Numbers 3

The Genealogy of the Priests, verse 1. Etc. with whom the Levites are joined in the Administration of the Tabernacle, 5. And their three Families are numbered, and the places of their habitations assigned by the Tabernacle, as also their offices, 14. The first born of the Israelites, into whose place the Levites were substituted, are numbered by God’s command, 40. And for as much as their number was greater than that of the Levites, the rest are redeemed, 44. And the money made of it, given to Aaron and his sons, 51.

1. These now are the Birth’s (Generations) of Aaron and Moseh; [Understand hereby the relation or rehearsal not onely of some particular persons, as Moseh and Aaron, together with his sons and the Levites, but likewise of that which through God’s Ordinance fell out and came to pass amongst them: Thus the Word Birth, or Generations is likewise taken, Genesis 6:9. And 25. 18. See likewise chapter 37. 2. With the Annotations thereon] on the day (when) the LORD spoke with Moseh, on Mount Sinai.

2. And these are the names of the sons of Aaron, the first-born Nadab; after that Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

3. These are the Names of the sons of Aaron the Priests (in the plural) which were anointed, whose hands were filled to administer the Priesthood. [i.e. who were consecrated for the service of the Priesthood. See the explaining of this kind of speaking, Lev. 7. On verse 37. Item see Exodus 28:41. And 29. 9.]

4. But Nadab and Abihu died before the face of the LORD, [see Lev. 10. On 2.] when they brought strange fire before the face of the LORD, [see Lev. 10. On verse 1.] In the wilderness of Sinai, and had no Children, but ELeazar and Ithamar administered the Priestly office, before the face of their father Aaron. [i.e. in their father’s lifetime, see the like phrase, Genesis 11:28.]

5. And the LORD spoke to Moseh, saying;

6. Cause the Tribe of Levi to approach, and put him before the face of Aaron the Priest, that they may serve him.

7. And that they observe his guard [Or, keep his orders and command, Heb. Keep his keeping, see the like below, vers. 8. 28, 32, 38. And chapter 9. 19. Item see Lev. 8. On verse 35.] and the guard of the whole Congregation, [i.e. which the whole Congregation otherwise was to observe and keep, in whose name the first born of the Israelites had formerly attended this charge, as appears Exodus 19:22. But now it was laid on the Levites, see above chapter 1. 53. And compare below here verse 38. And chapter 16. 9.] Before the Tabernacle of the Congregation, for to administer the service of the Tabernacle.

8. And that they take care of all the furniture of the Tent of the Congregation, and the Guard of the Children of Israel, [i.e. that which formerly belonged to the care of the Children of Israel, by their first born] to administer the service of the Tabernacle.

9. Thou shalt then give the Levites unto Aaron and his sons; they are given, they are given him out of the Children of Israel.

10. But Aaron and his sons thou shalt place, that they take care of their Priests office, and the stranger which approacheth shall be put to death. [i.e. He that is not of the Priestly house or off-spring, to whom it was not at all permitted, to administer the Priests office, see likewise below verse 38. And chap 16. Verse 40. Item compare Lev. 22. Verse 10.]

11. And the LORD spoke to Moseh, saying;

12. And I behold, I have taken the Levites out of the midst of the children of Israel; in stead of all the first-born that openeth the womb, [Heb. The opening of the womb: thus both men and beast, the first that come forth out of the womb of their mothers and dams, are called in Scripture, Exodus 13:2. And 34. 19. And below chapter 18. 15.] Out of the Children of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine.

13. For all (or, every) first-born is mine; from that day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, have I hallowed me all the first-born in the land of Egypt, have I hallowed me all the first-born in Israel, from the men to the beasts: they shall be mine, I am the LORD.

14. And the LORD spoke to Moseh in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying;

15. number the sons of Levi, by the house of their Fathers, according to their Families; all the is male, from one month old and upwards, them thou shall number. [Heb. From a son of the month. The numbering of the Levites was threefold. 1. From one month old and upwards, at which time they were hallowed to the LORD, whereof our text here speaketh, and below verse 40. 2. From 25 year old and upwards who were the principal, not only in the administration of the Tabernacle, but likewise in the transportation thereof and its furniture, of which see below chapter 4. 3. Who having attained to the fiftieth year, they then were exempted from further attendance in this kind, and onely obliged to assist the rest with their authority, inspection, direction and advice, below chapter 8. Verse 25. 26.]

