Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 3:2
And these [are] the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
2-4. And these are the names of thesons of AaronAll the sons of Aaron, four in number, wereconsecrated to minister in the priest’s office. The two oldestenjoyed but a brief term of office (Lev 10:1;Lev 10:2; Num 3:4;Num 26:61); but Eleazar andIthamar, the other two, were dutiful, and performed the sacredservice during the lifetime of their father, as his assistants, andunder his superintendence.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And these [are] the names of the sons of Aaron,…. The Targum of Jonathan adds, disciples of Moses, the master of the Israelites; none of the posterity of Moses being expressly, named; Jarchi observes, that the sons of Aaron are called the generations of Moses, because he taught them the law; for whoever, he says, teaches his neighbour’s son, the law, the Scripture accounts of him as if he begat him, see 1Co 4:15;
Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar; as in Ex 6:23.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Chapter 3 The Priests and the Levites.
In this chapter more information is given about the priests and Levites, those set apart by Yahweh to watch over His Dwellingplace. Their task was to watch over the holiness of the Sanctuary.
The Consecration of the Priests to Yahweh ( Num 3:2-4 ; Num 3:10 ).
We are first given a summary of the priesthood as it then was, and their consecration. At this stage it can be seen why they would need assistance from the tribe of Levi. Apart from these five, soon to become three, no one apart from Moses was allowed within the Sanctuary, although the sons of these priests were no doubt already growing up. Aaron was by this time ‘well matured’ (Exo 7:7) and Eleazar and Ithamar were no doubt married and would have developing sons of their own. The priests would soon multiply. But as yet they were still few.
Num 3:2-3
‘And these are the names of the sons of Aaron, Nadab the first-born, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests that were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office.’
The names of the anointed priests apart from Aaron are given, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. These were his natural born sons whom, at Yahweh’s command, he had consecrated to minister with him in the priest’s office. (Or the ‘he’ may be Yahweh).
Num 3:4
‘And Nadab and Abihu died before Yahweh, when they offered strange fire before Yahweh, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children; and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the presence of Aaron their father.
But two of these four were slain ‘before Yahweh’, in the Sanctuary precincts, because they treated the things of God lightly, offering non-holy incense (‘strange fire’, that is, not in accord with God’s commandments) before Him. In view of the fact that everything in Numbers 4 is described as being under the control of Eleazar and Ithamar it is clear that that event had already happened by this stage.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Let the Reader not lose sight of the intention, which probably the HOLY GHOST had in view, in causing the sin of Aaron’s two eldest sons to be again mentioned. The church of GOD is a sacred inclosure out of the world’s wilderness. Let no man rush into it with strange tire, and sparks of his own kindling. Remember Nadab and Abihu! Lev 10:2 . My soul! though thou seekest the acceptance, both of thy person and thy offering, only in the blood and righteousness of JESUS, take heed how thou venturest into the divine presence, in a careless, unconcerned and indifferent frame of mind! See Lev 10:3 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Num 26:60, Exo 6:23, Exo 28:1, 1Ch 6:3, 1Ch 24:1
Reciprocal: Num 17:3 – General Jos 21:10 – General