Numbers 3

mentioned Exod. xxxii. 29. which procured them this blessing, to be presented to God, and consecrated to him in a solemn maimer, for such services as he should assign them. So this word, bring near, signifies to offer them unto God: as they were, chap.viii. 10, 11. Before Aaron the priest.] In his presence. TJiat they may minister unto him.’] Unto Aaron and the rest of the priests, who were the immediate ministers of God; and the Levites were given to minister unto them: which they did many ways; especially while they remained in the wilderness, where they had a peculiar charge (which otherwise would have been incumbent on the priests), not only to guard the tabernacle, and keep a watch night and day about it; but also to take it down, and to carry it, when they removed, and to set it up again when they rested; as we read in the following part of this chapter, and in the next. When they came into the land of Canaan, and were settled there, they had less to do of, this kind: but as the charge of the tabernacle still lay upon them, as it had done before, so did other works in the courts of the Lord’s house, and in the chambers where they waited on the priests; which are particularly mentioned in 1 Chron. xxiii. 28, 29, &c. And in David’s time their work was still more increased; for he appointed them to be singers in the house of the Lord, and to play upon several sorts of instruments, (1 Chron. xxv.) which they did morning and evening, (1 Chron. xxiii. 80.) Porters, perhaps, there were before, who stood at the severaljgates of the tabernacle, as afterward of the temple; and are said therein H to minister in the house of the Lord," (1 Chron. xxvi. 12.) as also guards of the treasury of God’s house, and of things dedicated to him, (ver. 20.) But as he increased the number of. them, so he settled them in their courses, that there might be a constant attendance with greater ease. As for those of them that were made judges and officers, not only in matters concerning the Lord, but in the service of the king, (as we read there, 1 Chron. xxvi. 29, 30.) it no more belongs to what is said of them here, than what follows’there, (ver. 31.) that " there were, found among them mighty men of valour." (Sec upon ver. 10.) And the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.’] The outward veil, mentioned Exod. xxvi. 36. for the inward veil, which hung before the most holy place, was the charge of the Kohathites. 3S2 [chap, hi. Moses and Aaron numbered, at the commandment of the Lord.~] This looks like a contradiction to the observation I made, ver. 14. 1G. But Aaron’s numbering here, in all probability, is only agreeing that this was a true account which Moses took of the tribe of Levi. For Moses still continues to be alone concerned in numbering the firstborn of the children of Israel, for whom they were to be exchanged, (ver. 40. 42.) Were twenty and two thousand.’] If the particular sums beforementioned (ver. 22. 28. 34.) be put together, they amount to three hundred more than twenty-two thousand. Therefore it is a reasonable conjecture, that the three hundred are omitted in this account, because they were the first-born of the Levites themselves; and upon (hat score belonging to God already, (by the law in Exod. xiii. 2. xxxiv. 20.) could not be exchanged for the first-born of other tribes, and substituted in their stead, as other Levites were. It is very observable here also, that the Levites were the fewest in number of any tribe; - being but tivo-and-iwenty thousand three hundred, from a month old and upward: when some tribes were twice, nay thrice as many, (see chap. i. 27.) riot reckoning children, but only men from twenty years old and upward. In which the Divine Providence was very conspicuous, which so ordered it, that this whole tribe might be dedicated to him; whereas, if it had grown proportionably to the rest, there would have been more Levites by far than the first-born of all the tribes.

