Numbers 3
Overview
3:1 The sons of Aaron;
3:5 The Levites are given to the priests instead of the first-born;
3:14 are numbered by their families;
3:21 The families, number, and charge of the Gershonites;
3:27 of the Kohathites;
3:33 of the Merarites;
3:38 The place and charge of Moses and Aaron;
3:40 The first-born are freed by the Levites;
3:44 The overplus are redeemed. Verse 1 generations Genesis 2:4, 5:1, 10:1; Exodus 6:16, 6:20; Matthew 1:1 spake Numbers 1:1; Leviticus 25:1, 27:34 Reciprocal Numbers 1:47 - General; 1:50 - thou shalt; 8:1 - General; 26:57 - of Gershon; Deuteronomy 10:8 - time the Lord; 1 Chronicles 6:48 - brethren; Zechariah 12:13 - Levi Verse 2 Numbers 26:60; Exodus 6:23, 28:1; 1 Chronicles 6:3, 24:1 Reciprocal Numbers 17:3 - General; Joshua 21:10 - General Verse 3 the priests Exodus 28:41, 40:13, 40:15; Leviticus 8:2, 8:12, 8:30 whom he consecratedHeb. whose hand he filled, Exodus 29:1-37; Leviticus 8:1-9:24; Habakkuk 3:1 Reciprocal Exodus 30:30 - anoint; Leviticus 10:1 - Nadab; 10:2 - fire; Numbers 17:3 - General; Habakkuk 3:1 - General Verse 4 Nadab Numbers 26:61; Leviticus 10:1, 10:2 Reciprocal 1 Chronicles 6:50 - Eleazar; 15:4 - the children of Aaron; 24:2 - died Verse 5 Reciprocal Numbers 3:39 - and Aaron; 8:11 - they may execute Verse 6 The
; Numbers 1:49-53, 2:17, 2:33, 8:6-15, 8:22-26, 16:9-11, 18:2-6; Exodus 32:26-29; Deuteronomy 33:8, 33:9; Malachi 2:4 Reciprocal Numbers 8:19 - I have given; 1 Chronicles 23:28 - for the service; 23:32 - the charge of the sons; 2 Chronicles 29:11 - the Lord; Ezra 6:18 - as it is written Verse 7 keep Numbers 3:32, 8:26, 31:30; 1 Chronicles 23:28-32, 26:20, 26:22, 26:26 to do the Numbers 1:50, 8:11, 8:15, 8:24-26 Reciprocal Leviticus 8:35 - keep; Numbers 1:53 - shall pitch; 3:25 - the charge; 3:28 - keeping; 3:38 - for the charge; 4:3 - to do; 18:21 - even the service; 18:23 - do the service; Habakkuk 3:1 - serve Verse 8 Numbers 4:15, 4:28, 4:33, 10:17, 10:21; 1 Chronicles 26:20-28; Ezra 8:24-30; Isaiah 52:11 Reciprocal Numbers 1:53 - and the; 3:38 - for the charge; 4:12 - General; 4:32 - the instruments; 9:19 - kept the; 18:21 - even the service; 26:60 - General; 31:30 - keep the; Habakkuk 3:1 - serve Verse 9 Numbers 8:19, 18:6, 18:7; Ephesians 4:8, 4:11
Verse 10 they shall Numbers 18:7; 1 Chronicles 6:32; Ezekiel 44:8; Acts 6:3, 6:4; Romans 12:7; 1 Timothy 4:15, 4:16 and the stranger Numbers 3:38, 1:51, 16:35, 16:40, 18:3; 1 Samuel 6:19; 2 Samuel 6:7; 2 Chronicles 26:16-21; Ephesians 2:19; Habakkuk 3:1, 3:1-10:22 Reciprocal Exodus 29:33 - a stranger; Numbers 18:2 - but thou; 18:4 - a stranger; 18:22 - come nigh; Deuteronomy 18:5 - General; 1 Kings 12:31 - priests; 13:33 - whosoever; 1 Chronicles 13:7 - carried the ark; 2 Chronicles 23:7 - whosoever; Ezra 2:62 - therefore; Nehemiah 12:44 - Judah rejoiced Verse 11 Reciprocal Numbers 3:39 - and Aaron Verse 12 When Exodus 12:29
he spared those of the Israelites; and, in commemoration of that event, he was pleased to appoint that all the first-born males "should be set apart unto himself" - 13:12-16. God is here pleased to relinquish this claim, and to appoint the whole tribe of Levi to attend his immediate service in their stead.
