Numbers 7:8

8 He gave four carts and eight oxen to the men from the family of Merari. They needed them to do their work. All of those men were under the direction of the priest Ithamar, the son of Aaron.

Numbers 7:8 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 7:8

And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari,
&c.] All the remaining wagons and oxen, which were double the number given to the Gershonites:

according unto their service;
being much heavier than theirs, having all the boards, pillars, sockets, pins; cords to bear and carry: thus Moses was directed of God wisely to dispose of those carriages, in proportion to the services each was employed in; and in a spiritual way, as the day, duty, and service of the people of God be, he proportions grace and strength to them to answer thereunto:

under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest;
under whose care, inspection, and direction, were both the Gershonites and Merarites, ( Numbers 4:28 Numbers 4:33 ) ; and by whom were delivered, according to the instruction of Moses, the several wagons and oxen, to them.

Numbers 7:8 In-Context

6 So Moses gave the carts and the oxen to the Levites.

7 He gave two carts and four oxen to the men from the family of Gershon. They needed them to do their work.

8 He gave four carts and eight oxen to the men from the family of Merari. They needed them to do their work. All of those men were under the direction of the priest Ithamar, the son of Aaron.

9 But Moses didn't give any carts or oxen to the men from the family of Kohath. They had to carry the holy things on their shoulders. They were accountable for the holy things.

10 When the altar was anointed, the leaders brought their offerings. They placed them in front of the altar. They brought their offerings to set the altar apart.