Numbers 3:1

JL HESEare the generations of Aaron and Moses. “Being now to give an account of the Levites, who had not been numbered with the rest of the children of Israel, he sets down the descendants of the principal persons among them; viz. Aaron (whom he puts in the first place, because he was the eldest brother, and his posterity were advanced to the dignity of priests) and Moses; whose posterity were only ministers to the priests, as all the common Levites were. It may seem, indeed, at first sight, as if he gave an account only of Aaron’s posterity; (ver. 2.) but if we look further to ver. 27,28. we shall find the posterity of both here numbered in the family of the Amramites, of whifch both Aaron and Moses were: Amram being their father; from whom’ the genealogy of the children of Moses is derived, (1 Chron. xxiii. 13, 14, &c.) through their generations; as here those of Aaron. Concerning the word generations, see Dr. Hammond on the first of St. Matthew”, note a.,’ In the day that the Lord spake unto Moses in Mount Sinai.] This circumstance seems to be particularly specified, because at that time Nadab and Abihu (who are mentioned in the next verse) were both alive, and very eminent persons, (Exod. xxiv. 1. 9,10.) though they were now dead, at this numbering of the Levites..

Numbers 3:2

These are the names of the sons of Aaron, Nadab the first-born, &c. There seems no necessity of setting down the names of Aaron’s sons, they not being here to be numbered. But it was of great concernment to have tho distinction preserved between the priests and the Levites, their offices being very different; and therefore Moses here sets down who belonged to the one, and who to the other. *

Numbers 3:3

These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed. See Levit. viii. 30. Which he consecrated.] In the Hebrew, whose hand he filled. (See Exod. xxviii.41. and xxix. 9.) To minister in the priest’s office.] He would have it noted, that Aaron’s posterity were solemnly consecrated to a higher office than the rest of the tribe of Levi, who were to be their servants: the very name of cohen carries dignity in it; signifying sometimes a prince, as well as a priest. Accordingly, the priests had very little servile work imposed upon them; but their chief business was to draw near to God, to present him with the blood, and the fat, and some part of the sacrifices which might be killed by other persons. This shews that they were God’s familiars; insomuch that some sacrifices were divided between him and them: and it was the same thing, whether they were consumed on the altar, or eaten by tho priests: and those things are said to be given to God which were put into their hands, though they never came to the altar: which is an evidence of the near relation they had to the Divine Majesty, which the Levites had not; for they could not come nigh to offer any thing to him, no more than the rest of the Israelites but were employed in inferior service about the tabernacle, that the priests might wholly attend to the service of God at the altar.

Numbers 3:4

And Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord, &c. A little after their consecration, (Lev. x. 1, &c.) And they had no children.] Which is here recorded, that all posterity might know there were none to be admitted to the office of priesthood, but such as could derive their genealogy from Eleazar or Ithamar. If the other had left any sons, they would have inherited their father’s office before Eleazar; as Maimonides observes out of Siphre: (see Schickard’s Jus Regium, cap. vi. Theor. xx.) And Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office, in thesight of their father.] The LXX. rightly translate it, together with their father, who was the high-priest, and they lower priests under him: and so were all their sons; which it is likely they had in good number: for they aro appointed, (ver. 38.) for the guard of the tabernacle towards the east. And thus tho Gemara Hierosol. in tho title concerning Fasting, saith, that Moses appointed eight classes of priests: four of tho family of Eleazar, and as many of Ithamar; which continued till the time of Samuel the prophet, and David, who admitted many more: (seo Selden de Success, in Pontif. cap. 1.).

Numbers 3:5

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying. Now he gives order about the rest of the tribe of Levi, who had been omitted in the late muster. Ver. G. Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them.] They had consecrated themselves to God by a noble act,

Numbers 3:7

And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation. It highly concerned Aaron in particular, and the whole congregation in general, that the tabernacle should be well guarded: and this was the Levites* great business at present; who took this charge from off their hands, by attending that service, which all of them were bound to perform. Before the tabernacle of the congregation.’] This exactly expresses in what their ministry consisted; which was not performed in the tabernacle (where the priests only officiated in the holy place, as the high-priest in the most holy), but before it, in the external part of it, where they assisted the priests in their service. k To do the service of the tabernacle.] Such service as I have mentioned before, (ver. 6.)