; Numbers 3:41, 3:45, 8:16, 8:18, 18:6 Reciprocal 3:40 - General; 8:15 - and offer; 8:21 - offered Verse 13 Because Numbers 8:16, 8:17, 18:15; Exodus 13:2, 13:12, 22:29, 34:19; Leviticus 27:26; Ezekiel 44:30; Luke 2:23; Habakkuk 3:1 on the day Exodus 12:29, 12:30, 13:15 Reciprocal Deuteronomy 15:19 - the firstling Verse 15 Numbers 3:22, 3:28, 3:34, 3:39, 3:40, 3:43, 18:15, 18:16, 26:62; Proverbs 8:17; Jeremiah 2:2, 31:3; Mark 10:14; 2 Timothy 3:15 Reciprocal 1 Chronicles 23:24 - after the house; 2 Chronicles 31:17 - genealogy Verse 16 wordHeb. mouth, Numbers 3:39, 3:51, 4:27, 4:37, 4:41, 4:45, 4:49; Genesis 45:21; Deuteronomy 21:5
Verse 17 Numbers 26:57, 26:58; Genesis 46:11; Exodus 6:16-19; Joshua 21:1-45; 1 Chronicles 6:1, 6:2, 6:16-19 Gershon Numbers 15:5-23, 23:6-23, 24:1-26:65; Nehemiah 11:1-12:47 Reciprocal 1 Chronicles 6:43 - Gershom Verse 18 Numbers 3:21; Exodus 6:17-19; 1 Chronicles 6:17, 6:20, 6:21, 23:7-11, 25:4, 26:1-32; Nehemiah 12:1-26 Reciprocal Numbers 4:22 - General Verse 19 Numbers 3:27; Exodus 6:18, 6:20; 1 Chronicles 6:18, 6:38, 15:5, 15:8-10, 15:17-21, 23:12, 23:13, 23:18-20; 25:4, 26:1-32; Nehemiah 12:1-26 Reciprocal Leviticus 10:4 - Uzziel; Numbers 4:2 - General; Joshua 21:10 - General; 1 Chronicles 24:22 - Izharites; 26:23 - Amramites Verse 20 Numbers 3:33; Exodus 6:19; 1 Chronicles 6:19, 6:29, 6:44-47, 15:6, 23:21-23, 24:27-30, 25:3 Reciprocal Joshua 21:7 - General; 1 Chronicles 6:47 - Mahli; 6:63 - Merari; 23:24 - after the house; 2 Chronicles 31:17 - genealogy; Ezra 8:18 - Mahli Verse 21 Numbers 3:18 Reciprocal 4:22 - General; Joshua 21:6 - General; 1 Chronicles 6:17 - the sons of Gershom Verse 22 from a month oldThe males of all the other tribes were numbered from twenty years old and upwards; but, had the Levites been numbered in this way, they would not have been nearly equal in number to the first-born of the twelve tribes. Add to this, that as there must have been first-born of all ages in the other tribes, it was necessary that the Levites, who were to be their substitutes, should also be of all ages; and it appears to have been partly on this ground, that the Levites were numbered from a month old and upwards. Numbers 4:38-40 Reciprocal 3:15 - General; 3:39 - and Aaron; 4:44 - General; Joshua 21:6 - General Verse 23 Numbers 1:53, 2:17 Reciprocal 1:50 - shall encamp; 3:29 - General; 3:38 - toward; 8:15 - go in Verse 24 Laeli.e. unto, by, because of God, [H3815]. Numbers 3:24 Reciprocal 4:22 - General; 4:44 - General Verse 25 the chargeFrom this and the next chapter, we see the very severe labour which the Levites were to perform, while the journeyings of the Israelites lasted. When we consider, that there was not less than 14 tons 266 lbs. of metal employed in the tabernacle - see note on Exodus 38:24
besides the immense weight of the skins, hangings, cords, boards, and posts, we shall find it was no easy matter to transport this moveable temple from place to place. The Gershonites, who were 7,500 in number had to carry the tent, coverings, vail, hangings of the court, cords, etc. - Numbers 3:25 and 3:26
the Kohathites, who were 8,600, the ark, table, candlestick, altars, and instruments of the sanctuary - 3:31
