Numbers3
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Now these are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Jehovah spake with Moses in mount Sinai.
2And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the first-born, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
3These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests that were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office.
4And Nadab and Abihu died before Jehovah, when they offered strange fire before Jehovah, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children; and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the presence of Aaron their father.
5And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
6Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.
7And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle.
8And they shall keep all the furniture of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.
9And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him on the behalf of the children of Israel.
10And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
11And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
12And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the first-born that openeth the womb among the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be mine:
13for all the first-born are mine; on the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the first-born in Israel, both man and beast; mine they shall be: I am Jehovah.
14And Jehovah spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,
15Number the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.
16And Moses numbered them according to the word of Jehovah, as he was commanded.
17And these were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.
18And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei.
19And the sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, and Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
20And the sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers’ houses.
21Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites: these are the families of the Gershonites.
22Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred.
23The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tabernacle westward.
24And the prince of the fathers’ house of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.
25And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting shall be the tabernacle, and the Tent, the covering thereof, and the screen for the door of the tent of meeting,
26and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.
27And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.
28According to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, there were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.
29The families of the sons of Kohath shall encamp on the side of the tabernacle southward.
30And the prince of the fathers’ house of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.
31And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the screen, and all the service thereof.
32And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be prince of the princes of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.
33Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.
34And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.
35And the prince of the fathers’ house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: they shall encamp on the side of the tabernacle northward.
36And the appointed charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the instruments thereof, and all the service thereof,
37and the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.
38And those that encamp before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrising, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
39All that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of Jehovah, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.
40And Jehovah said unto Moses, Number all the first-born males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.
41And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am Jehovah) instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.
42And Moses numbered, as Jehovah commanded him, all the first-born among the children of Israel.
43And all the first-born males according to the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.
44And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
45Take the Levites instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am Jehovah.
46And for the redemption of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the first-born of the children of Israel, that are over and above the number of the Levites,
47thou shalt take five shekels apiece by the poll; after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs):
48and thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.
49And Moses took the redemption-money from them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites;
50from the first-born of the children of Israel took he the money, a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
51and Moses gave the redemption-money unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of Jehovah, as Jehovah commanded Moses.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Numbers 3.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The sons of Aaron, The Levites taken instead of the first-born. (1–13). The Levites numbered by their families, Their duties. (14–39). The first-born are numbered. (40–51).
vv1-13
There was much work belonging to the priests' office, and there were now only Aaron and his two sons to do it; God appoints the Levites to attend them. Those whom God finds work for, he will find help for. The Levites were taken instead of the first-born. When He that made us, saves us, as the first-born of Israel were saved, we are laid under further obligations to serve him faithfully. God's right to us by redemption, confirms the right he has to us by creation.
vv14-39
The Levites were in three classes, according to the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; and these were subdivided into families. The posterity of Moses were not at all honoured or privileged, but stood upon the level with other Levites; thus it was plain, that Moses did not seek the advancement of his own family, or to secure any honours to it. The tribe of Levi was by much the least of all the tribes. God's chosen are but a little flock in comparison with the world.
vv40-51
The number of the first-born, and that of the Levites, came near to each other. Known unto God are all his works beforehand; there is an exact proportion between them, and so it will appear, when they are compared together. The small number of first-born, over and above the number of the Levites, were to be redeemed, and the redemption-money given to Aaron. The church is called the church of the first-born, which is redeemed, not as they were, with silver and gold; but, being devoted by sin to the justice of God, is ransomed with the precious blood of the Son of God. All men are the Lord's by creation, and all true christians are his by redemption. Each should know his own post and duty; nor can any service required by such a Master be rightly accounted mean or hard.
Key Words
אֵלֶּה: these or those
תּוֹלְדָה: (plural only) descent, i.e. family; (figuratively) history
אַהֲרוֹן: Aharon, the brother of Moses
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
הַר: a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
סִינַי: Sinai, mountain of Arabia
שֵׁם: an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
Cross References
Numbers 3Establishes God's claim on the firstborn, which the Levites are now substituted for in this chapter.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The historical account of Nadab and Abihu's death by strange fire alluded to in verse 4.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Levites' zeal during the golden calf incident, explaining why they were chosen for ministry.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Asserts that no man takes the honor of priesthood to himself, reflecting Aaron's divine consecration.
Supported by John Calvin
Explicit parallel of Nadab and Abihu's death before the Lord in the wilderness.
Supported by JFB
Confirms the Levites are wholly given to Aaron and his sons for tabernacle service.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
New Testament typology linking Israel's redeemed firstborn to the 'church of the firstborn'.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies Amram as the father of Aaron and Moses, under whom Moses' children are classified.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Levites' charge to pitch around the tabernacle to prevent wrath on the congregation.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Warns that any stranger (non-Aaronic) who comes near to offer incense will perish.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Details the Kohathites' specific charge of moving the holy vessels and sanctuary furniture.
Supported by JFB
Defines the sanctuary shekel as twenty gerahs, matching the currency rate here.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Further legislation regarding the redemption of the firstborn of man and beast.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Reiterates the substitution of the Levites and their cattle for Israel's firstborn.
Supported by JFB