Numbers 3:8

And they shall keep. By guarding them, and keeping a continual watch about them. All the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation.] Every thing belonging to it. And the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.] By which service at the tabernacle they vol. I, took upon them the charge; which otherwise was incumbent on the whole congregation, who were to take care that the holy things were kept both safe and secure, and also separate to the sacred uses to which tfiey were appointed. These words, which are often repeated, [to do the service of the tabernacle,] are to be carefully noted; because the Levites did not serve in the tabernacle (which belonged only to the priests), but served the tabernacle, by guarding it, and taking it down, and carrying it, &c. as was said before.

Numbers 3:9

And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons. They were first presented unto God, (ver. 6.) and God bestowed them as a gift upon the priests. (See chap. viii. 19.) They are xvhqlly given unto him out of the children of Israel.] To attend upon the priests, and to obey their orders; for which they paid them nothing, but they were to do it freely, being given to them to be their servants by God, who paid them their wages.

Numbers 3:10

And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they sliall wait on their priest’s office. Or, thou shalt appoint them to wait on their priesthood: which he had shewn before was very different from the Levitical office; but, to make them more mindful of their dignity, he repeats it again; that Aaron and his sons alone should officiate as priests, viz. in offering sacrifice; in setting the bread upon the holy table; looking after the lights, and burning incense; which they were to perform in their own persons, and not appoint any others, as their deputies, to do them: for none of these things could be performed by the Levites, whose business it was to look after the fine flour of which the* bread w r as made; to prepare it, and the frankincense which was to be burnt; and abundance of such-like things, which are particularly mentioned, 1 Chron. ix. 27 — 29. 31, 32. But they could not make the anointing oil, or the sweet perfume, mentioned Exod. xxx. 23. 34. for they were most holy; and, therefore, the priests only could compound them. And the stranger that cometh nigh.] By stranger is meant any one (though a Levite) that was not of the sons of Aaron, who alone had the privilege to approach unto God. Shall beput to death.] God himself sent out a fire to consume Korah and his company, who presumed to offer incense, being but bare Levites, and not priests, (chap, xvi.) And Moses numbered them according to the word of the Lord, &c] This charge was committed to him alone, (ver. 10.) and he alone (as I there observed) performed it.

Numbers 3:11

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying. To make the matter more clear, he further tells Moses the reason, why he took the Levites from among the children of Israel to be his after a peculiar manner.

Numbers 3:12

And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel. Take notice of the reason why I have taken the Levites from among the rest of the Israelites, (ver. 9.) for it is by my order and appointment. Instead of all the first-born that openeth the matrix, &c] To make an exchange with them for all their first-born, which I have heretofore challenged as my own, and now take the Levites in their stead. • Tlierefore the Levites shall be mine.] As all the first-born were, which now shall he theirs, and the Levites be mine.

