Numbers 3

The charge of Aaron, and his sons, joyntly; and of Eleazar, and Ithamar, distinctly; and of the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites, severally, is prescribed in the taking down, and carrying, and setting up of the Tabernacle. See Ch. X. 17, 21.

Numbers 3:39

twenty and two thousand] 300 Male-Levites are omitted in this summe, as appears out of ver. 22, 28, 34. which make up 22300. being all the males from a moneth old and upwards. And the First-born males of all the children of Israel in the twelve Tribes, from a moneth old, and upwards, being 22273. Ch. III. 43. (which argues at least twenty seven males in each family): And the surplusage of 273. verse 46. being redeemed at five Shekels apiece, amounting to 1375. Shekels, verse 50: All this argues the foresaid 300. male-Levites to be wittingly left out in the casting up of the summe; most likely omitted so, Because they were such First-born of the Levites, as were born from the time of the coming out of Egypt to the time of this reckoning; and in that regard were sanctified to God as his own, by his Law and challenge, Exod. XIII. 2. and so could not come into the number of the other Levites which were to be changed for the First-borne of the other Tribes, and in their stead to be substituted, and appropriated to God and his service.

This number of the Levites was very farre lesse then were of each other Tribe, Ch. III. with Ch. I. The number of the least Tribe, from twenty years old and upward, males able to go forth to warre, being 3200. Of the greatest, 74600. And the number of the male-Levites from a moneth old and upwards, being onely 22300.