1 These also [are] the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day [that] the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai.
2 And these [are] the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
3 These [are] the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office.
4 And 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.
5 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
6 Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.
7 And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.
8 And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.
9 And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they [are] wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.
10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’s office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
11 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;
13 Because all the firstborn [are] mine; [for] on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I [am] the LORD.
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 from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.
16 And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.
17 And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.
18 And these [are] the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei.
19 And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
20 And 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 Of Gershon [was] the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these [are] the families of the Gershonites.
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.
23 The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.
24 And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites [shall be] Eliasaph the son of Lael.
25 And the charge 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,
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 And of Kohath [was] the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these [are] the families of the Kohathites.
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 pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.
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 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 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.
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 northward.
36 And [under] the custody and 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 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, [even] before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, [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.
39 All 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, [were] twenty and two thousand.
40 And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.
41 And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I [am] the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.
42 And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
43 And all the firstborn males by 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.
44 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn 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 firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites;
47 Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take [them]: (the shekel [is] twenty gerahs:)
48 And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.
49 And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:
50 Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five [shekels], after the shekel of the sanctuary:
51 And Moses 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.
Overview of Numbers Chapter 3
Numbers Chapter 3 focuses on the organization and responsibilities of the Levitical priesthood, specifically the descendants of Aaron and the Levites. This chapter emphasizes the importance of the priestly role in the Israelite community and delineates the duties assigned to the Levites in relation to the Tabernacle.
Key Themes
- Priestly Lineage: The chapter establishes the significance of Aaron and his sons as the designated priests of Israel.
- Levitical Service: It outlines the roles of the Levites in assisting the priests and serving in the Tabernacle.
- Redemption of the Firstborn: The chapter introduces the concept of redeeming the firstborn among the Israelites, linking it to the Levites’ special status.
Detailed Analysis
1. The Family of Aaron and the Levites
Numbers 3 begins by listing the sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. The chapter highlights the tragic death of Nadab and Abihu due to their unauthorized offering to God, emphasizing the seriousness of their priestly duties.
- Nadab and Abihu: Their deaths serve as a warning against irreverence in worship.
- Eleazar and Ithamar: They are tasked with overseeing the priestly duties, indicating a continuation of leadership within the priesthood.
2. The Role of the Levites
The Levites are appointed to assist the priests and are set apart from the rest of the Israelite tribes. Their primary responsibilities include:
- Guarding the Tabernacle and its furnishings.
- Transporting the Tabernacle during the Israelites’ journeys.
- Performing various tasks related to the worship and maintenance of the Tabernacle.
This section highlights the Levites’ unique position within the Israelite community, as they are not given a land inheritance like the other tribes but are instead dedicated to the service of God.
3. The Redemption of the Firstborn
The chapter introduces the principle of redeeming the firstborn, which is a significant theme in the Old Testament. God claims the firstborn of Israel, both human and animal, as His own, reflecting His sovereignty and the importance of consecration.
- Significance of Redemption: The Israelites are instructed to redeem their firstborn sons and livestock, symbolizing their acknowledgment of God’s deliverance during the Exodus.
- Levites as Substitutes: The Levites are designated as substitutes for the firstborn of Israel, highlighting their special role in the community.
4. Census of the Levites
The chapter concludes with a census of the Levites, detailing their numbers by family groups. This census serves multiple purposes:
- Establishing the size and strength of the Levitical tribe.
- Facilitating organization and assignment of duties within the Tabernacle service.
- Reinforcing the idea of order and structure in the worship of God.
Conclusion
Numbers Chapter 3 is a foundational text that underscores the importance of the priestly and Levitical roles in ancient Israel. It emphasizes the seriousness of worship, the significance of redemption, and the need for order within the community. The chapter serves as a reminder of God’s holiness and the structured approach required in approaching Him through the established priesthood.