16. And Moseh numbered them according to the LORDs command, [Heb. Mouth, see Gen. 41. On verse 40. And Exodus 17:1. And below here verse 39.] according as it was joined him.

17. These now were the sons of Levi; by their names Gerson and Kahath, [Heb. Kehath otherwise also called Kohath, as in the following 19. Verse, etc.] And Merari.

18. And these are the names of the sons of Gerson, by their Families, Libni and Simei.

19. And the sons of Kohath, by their Families, Amram and Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.

20. And the sons of Merari by their Families, Maheli and Musi, these are the Families of the Levites, according to the house of their Fathers.

21. Of Gerson was the Family of the Librites, and the family of the Simeites, these are the families of their Gersonites.

22. Their numbered (ones) were in number, of all that was male, from a month old, [Heb. from a son of the month and so in the sequel] and upwards, their numbered ones were seven thousand and five hundred.

23. The families of the Gersonites shall camp themselves behind the Tabernacle westward. [Heb. seaward, see above chapter 2. On verse 18.]

24. The principal now of the fatherly house of the Gersonites, shall be Eliazaph the son of lael.

25. And the Guard [Heb. keeping, or observation, heeding, i.e. that which they were to keep or observe and take care for] of the sons of Gerson in the Tent of the Congregation, [Here the charge of these and the rest of the Levites is pointed at, but afterwards more largely described] shall be the tabernacle and the Tent: [whereby understand all the Curtains, Hangings, Coverings and Deckings of the same belonging to any part thereof, which were to be carried by the Gersonites] its cover, and the cover at the door of the Tent of the Congregation.

26. And the hangings of the Court, and the Deck of the door of the Court, which are by the Tabernacle and by the Altar round about, together with its coards, for all the service thereof.

27. And of Kohath is 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.

28. In the number of all that was male; from a month old and upwards (there) were eight thousand and six hundred, taking care of the Guard of the Sanctuary. [See above on verse 7.]

29. The families of the sons of Kohath shall camp themselves, on the side of the Tabernacle southward. [The south hath its name in the Hebrew from the right hand, because that they which turn themselves with their faces towards the East, have the South in that posture on the right hand.]

30. The principal now of the Fatherly house of the Families of the Kohathites, shall be Elizaphan, the son of Uziel.

31. Their Guard now shall be the Ark, and the Table, and the Candlestick, and the Altars, [Understand the Incense Altar and the Altar of the burnt offerings, as may be seen below, chapter 4. Verse 11, 13. Whereof the latter stood in the Court, and the former within the holy place] and the furniture of the Sanctuary, wherewith they do service, [they viz. the Priests] and the Cover, [hereby understand the Vail of Partition between the holy place, and the most holy, together with the Covers we read below, chapter 4. Verse 5, 6, 7, & c.] and all (that belongs to) his service. [Heb. and all his service i.e. all the furniture, utensils and implements belonging thereunto, compare below chapter 4. Verse 26.

32. The Principal now [Who was to be over the principals of the Levites, and the next in Dignity after the High-Priest, whose place he supplied in time of exigency, see 1 King 4. On verse 4. Being therefore called the second Priest, 2 King 25. 18.] of the principals of Levi, [whereof there were three of each family, One, viz. Eliazaph of Gersons family, above verse 24. And Elizaphan of Kohaths, verse 30. And Zuriel of Merari’s verse 35.] shall be Eleazar, the son of Aaron the Priest (his) inspection [viz: Eleazars, who was the principal of the Levites principals] shall be over them that take care of the Guard of the Sanctuary, [i.e. which have any charge or employment about the service of God there : Otherwise, instead of his inspection, etc. the text may be read thus; this is the office (or, function) of them that take care of the Guard of the Sanctuary, taking these words to be the conclusion of what is said touching the office of the Kohathites.]

33. Of Merari, is the family of the Mehalites, and the family of the Musites, these are the families of Merari.

34. And their numbered (ones) in the number of all that was male, from a month old and upwards, were six thousand and two hundred.

