Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 3:5
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,
5 10. The appointment of the Levites as an inferior, though sacred, body of priests’ servants.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
5-10. Bring the tribe of LevinearThe Hebrew word “bring near” is asacrificial term, denoting the presentation of an offering to God;and the use of the word, therefore, in connection with the Levites,signifies that they were devoted as an offering to the sanctuary, nolonger to be employed in any common offices. They were subordinate tothe priests, who alone enjoyed the privilege of entering the holyplace; but they were employed in discharging many of the humblerduties which belonged to the sanctuary, as well as in various officesof great utility and importance to the religion and morals of thepeople.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the Lord spake unto Moses,…. After he had given him the order for the numbering the children of Israel, and for the manner of their encampment and journeying:
saying; as follows.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Levites are placed before Aaron the priest, to be his servants.
Num 3:6 “ Bring near: ” as in Exo 28:1. The expression is frequently met with in connection with the position of a servant, as standing before his master to receive his commands.
Num 3:7-8 They were to keep the charge of Aaron and the whole congregation before the tabernacle, to attend to the service of the dwelling, i.e., to observe what Aaron (the priest) and the whole congregation were bound to perform in relation to the service at the dwelling-place of Jehovah. “ To keep the charge: ” see Num 1:53 and Gen 26:5. In Num 3:8 this is more fully explained: they were to keep the vessels of the tabernacle, and to attend to all that was binding upon the children of Israel in relation to them, i.e., to take the oversight of the furniture, to keep it safe and clean.
Num 3:9 Moses was also to give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. “ They are wholly given to him out of the children of Israel: ” the repetition of here and in Num 8:16 is emphatic, and expressive of complete surrender ( Ewald, 313). The Levites, however, as nethunim, must be distinguished from the nethinim of non-Israelitish descent, who were given to the Levites at a later period as temple slaves, to perform the lowest duties connected with the sanctuary (see at Jos 9:27).
Num 3:10 Aaron and his sons were to be appointed by Moses to take charge of the priesthood; as no stranger, no one who was not a son of Aaron, could approach the sanctuary without being put to death (cf. Num 1:53 and Lev 22:10).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Verses 5-13:
“Bring the tribe of Levi near,” not in a formal act of public presentation, but to assign to the Levites their appointed duties.
“Charge,” mishmereth, “a thing to be watched.” The Levites were to serve both Aaron and the congregation of Israel. The elaborate rituals of their religious duties required a large number of people to assist the priests. The Levites were to be trained and consecrated to this ministry.
“Instruments,” keli, “vessels.” This is an inclusive term, denoting armor, carriage, furniture, wares of various kinds.
The tribe of Levi was to be “wholly given” to Aaron by Jehovah God, not a personal possession but as ministers in the Tabernacle service, which was under the direction of Aaron and his descendants. But the Levites themselves were expressly forbidden to intrude into the priestly office, which was reserved exclusively for Aaron’s descendants.
Once again God affirms the law of the firstborn, see Ex 13:1, 2; 11-16; 34:19; Le 27:26-29. God claimed exclusive title to the firstborn. He assigned the unique distinction to the tribe of Levi to fill this role as the firstborn of Israel. This tribe was to be wholly dedicated to Him.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
5. And the Lord spake unto Moses. This passage contains two heads: first, That the Levites should be set apart for the ministry of the sanctuary and altar; and, secondly, That they should obey the chief priests of the family of Aaron, and do nothing except by their authority and command. But it has been already said, and we shall hereafter see again, that the tribe of Levi in general was divinely chosen to perform the sacred offices; so that the people might know that no one was worthy of so honorable a charge; but that it depended on the gratuitous calling of God, whose attribute it is to create all things out of nothing. In this way, not only was the temerity of those repressed who might be foolishly ambitious of the honor, but the whole Church was taught that, in order to worship God aright, there was need of extraneous aid. For, if the Levites had not stood between, the Law prohibited the rest of the people from having access to God, since it brought in the whole human race guilty of pollution. But, in order that they might be more certainly directed to the One Mediator, the high priesthood was exalted, and one priest was chosen to preside over all the rest: on this account God would have the Levites subject to the successors of Aaron. At the same time, He had regard to order, for a multitude, which is not governed by chiefs, will always be disorderly. Yet, it is unquestionable that the supreme power of Christ was represented in the person of Aaron; and hence the folly of the Papists is refuted, who transfer, or rather wrest, this example to the state of the Christian Church, (180) so as to set the bishops over the presbyters, and thus to fabricate the primacy of the Roman See. But if the true meaning of this figure be sought, it will be more appropriate to reason that, whatever ministers and pastors of the Church are now appointed, they are placed as it were under the hand of Christ, in order that they may usurp no dominion, but behave themselves modestly, as having to render an account to Him who is the Prince of pastors. (1Pe 5:4.) Hence we conclude that the Papacy is only founded in wicked sacrilege; for Christ is unjustly deprived of His own, if any one else is feigned to be Aaron’s successor. Meanwhile, the political distinction of ranks is not to be repudiated, for natural reason itself dictates this in order to take away confusion; but that which shall have this object in view, will be so arranged that it may neither obscure Christ’s glory nor minister to ambition or tyranny, nor prevent all ministers from cultivating mutual fraternity with each other, with equal rights and liberties. Hence, too, was taken that declaration of the Apostle, that it is not lawful for any man to take this honor upon himself, but that they are the legitimate ministers of the Church who are “called” to be so. (Heb 5:4)