and the Merarites, who were 6,200, 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 - 3:36 and 3:37. 3:7, 4:24-28, 7:7, 10:17; 1 Chronicles 9:14-33, 23:32, 26:21, 26:22; 2 Chronicles 31:2, 31:11-18; Ezra 8:28-30; Mark 13:34; Romans 12:6-8; Colossians 4:17; 1 Timothy 1:18 the tabernacle and Exodus 25:9, 26:1-14, 36:8-19, 40:19 and the hanging 26:36, 26:37, 36:37, 36:38, 40:28 Reciprocal 39:32 - all the; Numbers 4:25 - the curtains; 18:3 - only they; 31:30 - keep the Verse 26 the hangings Exodus 27:9-16, 38:9-16 the cords 35:18 Reciprocal 39:32 - all the; Numbers 3:25 - the charge; 4:25 - the curtains; 7:7 - Two wagons; 10:17 - the sons Verse 27 Numbers 3:19; 1 Chronicles 23:12, 26:23 Reciprocal Numbers 4:2 - General; 4:5 - Aaron shall come; 10:21 - the Kohathites; Joshua 21:5 - General; 21:10 - General; 1 Chronicles 23:13 - The sons; 24:22 - Izharites; Ezekiel 40:45 - the keepers Verse 28 eight thousand Numbers 4:35, 4:36 keeping 3:7, 3:31 Reciprocal 3:15 - General; 3:35 - shall; 3:39 - and Aaron; 4:44 - General; Ezekiel 40:45 - the keepers Verse 29 Numbers 3:23, 1:53, 2:10 Reciprocal 3:35 - shall; 3:38 - toward Verse 30 Reciprocal Leviticus 10:4 - Uzziel; Numbers 4:4 - General; 4:15 - These things Verse 31 the ark Numbers 4:4-16; Exodus 25:10-40, 31:1-35:29, 37:1-24, 39:33-42, 40:2-16, 40:30 the altars 27:1-8, 30:1-10, 37:25-29, 38:1-7 and the hanging 26:31-33, 36:35, 36:36 Reciprocal 25:23 - a table; 39:32 - all the; Leviticus 24:4 - the pure; Numbers 3:25 - the charge; 3:28 - keeping; 4:15 - These things; 7:9 - because; 18:3 - only they; 31:30 - keep the; Deuteronomy 10:8 - bear Verse 32 Numbers 4:16, 4:27, 20:25-28; 2 Kings 25:18; 1 Chronicles 9:14-20, 26:20-24 Reciprocal Numbers 3:7 - keep; 4:40 - General; 8:26 - to keep; Joshua 24:33 - Eleazar; 1 Chronicles 6:50 - Eleazar; 9:20 - Phinehas; Ezra 7:5 - Eleazar; Nehemiah 11:11 - the ruler; Ezekiel 40:45 - the keepers Verse 33 Numbers 3:20; 1 Chronicles 6:19, 23:21 Reciprocal Numbers 4:29 - General; 1 Chronicles 6:29 - Mahli; 6:47 - Mushi Verse 34 Numbers 1:21, 2:9, 2:11 Reciprocal 3:15 - General; 4:44 - General Verse 35 shall Numbers 3:28, 3:29, 1:53 northward 2:25 Reciprocal 3:38 - toward; 1 Chronicles 5:14 - Abihail Verse 36 under the custody and chargeHeb. the office of the charge, the boards. Numbers 4:29-33, 7:8; Exodus 26:15-29, 26:32, 26:37, 27:9-19, 35:11, 35:18, 36:20-34, 36:36; 38:17-20, 39:33 Reciprocal 26:19 - forty sockets of silver; 26:26 - bars of shittim wood; 39:32 - all the; Numbers 3:25 - the charge; 4:31 - the charge; 10:17 - the sons; 18:3 - only they; 31:30 - keep the Verse 37 Reciprocal Exodus 27:19 - all the pins thereof; 39:32 - all the; Numbers 3:25 - the charge; 4:31 - the charge; 7:8 - four wagons; 10:17 - the sons Verse 38 toward Numbers 3:23, 3:29, 3:35, 1:53, 2:3 keeping 3:10, 18:1-5; 1 Chronicles 6:48, 6:49 for the charge Numbers 3:7, 3:8, 3:10 Reciprocal Exodus 29:33 - a stranger; Numbers 1:51 - the stranger; 2:17 - tabernacle; 4:15 - they shall; 16:40 - that no; 18:7 - the stranger; 18:22 - come nigh; 1 Chronicles 23:32 - the charge of the sons; 2 Chronicles 23:7 - whosoever; Ezekiel 40:45 - the keepers Verse 39 and AaronThe word וֹאֹהֹרֹןֹ, weaharon, "and Aaron," has a point over each of its letters, probably designed as a mark of spuriousness. The word is wanting in the Samaritan, Syriac, and Coptic, and also in eight of Dr. Kennicott's and in four of De Rossi's manuscripts. Moses alone, as Houbigant observes, was commanded to number the Levites - Numbers 3:5, 3:11, 3:40, 3:44, 3:51 for as the money with which the first-born were redeemed was to be paid to Aaron and his sons - 3:48
it was decent that he, whose advantage it was that the number of the first-born should exceed, should not be authorized to take that number himself. twenty and two thousand. This total does not agree with the particulars; for the Gershonites were 7,500, the Kohathites 8,600, and the Merarites 6,200, which make a total of 22,300. Several methods of solving this difficulty have been proposed by learned men. Houbigant supposes there is an error in the enumeration of the Kohathites in 3:28