Numbers 3:13

Because all the first-born are mine. By a special right, which is mentioned in the next words. For on the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt.] The title whereby ho laid a claim to all the firstborn was, that great miracle (as R. Levi of Barcelona calls 3S uigmzea oy iviicroson <& [chap. in. it) which he wrought, when he destroyed all the first-born of their neighbours in Egypt, and touched not one of theirs. By which sparing mercy he acquired a just right to them; and by that solemn dedication which he then commanded to be made of them unto his uses, (Exod. xiii. 2. 12, 13.) I hallowed unto me all the first-born in Israel, &c] He separated them unto himself, by sparing them, when he killed all other first-born, but only theirs. Mine they shall be.] Both by that act of his own, and by the act of the children of Israel, whom he commanded to sanctify them to him, (Exod. xiii. 2. andxxii. 29.) they became God’s. By which it appears, that he had not a peculiar right in the first-born, more than in any other of their children, till their coming out of Egypt. And therefore, the taking of the Levites to be his, instead of the first-born, is no argument that the first-born had hitherto been the priests who ministered unto God, till this exchange of them for the Levites. So our learned Dr. Lightfoot seems to infer, in his notes upon this passage; " The first-born (saith he) had been priests till the consecration of the Levites; but now that function must be confined to that tribe." In which words (with due respect be it spoken to that excellent man’s labours) there are several mistakes. For, as the priesthood was not now confined to this tribe, but to one family in this tribe (that of Aaron), so it was not confined to it upon this occasion; but he and his sons wero consecrated before this exchange of the Levites for the first-born, who were now given to minister unto them, but had nothing to do with the priesthood; no more than the first-born had, for whom they were exchanged; that peculiar right which God had in the first-born being since their coming out of Egypt. Upon all which considerations, we may look upon this exchange as an argument rather that the first-born were not priests in former times than that they were: as the Jews fancy, and as many have suggested from this very taking of the Levites to be God’s portion in their stead. For so Menochius himself (lib. ii. de Repub. Jud. cap.l.)asserts from this very place, " Jus sacerdotum inLevitas translatuin, et eos loco prim ogenito rum acceptos, quibus hoc jus debehatur," that the right of priests was transferred to the Levites’, and they were accepted instead of the first-born, to whom that right belonged. In which there is not a word of truth, but only that the Levites were accepted instead of the first-born; who had the same right to the priesthood that the Levites had; that is, none at all. lam the Lord.] Who may take whom I please to be employed in my service; and think it reasonable that those whom I spared, when I slew the Egyptian first-born, should be mine.

Numbers 3:14

And the Lord spake unto Moses. There was some reason, no doubt, why Moses alone is commanded to take the number of the Levites upon this occasion, (as he alone did, ver. 1G.) when Aaron is joined with him in numbering the Israelites, (chap. i. 3.) and in numbering the Levites themselves who were fit for service, (chap. iv. 2. 41. 45.) nay, the chief of the Israelites assisted therein, (ver. 46.) And it is most probable he alone was employed to take this account, because Aaron was a party in it; the money.that was to be paid for so many of the first-born, as exceeded the number of the Levites, being given to him and to his sons, (ver. 48.) In the wilderness of Sinai.] This command immediately followed thp other, in the two preceding chapters, before they departed from the wilderness of Sinai; where they had been ever since God delivered the law to them from that mountain.

Numbers 3:15

Number the children of Levi, after the house of their fathers, by their families. Just as they had numbered the rest of the children of Israel. (See chap. i. 2.) Only those they numbered from twenty years old and upward; but the Levites from a month old and upward. Every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.] The reason of this difference was, that this was the age at which they were to redeem their first-born, (chap, xviii. 1C.) in whose stead the Levites were to be given unto God. (See ver. 40. of this chapter.)

Numbers 3:17

And these were the sons of Levi, by their names, Gershon, arid Kohath, andMerari. The same account we had before, (Gen. xlvi. 11. Exod. vi. 16.)

Numbers 3:18

And these are the names of the sons of Gershon, by their families, Libni and Shimei. The same is said Exod. vi. 17.

Numbers 3:19

And the names of the sons of Kohath, &c. They are mentioned in the same order, in Exod. vi. 18, 19.

Numbers 3:20

These are the families of the Levites, according to the house of their fathers. These were the principal families in this tribe; from whence the several households, and the persons in them, were derived.

Numbers 3:21

Of Gershon was the family, &c. From his two sons sprung two families; who had in them seven thousand and five hundred male children, from a month old and upward. •

Numbers 3:23

And the families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward. Where the most holy place was; and where they under the standard of Ephraim lay, in the great camp of Israel, (chap. ii. 18.) between whom and the tabernacle this part of the camp of Levi pitched.

Numbers 3:24

And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites, &c. The commander-in-chief, as we may style him, or the principal officer in this part of the camp of the Levites, w r as Eliasaph the son of Lacl; but of what family he was, whether of the Libnites or Shimites, is not related.

