi, with the singer Heman claiming descent through the line of Kohath (1 Chr. 6:33-38[18-23]). At this time the Kohathites were known for their fervor in singing and praising God (2 Chr. 20:19) and for being devoted to the care, upkeep, and sanctification of the temple (29:12ff.; 34:12).

Bibliography. R. G. Boling and G. E. Wright, Joshua. AB 6 (Garden City, 1982); S. Japhet, I and II Chronicles. OTL (Louisville, 1993); B. A. Levine, Numbers 1–20. AB 4 (New York, 1993).

Lisbeth S. Fried

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

KOHATH

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)