(180) “ Lesquels partissent tellement l’ordre de leur Hierarchyie qu’en la fin ils parvienent a la primaute du Siege Romain;” who so divide the order of their Hierarchy, that at length they arrive at the primacy of the See of Rome — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
B. THE LEVITES COUNTED AND ASSIGNED DUTIES vv. 539
TEXT
Num. 3:5. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 6. Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. 7. 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. 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. 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. And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priests office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
11. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 12. 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. 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.
14. And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15. 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. And Moses numbered them according to the word of the Lord, as he was commanded. 17. And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari. 18. And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni and Shimei. 19. And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20. 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. Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites. 22. 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 families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward. 24. And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael. 25. 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. 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. 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. 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 families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward. 30. And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son Uzziel. 31. 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. 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. Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari. 34. 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. 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. 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. 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 cometh nigh shall be put to death. 39. 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.
PARAPHRASE
Num. 3:5. And the Lord said to Moses, 6. Bring the tribe of Levi near, presenting them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him. 7. They shall perform duties for him, and for the entire congregation before the Tent of Meeting, serving at the Tabernacle. 8, They shall have custody of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, and perform duties for the children of Israel, serving at the Tabernacle. 9. And you shall give the Levites unto Aaron and his sons: they are all given to him from among the children of Israel. 10. And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall maintain themselves in the priests office: but any stranger who comes near is to be put to death.
11. And the Lord said to Moses, 12. Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of each firstborn son which opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore, the Levites are all mine, 13. because all of the firstborn are mine. On the day that I slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated unto Myself all of Israels firstborn, of both man and beast. They are mine. I am the Lord.
14. And the Lord said to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, 15. Count the sons of Levi according to their fathers families: every male one month old or more is to be counted. 16. And Moses counted them according to the word of the Lord, as he was commanded. 17. And these are the names of the sons of Levi: 18. Gershon, Kohath and Merari. And these are the names of the sons of Gershon according to their families: 19. Libni and Shimei. And the sons of Kohath by families: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. 20. And the sons of Merari by families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers families.
21. Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites. 22. Those who were counted of them, according to the number of all the males one month old and up, even all of those counted were seven thousand five hundred. 23. The families of the Gershonites are to pitch their tents behind the Tabernacle to the west. 24. And Eliasaph, son of Lael, is to be head of the fathers of the Gershonites; 25. And the duty of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting is to be the Tabernacle, the Tent, its covering, the curtain for the door of the Tent of Meeting, 26. the drapes of the court, the curtain for the door of the court surrounding the Tent, and the altar, and its cords; and all the service relating to these things.
27. The family of the Amramites were of Kohath, as well as the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites. 28. Counting all the males from a month of age and older, there were eight thousand six hundred who handled the duties of the Sanctuary. 29. The families of Kohaths sons were to pitch their tents on the south side of the tabernacle. 30. Elizaphan, the son of Uzziel, was the head of the house of the fathers of the families of the Kohathites. 31. And their duty was the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which the priests minister, and the curtain, and all the service relating to these things. 32. Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, was to be chief over the leaders of the Levites, having supervision of those who were in charge of the sanctuary.
