The Fourth Book of Moses, called Numbers
Numbers 3
Chapter III · Vol. I, pp. 417–419
1 The sons of Aaron. 5 The Levites are given to the priests for the service of the tabernacle, 11 instead of the first-born. 14 The Levites are numbered by their families. 21 The families, number, and charge of the Gershonites, 27 of the Kohathites, 33 of the Merarites. 38 The place and charge of Moses and Aaron. 40 The first-born are freed by the Levites. 44 The overplus are redeemed.
1 THESE also are the a generations of Aaron1 and Moses, in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai.
a Historical account of their tribe, Ge. 2.4; 5.1; 10.1. Mat. 1.1.
1 Aaron is placed before Moses, not on account of the priestly dignity, but simply because he was three years older than Moses, and so was entitled to the place of first-born, which he had neither sold nor forfeited. See Ge. 7. 7.—Note, When the characters of Moses and Aaron are contrasted, the natural superiority of Moses is unquestionable. Yet Moses assigns to Aaron and his family for ever, superiority of rank and office: an undeniable evidence that he acted by God's command. Had he been a mere pretender to a divine commission, he would have sought the aggrandizement of himself and his family—for never has there been an unambitious and disinterested impostor: his not yielding but adjudging the superiority to his brother and his brother's family goes, as far as mere character can go, to prove, not only the absence of selfishness, but the presence of that humility which never was produced by any power but that of the Spirit of God. Is. 57.15. Ja. 4.6. 1 Pe. 5.5.—C.
2 And these are b the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the first-born, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, thec priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated2 to minister in the priest's office.
4 Andd Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office, in the sight of Aaron their father.
d Le. 10.1; 16.1. ch. 26.61. 1 Ch. 24.2.
5 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
6 Bringe the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.
e Ex. 32.26-29. De. 33.8, 9. ch. 1.50, 51, 53; 8.11-15, 22-26; 18.2-7.
7 And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation,3 before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.
3 That is, they were to do whatever Aaron enjoined upon them as requisite for the service of the sanctuary, and whatever was requisite in preparing, presenting, and offering up the sacrifices and oblations of the whole body of the people. Their duties are indicated in ver. 8, 9.—P.
8 And they shall keep f all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of f Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.
f Ex. 31.6-11; 35.10-19; 40.2-15, 17-30; 39.33-42; xxvi.-xxxi. xxxv.-xxxix.; ver. 25, 26, 31, 36, 37; ch. 4.4-32.
9 Andg thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron, and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.
g ch. 8.19; 18.2-6.
10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they h shall wait on their priest's office: and i the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
h Eze. 44.8. ch. 18.7. Ro. 12.7, 8. 1 Ti. 4.13, 15. 2 Ti. 4.2.
i None other doing the work of it, ch. 1.51; 16.32, 40; 18.3. 1 Sa. 6.19. See 2 Sa. 6.7. Le. 22.10-13.
11 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
12 And I, behold, I have k taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the first-born that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;
A.M. 2514. B.C. 1490.
k ch. 8.16, 18; 18.6; ver. 45.
13 Because l all the first-born are mine: for on the day that I m smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the first-born in Israel, both man and beast; 4 mine they shall be: I am the LORD.
l ch. 8.16, 17. Ex. 13.2, 12; 22.29; 34.19. Le. 27.26. Eze. 44.30. Lu. 2.23. He. 12.23.
m Ex. 12.29, 30; 13.15.
4 Dedicated and set apart to my service.
14 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,
15 Number the children of Levi, after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male n from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.5
n ch. 18.15, 16; 26.62. Je. 2.2; 31.3. Pr. 8.17. Mar. 10.14. 2 Ti. 3.15.
5 The other tribes were numbered for purposes of war, consequently only those above twenty years were reckoned. The Levites were substitutes for the first-born of the whole people; they were therefore numbered from one month and upwards, because at the age of one month every first-born male of the Israelites was to be redeemed. See ver. 40, 43; ch. 18.16.—P.
17 Ando these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.
o Ge. 46.11. Ex. 6.16-19. ch. 26.57, 58. 1 Ch. 6.1, 2, 16-19; 15.5-23; 23.6-23; ix. xxiv.-xxvi. Ne. xi. xii. Jos. xxi.
18 Andp these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni and Shimei.
p Ex. 6.17. ver. 21. 1 Ch. 6.17, 20, 21; 23.7-11; 25.3; 39-43; 15.7; 16.5.
19 Andq the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram and Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.
q Ex. 6.18. ver. 27. 1 Ch. 6.2-15, 22-38, 50-53; 15.5, 8-10, 17-21; 23.12-20; xxii.; 25.4; xxvi.; 9.10-22. Ne. 12.1-26.