the numeral shesh, "six," being written instead of shalosh, "three," before "hundred." Dr. Kennicott's mode of reconciling the discrepancy, however, is the most simple. He supposes that an error has crept into the number of the Gershonites in 3:22, where instead of 7,500 we should read 7,200, as ך, caph final, which stands for 500, might have been easily mistaken for ר, resh, 200 (Dr. Kennicott on the Hebrew Text, vol. II. p. 212). Either of these modes will equally reconcile the difference. 4:47, 4:48, 26:62; Matthew 7:14 Reciprocal Numbers 3:15 - General; 3:16 - word; 3:43 - General; 3:46 - which are Verse 40 Numbers 3:12, 3:15, 3:45; Exodus 32:26-29; Psalm 87:6; Isaiah 4:3; Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3; 2 Timothy 2:19; Habakkuk 3:1; Revelation 3:5, 14:4 Reciprocal Leviticus 27:6 - from; Numbers 3:39 - and Aaron Verse 41 Numbers 3:12, 3:45, 8:16, 18:15; Exodus 24:5, 24:6, 32:26-29; Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:6 Reciprocal Numbers 16:9 - separated Verse 43 Numbers 3:39 Reciprocal 3:15 - General Verse 44 Reciprocal Numbers 3:39 - and Aaron Verse 45 Numbers 3:12, 3:40, 3:41 Reciprocal Exodus 34:20 - All the; Numbers 8:10 - General; 8:14 - and the Levites; 8:16 - instead of such; 18:6 - I have; Malachi 2:5 - covenant Verse 46 redeemed Numbers 18:15; Exodus 13:13 the two hundredAs the number of the Levites was 22,000, and the first-born males of the Israelites were 22,273, there were therefore 372 more of the latter than of the former, which are here ordered to be redeemed. The price of redemption is fixed at five shekels, or about 15s. each, in Numbers 3:47. This money, amounting to 1,365 shekels, equal to, 15s English, was taken of the first-born. There is some difficulty, however, in determining which of the first-born should be redeemed by paying this sum, and which should be exchanged for the Levites; for every Israelite, no doubt, would rather have his first-born redeemed by a Levite, than pay five shekels; and yet some of them must have incurred this expense. Rabbi Solomon Jarchi says, to prevent contention, Moses took 22,000 slips of parchment, and wrote on each a son of Levi, and 273 more, on which he wrote five shekels; then putting them in an urn, and shaking them together, he ordered every one of the first-born to draw out a slip. If he drew out one with the first inscription, he said to him, a Levite hath redeemed thee, but if he drew out one of the latter, he said, pay the price. This is pronounced by Dr. A. Clarke to be a stupid, silly tale; but when we know that the determination by lot was used among the Israelites, it does not seem improbable that it was now resorted to, though we cannot vouch for the accuracy of the detail. This species of redeeming men is referred to by St. Peter in his 1st Epistle 1 Peter 1:18, 1:19.which are Numbers 3:39-43 Reciprocal 3:50 - General Verse 47 five shekels Numbers 18:16; Leviticus 27:6 the shekel Numbers 3:50; Exodus 30:13; Leviticus 27:25; Ezekiel 45:12 Reciprocal Exodus 30:24 - the shekel; 38:24 - the shekel; Numbers 3:46 - the two hundred; 1 Chronicles 23:24 - by their polls Verse 48 Reciprocal Numbers 3:39 - and Aaron; 3:51 - Moses Verse 50 Numbers 3:46, 3:47; Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:5, 2:6; Titus 2:14; Habakkuk 3:1; 1 Peter 1:18, 3:18 Reciprocal 1 Chronicles 23:29 - for all manner of measure Verse 51 Moses Numbers 3:48, 16:15; 1 Samuel 12:3, 12:4; Acts 20:33; 1 Corinthians 9:12; 1 Peter 5:2 as the Lord Malachi 4:4 Reciprocal Numbers 3:16 - word; 3:39 - and Aaron; 4:49 - According to the