33. The family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites were of Merari: these are the families of Merari. 34. Their number counting all the males from a month of age and older was six thousand two hundred. 35. Zuriel, the son of Abihail, was the head of the fathers house of the families of Merari; they were to pitch their tents on the north side of the Tabernacle. 36. And the duty of the sons of Merari was to care for the boards of the Tabernacle, the braces, the posts, the bases, and their accessories, with all the service relating to them, besides the posts of the surrounding court, with all their bases, pegs and cords.
38. Moses and Aaron, with their sons, were to pitch their tents in front of the Tent of Meeting on the east side; they were given charge of all the sanctuary services required for the people of Israel. Anyone else who approached was to be put to death. 39. The total number of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron counted by the Lords commandment, including their families, all the males one month of age and older, was twenty two thousand.
COMMENTARY
The Levites are placed at the disposal and service of the priests, under the direct supervision of Aaron. Serving the Lord in His tabernacle would require an infinite number of carefully specified acts of service, involving numerous items of all sizes and types. In order that these all might be ready for use, even at a moments notice, the Levites are charged with their supervision. This will be true while the tribes are in the wilderness, and when they have established themselves in Canaan. Without the intelligent and dedicated work of these men, the labors of the priests would have been utterly impossible.
Moses describes the Levites as the nethunims (the totally given ones), Num. 3:9. It is an emphatic term, specifying that their service is without limitation. They are gifts of God to the priests, and they are engaged in an honorable work. The term is to be distinguished from the similar nethinim (slaves), non-Israelite servants who are given the grosser tasks at and about the tabernacle (see Jos. 9:27). These latter men were placed at the disposal of the Levites, completing the complement of service personnel.
When Num. 3:10 pronounces the death sentence for any stranger who approaches the Tent of Meeting, we must understand the special meaning of the term in its context. Ordinarily, a stranger would be an alien, a non-Israelite. But the word is broader in this usage, including anyone who is not authorized to serve the Lord as a priest; hence, even the Levites themselves would be considered strangers if they presumed to act beyond their specially designated responsibilities; and the death sentence served to punctuate the limitation upon them.
For reasons of His own, God adopted the Levites rather than all of the firstborn, appointing them unto their place of honor among the tribes. The slaughter of the firstborn of the Egyptians stands as a memorial unto the particular honor shown Israels firstborn; and the Levites become essentially typical of this preservation. In a secondary appointment, all future firstborn must be sanctifiedfirstborn sons were dedicated to the Lord at the sanctuary; firstborn animals must have been sacrificed to Him. Now, with the particular adoption of the Levites, both the Levites and their cattle are to stand in the stead of their brothers, and the firstborn sons of Israel are released (see Num. 3:40, sqq.). The service became more orderly, concentrated in the hands of a single tribe, which should devote its entire and undivided interest to their vocation. It is commonly supposed that the tribe of Levi was chosen for this work because of their zeal in ending the worship of the golden calf. It is also proposed that the choice came because the tribe was considerably smaller than any of the others. We can only advise caution in making either suggestion a dogmatic staterment, since Scripture does not inform us of any of Gods reasons. The choice may have been purely arbitrary.
The rules for mustering the Levites differ greatly from those governing other tribes: all males one month of age and older are counted. It is approximate, since at this age (one month) the firstborn were to be given up or redeemed (cf. Num. 3:40; Num. 3:43 and Num. 18:16). From birth, the Levites would have a single fact firmly instilled in their hearts, that they were possessed by the Lord Himself, consecrated to His service. Theirs was a lifetime with a constant commitment.
First counted were the Gershonites, who number 7,500. They are assigned the camping post to the west of the Tent, under Eliasaph, son of Lael. For their special responsibility, they are assigned the care of the tapestry of the dwelling, or inner covering, Exo. 26:1 ff.; of the Tent, or the goats hair covering. Exo. 26:7 ff.; the Tents covering of rams skins dyed red, and the covering of the dolphin skin over it, Exo. 26:14. They were further charged to care for the curtain at the door, Exo. 26:36, as well as the hangings for the court and the curtain for the door of the court, Exo. 27:9-16. With these, they also had custody of the cords, or tent ropes, which were secured to the pins to support the tent materials (see Exo. 35:18; Exo. 39:40). Finally, they had the responsibility for the utensils or instruments of service. Exo. 27:19. Care of these items included especially the duty of assembling or disassembling them when the people encamped or moved, as well as daily custody while the Tabernacle remained in use.