20 Andr the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli and Mushi: these are the families of the Levites, according to the house of their fathers.
21 Ofs Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.
s ver. 18.
22 Those 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.
24 And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.
25 And u the charge7 of the sons of Gershon, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,
u ch. 4.24-28; 10.17; 7.7. Ex. 26.1, 7, 14, 36; 27.9-16; 36.8-19, 37, 38; 38.9-18; 31.7; 35.11; 39.34-40.
7 From this and the following chapter we learn the very severe labour to which the Levites were subjected while the journeyings of the Israelites lasted. There was not less than 14 tons 266 lbs. of metal employed in the tabernacle, Ex. 38.24, besides an immense weight of skins, hangings, cords, boards, posts, &c. Of course it must have been no easy matter to transport it from place to place. The Gershonites, who were in number 7500, had to carry the tent coverings, veil, hangings of the court, cords, &c., ver. 25, 26. The Kohathites, in number 8600, carried the ark, table, candlesticks, altars, and instruments of the sanctuary, ver. 31. The Merarites, in number 6200, bore the boards, bars, sockets, and all matters connected with these belonging to the tabernacle, with the pillars of the court, their sockets, pins, and cords, ver. 36, 37.—I.
26 And the hangings of the court, and the curtain 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.
27 Andx 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.
A.M. 2514. B.C. 1490.
x ver. 19.
28 In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.
29 The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitchy on the side of the tabernacle southward.
y ch. 2.10.
30 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.
31 And z 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 hanging, and all the service thereof.
32 And a Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.
a ch. 4.16. 2 Ki. 25.18. 1 Ch. 9.20. He was next to the high-priest, and when necessity required supplied his place.
33 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.
34 And 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.
35 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle b northward.
b ch. 2.25.
36 And c under the custody and charge7 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 vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto,
37 And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.
38 But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, d even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, e 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.
d ch. 2.3.
e ver. 10.
39 Allf that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males, from a month old and upward, g were twenty and two thousand.8
f ch. 26.62; 4.47,48.
g Besides Aaron and his sons, and the first-born of the Levites, which made three hundred more, ch. 26.62.
8 This is one of the chief 'perplexities' of the book of Numbers, inasmuch as the sum total does not agree with the items. The Gershonites were numbered 7500, the Kohathites 8600, the Merarites 6200, total 22,300. To account for this discrepancy, Houbigant supposes an error to have crept into the text of ver. 28, which Kennicot transfers to ver. 22. Either supposition would rectify the accounts, but such summary and unsupported suppositions of error are to be examined with great jealousy, and never to be received without high MS. authority: this is here totally wanting. Let us therefore seek the solution of the perplexity in the law. (1) In this narrative, ver. 6, the tribe of Levi was to be brought near, a phrase in the original, admitted to signify sacrificial offering. See ch. 8. 6-22. (2) In ver. 14, 16 Moses alone enumerates the tribe, and gives the absolute sum total. (3) In ver. 39 we have a new account of 'all that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the Lord.' Now Aaron is not omitted in the one case, nor conjoined in the other, without good cause. (4) We inquire in the law what this cause may be, and whence arose this arithmetical imperfection? Not, we apprehend, from any imaginary error either in the detail or summing up, but from legal impurities disqualifying from being offered to God. These might arise, in children, from touching their mother during the forty days of her separation, Le. 12. 2, 4; comp. with 15, 19, 26, 27; in adults from any similar legal impurity, ch. 22. 2. (5) It is now almost superfluous to add, that as every offering must be 'without blemish,' this typical requirement applied to the Levites would produce the typical imperfection of their numbers when examined by Aaron before being 'brought near,' or offered to the Lord for redemption of the first-born of the tribes, a view which is in strict accordance with the words of the apostle, 'The law made nothing perfect,' He. 7. 19.—C.
40 And the LORD said unto Moses, h Number all the first-born of the males of the children of Israel, from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.
41 And thou i shalt take the Levites for me, (I am the LORD,) 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.
i ver. 12. ch. 18.15; 8.16. Ex. 24.5,6, with 32.26-29. Mat. 20.28. 1 Ti. 2.6.
42 And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the first-born among the children of Israel.
43 And all the first-born males, by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of 9 them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.1
9 But Aaron and his sons, and all the first-born of the Levites, numbered he not, as they were already the Lord's peculiar property.