35. The Principal now of the fatherly house of the families of Merari shall be Zuriel, the son of the Abihail; they shall camp themselves on the side of the Tabernacle Northwars.

36. And the inspection of the Guards of the sons of Merari, shall be over the planks of the Tabernacle and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the feet thereof, and all the furniture thereof, and all (that belongs to) his service. [In regard that the Merarites had a greater burden to earry then the Gersonites, as appeareth by comparing this and the next verse, with the former 25. And 26. Therefore the Merarites were allowed four Wagons for their service, and eight Oxen; whereas the Gersonites were to have but two Wagons and four Oxen, see below chapter 7. 7, 8.]

37. And the Pillars of the Court round about, and their feet, and their pins, and their coards.

38. Those now, that are to camp themselves Eastward, before the Tent of the Congregation towards the rising, shall be Moseh and Aaron with his sons, taking care of the Guard of the Sanctuary, for the guard of the Children of Israel ought otherwise to have taken care of themselves, see above on verse 7.] And the stranger that approacheth, shall be put to death. [see above on verse 10.]

39. All the numbered of the Levites, whom Moseh and Aaron numbered by their families on the LORD’s command, all that was male from a month old and upwards were Twenty and two thousand. [Viewing the precedent verses 22, 28, 34. We find that the number of the Gersonites was seven thousand and five hundred, that of the Kohathites eight thousand and six hundred, and the Merarites, six thousand and two hundred, making in all two and twenty thousand and three hundred, full three hundred more than are mentioned in this verse here; but it must be remembered, that unto the number of two & twenty thousand, the Priests, being of the Family of the Kohathites, and the first-born of the Levites themselves were to be added, who (making up three hundred together) not being given to the Priests, but remaining God’s own in peculiar manner, Exodus 13:2. And not being able to serve for the redeeming of others, being themselves first-born, and therefore there are justly summoned up two and twenty thousand only, because no more were given to the Priests.

40. And the LORD said to Moseh, number all the first-born that is male, among the Children of Israel from a month old and upwards, and take up their number names.

41. And thou shalt take for me the Levites (I am the LORD) instead of all the first-born among the Children of Israel.

42. Moseh then did number as the LORD had commanded him, all the first-born among the Children of Israel.

43. And all the first-born, being male, in the number of the names from a month old and upwards, according to their numbered (ones) were twenty and two thousand two hundred seventy and three.

44. And the LORD spoke to Moseh, saying;

45. Take the Levites ones, of whom see above verse 39.] instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel, and the beasts of the Levites, instead of their beasts: for the Levites shall be mine, I am the LORD.

46. As for the two hundred seventy and three, which shall be redeemed, exceeding the Levites [Who were but two and twenty thousand (capable of entering the account) above verse 39. And the first-born two and twenty thousand, and two hundred seventy three, verse 43.] of the Children of Israel.

47. Thou shalt take for each head five shekels [Heb. five five shekels by the head or skull] according to the shekel of the Sanctuary [see Gen. 20. On vers. 16. And 23. On vers. 15.] shalt thou take them, that shekel is twenty Gerah [see Lev. 27. On vers. 25.]

48. And thou shalt give that money to Aaron and his sons (the money) of the redeemed, which exceed (the number) among them.

49. Then Moseh took that redemption money of those which exceeded above (the number of) them that were redeemed by the Levites. [viz. by 273. Mentioned before verse 46. And consequently, so many first-born were to be redeemed with money, compare the Annotations on verse 46.]

50. Of the first-born of the Children of Israel [viz. which, or so many as exceeded the number of the Levites] he took that money; one thousand and three hundred and sixty and five (shekels) according to the shekel of the Sanctuary. [Each head of two hundred seventy three first-born, exceeding the number of the Levites, was to pay five shillings for his redemption, above verse 47. And the foresaid number of two hundred seventy three, being multiplied with five, produceth just the sum set down here.]

51. And Moseh gave that Money of the redeemed unto Aaron and his sons, according to the LORD’s command: [Heb. mouth] according as the LORD had commanded Moseh.