Next, the Kohathites, numbering 8,600, received their duties. Under their hands were the ark of the covenant, the table of showbread, the seven-branched lampstand, both altars (incense and sacrifice), and the articles of service for all of these items. Additionally, they were to care for the veil between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. All of the articles of furniture had to be wrapped with care when being transported (Num. 4:5 ff.). In camp, the Kohathites were situated south of the Tent. Chief of the four families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan, son of Uzziel; but the chief of all the Levites was also a Kohathite: Eleazar, son of Aaron.
The third family counted were the Merarites, numbering 6,200, and placed north of the Tent. Zuriel was prince of the group, who had the work of the framework of the Tent: its boards, bars, pillars and sockets. They also handled the comparable units for the framework surrounding the court. While this assignment might seem somewhat less impressive than those given the other families, such would not be the case; there simply was nothing assigned which was unimportant. All of the jobs were interdependent, and the Tabernacle could not be moved or used unless the cooperation of each family was assured. Nothing is insignificant if God has asked it!
In the favored eastern position, in front of the door to the court, was the camping area of the priestsMoses, Aaron, and Aarons sons. Not only is this a place of honor, it is also the position of greatest convenience for the priests responsibilities of service, and it places them where they may intercept any stranger who might, for any reason, approach unto the forbidden area.
There is a discrepancy in the totals from the census. Num. 3:39 gives the number an even 22,000, whereas Num. 3:40-51 show 22,300. The mistake is of long standing, and appears to have been a scribal error in transmission. Other attempts to explain the difference seem much too speculative.
QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS
57.
Distinguish between the terms priest and Levite Show their differing functions.
58.
Why should the priests need so many to assist them?
59.
Draw up a list of the instruments of the Tabernacle, (Num. 3:8), and tell how they were used.
60.
Define the term stranger in Num. 3:10. Why should there be such a severe penalty for approaching unto the Tabernacle unlawfully?
61.
In what respect would setting aside the Levites recall Israels release from Egypt?
62.
Why are the firstborn animals recognized, along with the firstborn sons of Israel?
63.
Among the other tribes, the census began with 20-year olds. However, the Levites were counted from the age of one month. Why the difference?
64.
Draw a design of the placement of the families of the sons of Levi around Tabernacle.
65.
Beside the names of the families of the Levitical families, list their assignments in assembling and disassembling the Tabernacle.
66.
What special honor was given to Aarons son Eleazar?
67.
Name the articles for which the Merarites were responsible, and tell what each of the items was used for.
68.
For what items were the Kohathites responsible, and how were they used in the Tabernacle?
69.
What were the responsibilities of the Kohathites? How were these things prepared for travel?
70.
What special advantages were there in having Moses and Aaron and his sons camp at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting?
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
THE LEVITES SUBORDINATED TO AARON, Num 3:5-11.
In the performance of the prescribed ritual there were many duties of a semi-sacerdotal nature, and some that were even menial. For the latter the Gibeonites were subsequently held, as a punishment for their mendacious diplomacy and as a relief to the Levites, who had been charged with all the sub-priestly duties connected with the tabernacle. Hence the propriety of a public presentation of the Levites, and a solemn charge pronounced by the high priest.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Dedication of the Levites to the Priests and to Yahweh ( Num 3:5-13 ).
In the light of the shortage of priests the promotion of someone to act as assistants to them was inevitable. But it should be noted that the Levites had a limited main purpose. It was that of looking after the Dwellingplace and its contents on their travels. They were divine baggage boys. Such a stress could only have arisen during the wilderness period. It would otherwise have had no purpose. For once Israel were settled in the land and the Dwellingplace was permanently in one place this main task would be redundant.
That this occurred at an early date is especially confirmed by the fact that they were allotted nine tenths of the tithes. This could only have happened when their numbers were considerably in excess of those of the priesthood.
Num 3:5-6
‘And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.” ’
The tribe of Levi, Aaron’s own tribe, were now called on to supply supplementary Sanctuary service. They were set before Aaron as his Sanctuary servants, to ‘minister to him’ in his holy office. That is, they were available to do heavy work such as carrying, doing any work which did not require to be performed by a priest, and acting in general around the Sanctuary (but not within it except when the furniture had been packed) performing non-priestly functions.
