CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Numbers 3
Chapter 3 of 36
Chapter Overview
What happens in Numbers 3
This chapter lists the family of Aaron and the three clans of the Levites. God explains that the Levites belong to him in place of every firstborn son in Israel. Each Levite clan is given a specific job and camping position around the tabernacle.
Scripture
Numbers 3
Aaron's Sons
Study note
Aaron had four sons who were anointed as priests. However, his two oldest sons, Nadab and Abihu, died when they offered the wrong kind of fire before the Lord. That left Eleazar and Ithamar to serve as priests under their father.
1 Here is the record of Aaron and Moses' family from the time the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai.
2 Aaron had four sons: Nadab was the oldest, followed by Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
3 These sons of Aaron were anointed and officially set apart to serve as priests. 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. 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.
The Levites Are Given to Aaron
Study note
God assigned the entire tribe of Levi to serve under Aaron the priest. Their job was to help with the work of the tabernacle and serve the whole community. Only Aaron and his sons could perform the actual priestly duties. Any outsider who tried to act as a priest would be put to death.
5 The Lord told Moses, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
6 "Bring the whole tribe of Levi and introduce them to Aaron the priest. They will work as his assistants." Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.
7 "Their job is to serve Aaron and the whole group at the tent of meeting. They must take care of the work tied to the tabernacle." 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 "They must take care of all the equipment in the tent of meeting. They serve the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle." 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 "Hand the Levites over to Aaron and his sons. Out of all the Israelites, the Levites are the ones fully dedicated to serving Aaron." 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 "Put Aaron and his sons in charge of the priesthood. If anyone who is not a priest comes near the holy area, that person must be put to death." 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.
The Levites Replace the Firstborn
Study note
God claimed every firstborn son in Israel as his own because he had spared them during the last plague in Egypt. Now God was taking the Levites to serve him in place of those firstborn sons.
11 The Lord also told Moses, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
12 "I am claiming the Levites from among the Israelites as substitutes for every firstborn son. The Levites belong to me." 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 "Every firstborn is mine. When I struck down every firstborn in Egypt, I claimed all the firstborn in Israel for myself, both people and animals. They belong to me. I am the Lord." 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.
Counting the Levite Clans
Study note
Unlike the other tribes who counted men twenty and older, the Levites were counted from one month old and up. The three main clans were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Each clan was assigned a side of the tabernacle and given responsibility for certain parts of it. The total Levite count was 22,000 males.
14 In the Sinai wilderness, the Lord told Moses, And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,
15 "Count the Levites by their family groups and clans. Register every male who is at least one month old." 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 Moses did the count just as the Lord directed. And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.
17 Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.
18 Gershon's clans were named Libni and Shimei. And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei.
19 Kohath's clans were named Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
20 Merari's clans were named Mahli and Mushi. These were all the family groups within the tribe of Levi. 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 Gershon's descendants formed two clans: the Libnites and the Shimeites. Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.
22 The total number of males one month old or older among them was 7,500. 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 Gershonite clans set up camp on the west side, behind the tabernacle. The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.
24 Their leader was Eliasaph son of Lael. And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.
25 The Gershonites cared for the tabernacle itself. This included the main tent and its covering. It also included the curtain at the tent of meeting's door. 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 They also cared for the courtyard curtains. They managed the curtain at the courtyard entrance near the tabernacle and altar. They handled all the ropes for these items. 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 Kohath's descendants formed four clans: the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites. 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 Their total of males one month old or older was 8,600. The Kohathites had the job of caring for the holy area. 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 Kohathite clans set up camp on the south side of the tabernacle. The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.
30 Their leader was Elizaphan son of Uzziel. And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.
31 They looked after the ark, the table, and the lampstand. They cared for the altars and the sacred vessels used in worship. They managed the inner curtain and all related items. 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 The chief overseer of all the Levites was Eleazar, Aaron the priest's son. He supervised everyone who cared for the holy area. 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 Merari's descendants formed two clans: the Mahlites and the Mushites. Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.
34 Their total of males one month old or older was 6,200. 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 Their leader was Zuriel son of Abihail, and they camped on the north side of the tabernacle. 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 The Merarites cared for the tabernacle's wooden frames and crossbars. They managed the posts, bases, and all the tools that went with them. 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 They also maintained the posts around the courtyard, along with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes. 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 comes near shall be put to death. 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 When Moses and Aaron finished counting all the Levite males one month old or older, clan by clan, the total was 22,000. 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.
Counting the Firstborn and the Redemption Payment
Study note
God told Moses to count all the firstborn males in Israel one month old or older. There were 22,273, which was 273 more than the Levites. For those extra 273, a payment of five shekels each was required and given to Aaron and his sons.
40 Then the Lord told Moses, "Now count every firstborn male in Israel who is one month old or older. Write down all their names." 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 "Then set the Levites apart for me as replacements for all the firstborn Israelites. I am the Lord. Also take the Levites' livestock as replacements for all the firstborn livestock of the Israelites." 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 Moses counted every firstborn male in Israel. He followed the Lord's orders. And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
43 The total of firstborn males one month old or older came to 22,273. 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 The Lord told Moses, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
45 "Set apart the Levites as replacements for all the firstborn of Israel, and take the Levites' livestock in place of the Israelites' livestock. The Levites are mine. I am the Lord." 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 "Since there are 273 more firstborn Israelites than there are Levites, you need to pay a ransom for those extra people." 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 "Collect five shekels of silver for each one. Use the standard sanctuary weight of twenty gerahs per shekel." 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 "Give that silver to Aaron and his sons as the ransom payment for the extra firstborn." And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.
49 So Moses collected the ransom money for those whose number went beyond the Levites. And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:
50 He collected 1,365 shekels of silver from the firstborn of Israel. He used the sanctuary's standard for measuring. 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 Moses gave the payment money to Aaron and his sons, just as the Lord had told him to. 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.
Key Themes
Themes in Numbers 3
Substitutionary service before GodThe cost of careless worshipRedemption through a priceSacred calling and consecration
Prophetic Connections
How this chapter points to Christ
Numbers 3:12-13 1 Peter 1:18-19
The redemption of the firstborn through the Levites foreshadows the ultimate redemption of believers through Christ, purchased not with silver but with precious blood.
Apply This Today
Living Numbers 3
The Levites served God in place of every firstborn, foreshadowing the idea that one can stand in the gap for many. Nadab and Abihu's deaths remind us that approaching God demands reverence. God provides a way of redemption, but it always comes at a cost.
Go Deeper
Study Numbers in Covenant Path
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