Numbers 3:25

And the charge of the sons of Gershon. That which was committed peculiarly to their care. In the tabernacle of the congregation.] In the things belonging to the tabernacle; for none went into it but “the priests alone. Shall be the tabernacle.’] Not the boards, and pillars, and bases of it, (for they belonged to the care of the sons of Merari, ver. 3G.) but the ten curtains, which were the inward hangings of it, and are called the mischan, or tabernacle, (Exod. xxvi. 1. and sec the next chapter of this book, ver. 25.) And the tent.] The outward curtains of goats’ hair, which are called ohel, the tent, (Exod. xxvi. 7. 12.) The covering thereof] The michse, as the Hebrews call it, or the covering of the tent, were the rams’ skins and badgers’ skins, which lay outmost of all, upon the curtains of goats’ hair; (Exod. xxvi. 14.)

Numbers 3:26

Andthehangingsofthecourt. SeeExod.xxvii.9. And the curtain for the door of the court J] Exod. xxvi. 16. Jtliidi is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about.] Or, as the Hebrew particle al may be translated, is over, or upon the tabernacle, &c. that is, this curtain at the door and the hangings of the court compassed the tabernacle, and the altar of btfimt-offerings (which stood at the door of it, Exod. xl. 19.) round about; so that they were not exposed to common sight: for these Gershonites had nothing to do with the altar itself, which was the charge of the Kohathites, (ver. 31.) And the cords of it.] This seems to refer, not merely to the curtain for the door of the court, but to all that went before, viz. the cords whereby those hangings were stretched out, and fastened by pins to the wood-work of the tabernacle: for the cords of that belonged to the custody of the sons of Merari, (ver. 37.) and we find pins and cords, as well for the tabernacle (that is, the hangings) as for the court, i. e. the boards, &c. (Exod. xxxv. 18.) For all the service thereof] Of this part of the house of God, as appears from ver. 31. and 36. where this is repeated with respect to the other parts of it.

Numbers 3:27

And ofKohath was the f amity of the Amramites, &c. He was the second son of Levi, and had as many more families sprung from him as from the eldest; among which was the family of the Amramites, of which were Moses and Aaron.

Numbers 3:28

In the number of all the mates, &c. Though there were four families of the Kohathites, and but two of the Gershonites, yet the latter were as numerous as they, within eleven hundred. Keeping the charge of the sanctuary.] Of what belonged to the holy place, which was committed to their charge, as it follows afterward; and they were instructed in it betimes..

Numbers 3:29

The families of the soiis ofKohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward. Between the tabernacle and the standard of Reuben, (chap. ii. 10.)

Numbers 3:30

And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Eli zaphan the son of Uzziel. There was a commander-in-chief appointed over this body of the Levites, who was chosen out of the youngest family of the Kohathites. But it is observable, there were no standards belonging to any of these bodies, they being designed for other service, and not for war.

Numbers 3:31

And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick. The sanctuary, as was said before, (ver. 28.) being committed to their custody, the particulars are here mentioned, which were the most precious of all the holy things, with which the Kohathites had the honour to be entrusted, though a younger family than those descended from Gershon, because Moses and Aaron were of it/ being of the family of the Amramites; which is the reason why the Kohathites are reckoned first in the next chapter; (ver. 2.) and that of the forty-eight cities given to the Levites by Joshua, almost half of them fell to their families, (Josh. xxi. 4, 5.) The altars.] Both the altar of burnt-offerings and the altar of incense. And the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they (i. e. the priests) minister.] See Exod. xxv. 29. xxxvii. 16. And the hanging.] That is, the veil before the most holy place, for all other hangings w T ere under the care of the Gershonites, (ver. 25. 26.) wherein the ark was wrapped, when they carried it, (chap. iv. 5.) And all the service thereof] Whatsoever belonged to this part of God’s house: (see ver. 26.) and the particulars are mentioned in the next chapter, ver. 7. 9. 14.

