As many commentators point out,12 these two verbs, “work” and “watch over,” are found elsewhere in the Old Testament referring to priests ministering in the temple: “They [the Levites] shall guard [šmr] all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and keep guard [šmr] over the people of Israel as they minister [ʿbd] at the tabernacle” (Numbers 3:8 ESV; cf. Numbers 8:26; 18:7).