1 Why are the first-born among 'so many brethren' so few? Are we here to search after another arithmetical error? No. The solution of the difficulty lies in the Jewish system of family government. (1) Families of daughters were not reckoned. (2) Many families, as in the case of Jacob's twelve separate families, reckon but one first-born, Ge. 49. 3. (3) In many families the first-born would be dead. (4) In some the Jewish law permitted absolute sale, disfranchisement, or substitution, Ge. 25.3; 27.19,29,37. 1 Ch. 5.1. These, without any other causes, are quite sufficient to account for the fewness of the numbers recorded.—C.
44 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
45 Take 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 the LORD.
46 And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the first-born of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites,
47 Thou shalt even take k five shekels[≈ 57 g · 2 oz] apiece by the poll; after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (l the shekel is twenty gerahs[≈ 11 g · 0.4 oz]:)
k ch. 18.16. Le. 27.6,25. Ex. 30.13. Eze. 45.12.
l Ex. 30.13. Le. 27.25. ch. 18.16. Eze. 45.12. About 27 pence half-penny.
48 And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd2 number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.
2 It was a singular circumstance, and indicative of the overruling providence of God, that the number of the males of the Levites and the number of the first-born males of all the other tribes should have so nearly coincided. It was so ordained, however, that the coincidence should not be exact. Of the latter there were two hundred threescore and thirteen more than of the former, and for this odd number the redemption money must be paid according to the law. This money, we may suppose, would be given out of a common fund.—I.
49 And Moses took the redemption-money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:
50 Of the first-born of the children of Israel took he the money; m a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels[≈ 16 kg · 34 lb], after the shekel of the sanctuary:
m £155, 14s. Tit. 2.14. He. 9.12. 1 Ti. 2.5,6. Mat. 20.28. 1 Pe. 1.18,19; 3.18.
51 And Moses n gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.
n ch. 16.15. Ac. 20.33. 1 Co. 4.1,2. 1 Pe. 5.2.
Notes
[Ver. 2. In a former note (see ch. 2. 3) we have seen the Scripture authority for interpretation of names. In the names of the tribes, there was a national lesson, addressed to rulers; in that of the Levites, an ecclesiastical lesson, addressed to pastors and teachers. Aaron, teacher, mountain of strength. —Note, When Christ, in risen humanity, declared 'All power is given to me,' he immediately added, 'go ye therefore, teach all nations,' Mat. xxviii. The mountain strength of the church lies in faithful teaching.—Nadab, prince, free gift. Abihu, he is my father. The first a title of dignity in the state, the second of productiveness and superiority in the family, yet, for want of attention to paternal teaching, both are cast down from their office and die childless. A warning to the teachers of others to 'ask for the old paths'—the old paths, not of men inventing novelties, but of the Spirit speaking in the Scriptures. The teachers, and fathers, and foundation of the church, are the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the great teacher and chief corner-stone, Ep. 2. 20. Eleazar, help of God. Ithamar, woe to the change or to the palm. Two names that strikingly contrast with the two foregoing, and teach church-rulers where their 'great strength lies,' neither in 'princes nor in the son of man,' Ps. 146. 3, but in the help of God, and a humble, faithful testimony and adherence to the unchanging principles of Scripture truth. Gershon, change of pilgrimage. Libni, whiteness. Shimei, that hears. Kohath, congregation. Amram, exalted people. Izhar, that shines. Hebron, society, friendship. Uzziel, strength of God. Merari, bitter. Mahli, my song. Mushi, he that withdraws. Eliasaph, my God completes. Lael, with or for God. Elizaphan, my God that hides. Zuriel, God my rock. Abihail, father of strength. C.]
Reflections.—I bless the Lord, who so loved as to give his only begotten Son for a lost world of sinful men, and caused him to redeem them with his hard service, extending to the whole church, and all the concerns of it. But let the awful punishment of such as have profaned the service of God, as if it had been a common thing, excite me to the utmost reverence, care, and diligence, regulated by the divine command. If my work be hard, God will supply me with proper help. If God hath saved my life, he hath a right to dispose of me as he pleases, with respect to my station and work: and it is my duty cheerfully to comply, whether my work be more or less hard or honourable: but the greater the honour the greater is the danger if I mistake. And while I bless God that he hath a tribe of ministers and people, and lament thit is in general by far the smallest, let me, with Moses, show no ambition to have my own family distinguished in honour, but only in holiness and virtue.
Measures in square brackets are modern equivalents added for this edition. They are not in the King James text or in Brown’s notes. They use common scholarly estimates: a cubit is about 45.7 cm (18 in), a shekel about 11.4 g (0.4 oz), an ephah about 22 litres. Money values give the worth of the silver or gold at spot prices on 28 October 2026, not what the sum would buy in the ancient world.