Numbers 3:32

And Eleazar, the son of Aaron, shall be chief over the chief of the Levites. There was one officer in chief set over each of these great families; of the Gershonites (ver. 24.) of the Kohathites, (ver. 30.) and the Merarites, (ver. 35.) And over all these chiefs there is now appointed a supreme chief (who was to govern them as they governed those under them), and that was Eleazar, who was more than a Levite, being the’ eldest son of Aaron, the high priest. And liave the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.] But, more particularly, Eleazar was to supervise those that had the sanctuary under their care; that is, all the Kohathites and Elizaphan their chief, (ver. 20.)

Numbers 3:33

] Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites, &c. Nothing is observable of these, but that they were the fewest in number, being thirteen hundred less than the children of Gershon, (see ver. 22.)

Numbers 3:35

These shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward. Opposite to the Kohathites; between the standard of Dan and the sanctuary, (chap. ii. 25.)

Numbers 3:36

And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari, shall be the boards of the tabernacle, &(?. Concerning all the things mentioned in this, and in the next verse,- see Exod. xxvi. 15, 16, &c. xxvii. 10 — 12, &c. and the next chapter of this book, ver. 31, 32.

Numbers 3:37

And their cords. These are different from those beforementioned, ver. 27. as I noted there.

Numbers 3:38

But those that encamp before the tabernacle towards the east. Where the entrance into it was. Even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward.] He would have this station observed, as much excelling the rest. Shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons.] There were but three bodies of the Levites, descended from the three sons of Levi, (ver. 1.) and therefore none left to guard this side of the tabernacle, but Moses and Aaron, and their families; who lay between the standard of Judah and the tabernacle, (see chap. ii. ver. 3.) which was the most honourable post, as I there noted: where the priests were with great reason placed, together with the chief governor of all, Moses; because they were to guard the holy place, that none might go into it but themselves. Keeping the charge of the sanctuary.] Of the entrance into it. For the charge of the children of Israel.] Which it concerned every one of the children of Israel should be kept sacred: (see ver. 7.) And the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death?] No man that was not of the house of Aaron (though a Levite) was, upon the peril of his life, to enter into the sanctuary: of which they had the charge: (see ver. JO.)

Numbers 3:39

All that were numbered of the Levites, which

Numbers 3:40

And the Lord said itn to Moses. To whom alone this command is directed, as I observed above. * Number all the first-born of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward.] The first-born males were to be a month old, before their parents were bound to redeem them: if they died before, they were not to pay any thing for them. Which depends upon another law, Lev. xii. 4. 6. where if a woman brought forth a male, besides the seven days of her separation, she was to stay threc-and-thirty days more before she went unto the sanctuary: at which time the child being to be presented to God, it appears that he acknowledged them for his when they were a month old. Yet they distinguish between the time when the redemption money was due, and when it was offered. This latter was deferred till the mother was abroad again: but it was due, and the father obliged to pay it, as soon as the child was a month old. So Const. L’Empereur observes outofMahnonides,upon Bava kama, cap. vii. sect. G. And take the number of their names.] That their number, and that of the Levites, might be compared one with the other; for the reason which here follows.

Numbers 3:41

And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the I^ord), instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel. God had taken them before, as we read, ver. 12. by declaring his will to Moses about it. And now he commands Moses to declare his will to the people, and actually to make this exchange; after he had taken the number, both of the first-born and of the Levites. For he had authority to take which he pleased, being their Lord. And the cattle of the Levites, instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.] Not that they should be sacrificed, or taken from the Levites; but that tie of the Levites, who were his entirely: and therefore were presented unto him, as the Levites were; but still continued in their possession by his allowance, for their encouragement in his service: (see ver. 45.)

Numbers 3:42

And Moses numbered as the Lord commanded him all the first-born of the children of Israel. But we do not find that he numbered the firstlings of their cattle, or the cattle of the Levites; because the exchange of them was not made in particular, by substituting one for one; but generally, by substituting all the cattle of the Levites, instead of all the firstlings of the Israelites* cattle.

Numbers 3:43

And all the first-born males, by the number of names, &c. and were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen. It may appear something strange, that, from above six hundred thousand men, (reckoning from twenty years old and upward, chap. i. 46.) there should not be more than this number of first-born sons; till it be considered, that thus many were born since the slaughter of the Egyptian first-born (which was not much above a year ago), after which time all the first-born of Israel became God’s; but not those that were born before: for $o the law is, Exod. xiii. 2. Wliatsoever openeth the womb, (i. e. hereafter) both of man and beast, shall be mine. -

Numbers 3:44

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying. Still he is the person solely employed in this business. • Ver. 451 Take the Levites instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle.] Having numbered both the Levites and the first-born, now he bids’ him take those two: andtwenty thousand Levites instead of so many first-born. As for the cattle, they “were not numbered, as I observed before, but exchanged in the lump, as we speak. t And the Levites shall be mine.] I think it is remarkable that he doth not add, and their cattle shall be mine also. For he did not take their cattle’from them when they became his; but left them the use of them, who still enjoyed them in his right. lam the Lord.] This exchange is made by my authority, who am the Lord, both of them and all they have.,

Numbers 3:46

And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen, &c. There being two hundred threescore and thirteen first-born more than there were Levites, they are directed, in the next verse, what to do about them. For there could be no exchange of Levites for them, because there was not a sufficient number to be taken in their stead.

Numbers 3:47

lliou shalt even take five shekels a-piece by the poll. This was the price of redemption ever after, as appears from chap, xviii. 1G. For it had been lately constituted the value of a man-child, from a month to five years old, in Levit xxvii. 6. After the shekel of the sanctuary, &c.] See Exod. xxx. 13, &c. The only difficulty in this matter was, to dctermino which of the first-born should be redeemed by paying this money, and which should be exchanged for the Levites. For every one of the Israelites, no doubt, was desirous rather to have his first-born redeemed by a Levite, than by paying five shekels; and yet some of them must be put to this expense, there not being Levites enough to answer for them all. The Jews think (particularly R. Solomon) that they should be accounted God’s cattle; they being the catj there was no way to satisfy this doubt like that by draw- Pigitizea by Microsoft ® CHAP, IV.] UPON NUMBERS. ing of lots, which was done in this manner. Moses, saith * the forenamed doctor, took two-and-twenty thousand scrolls of parchment, and wrote in them these words, a son of Levi; and two hundred and seventy and three, more, wherein he wrote five shekels; and then putting them all together in an urn, and shaking it to mingle them, he commanded every oue of the first-born to come, and put in his hand, and draw out a schedule: and to him that drew out one of the former sort, he said, a Levite hath redeemed thee; but to him that drew out one of the latter, he said, pay thy price. And thus they tell the story also in the Geraara Babylon. Tit. Sanhedrin, which is probable enough; unless we suppose the congregation to have redeemed the two hundred seventy-three first-born out of a common stock; which was a shorter way, but not so Divine as the other.

Numbers 3:48

And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron, and to his sons.) AVhich was but reasonable; because the Levites being given to them by God, (ver. 6, 7.), the money that was paid to make up what was wanting in their proportion to the first-born belonged to them likewise.

Numbers 3:49

And Moses took the redemption-money of thetn that were over and above. To whom the lot fell, having five shekels written upon it. Tliem that were redeemed by the Levites.’] The first-born were redeemed by the Levites as far as their number would reach; the rest, who were more than the Levites, were redeemed by money.

Numbers 3:50

Of tlie first-born of the children of Israel took he the money, a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels. Five times two hundred seventy and three make just this number.

Numbers 3:51

And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron, and to his sons. Which was a rule observed in future generations, (chap, xviii. 15, &c.) According to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.] This is so oft repeated, to shew how faithful a servant Moses was; who did nothing but by the Divine order, and omitted nothing that was commanded him.