“Bring near.” A religious term connected with the Sanctuary denoting the bringing of an offering to Yahweh. Thus the Levites were seen here as a kind of offering. They had replaced the firstborn sons of Israel as Yahweh’s servants.
Num 3:7-8
“ And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation, before the tent of meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle, and they shall keep all the furniture of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.”
They were to be looked to both by Aaron and by the congregation of Israel to fulfil their responsibilities towards the Tent of Meeting. One of those responsibilities was to guard the Tent of Meeting (compare Num 1:53) and to maintain the furniture of the Tent of Meeting. The guarding would involve all the furniture, for while they could not touch it (when they carried the furniture it was wrapped and borne on staves), they must guard it with their lives. The maintenance was probably only in respect of smaller items which could be brought out for the purpose. We are not told what limitations were put on this at this time.
Num 3:9
‘And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons. They are wholly given to him on the behalf of the children of Israel.”
The Levites were ‘given to Aaron’, that is were put entirely at the disposal of Aaron and his sons. For all their duties they looked to them. The lack of mention of wider duties is significant. At this time the major one was to be that of total responsibility for the Dwellingplace when travelling, and of guarding it from intrusion. Later their responsibilities would widen, for example with regard to the overseeing of tithes of corn, wheat and barley. They would also teach the people the general requirements of the Torah as instructed by the priests, especially as it related to such things. But that would only be fully necessary when they were finally in the land.
Num 3:10
“ And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood, and the stranger who comes nigh shall be put to death.”
It is, however, made clear that the Levites were not to act as priests. The priesthood was to be retained within the close family of Aaron. They were to ‘keep their priesthood’. Only they could approach the altar, manipulate the blood of offerings and sacrifices, and enter the inner Sanctuary. They were the authoritative teachers of the covenant regulations, the discerners of what was clean and unclean (Lev 10:11; Deu 24:8). Any non-Aaronide who acted as a priest and drew near to the altar or the inner sanctuary for priestly service was to be put to death. How this sentence would be carried out, and by whom, is not described. Later, when priests were more numerous, it would clearly require checks on identification, and on ancestry and antecedents before such an execution took place (see Exo 32:25-29; Num 25:7-12).
Num 3:11-13
‘And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the first-born who open the womb among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine, for all the first-born are mine. On the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I hallowed to myself all the first-born in Israel, both man and beast. Mine they shall be. I am Yahweh.” ’
The reason for the appointment of the Levites is given. They were to be a substitute for the firstborn sons of Israel whom Yahweh had made holy to Himself at the first Passover (Exo 13:2). This refers to the ‘bechor’, the first-born of the father. Thus in polygamous households there would still only be one firstborn. The ‘opening of the womb’ probably signifies the opening of the ‘mother womb’ of the family, that is, that of the leading wife, for the ‘first-born’ is a title only applied to such (Num 1:20; Gen 27:32; Gen 35:23; Gen 36:15; Gen 38:6; Gen 43:33; Gen 49:3, in comparison with all Jacob’s sons).
When Yahweh had slain all the first-born in Egypt He had made holy to Himself all the first-born in Israel, both man and beast (Exo 13:2; Exo 13:12; Exo 13:15; Exo 22:29; Exo 34:19-20). It was to be their duty to serve Him in the ritual requirements of the cult. In the case of clean beasts this would be by being offered as an offering or sacrifice. In the case of men they could be ‘redeemed’ from being ‘offered’ by the slaughter of a clean beast in their place (Exo 13:13; Exo 13:15), but were then for ever to be available for the service of Yahweh. Those first-born alive at the original Passover were presumably seen as redeemed by the passover lamb, and they thereby became sanctified cult servants. But now the Levites were appointed to take their place.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
It is well worth the pious Reader’s observation, that notwithstanding the great attention here shown to the tribe of Levi, the LORD JESUS descended not from that tribe. Heb 7:13-14 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Reciprocal: Num 3:39 – and Aaron Num 8:11 – they may execute
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 3:5-10. The Relations of the Levites to the Priests.The Levites (i.e. the non-Aaronite descendants of Levi), who are here regarded as given (Num 3:9) by Israel to the priests to be their servants, are to have no share in the priesthood itself, which is limited to the descendants of Aaron (Num 3:10; Num 18:7). This limitation seems to have been of late origin. In early times there was no restriction to a particular family or tribe, for, according to Exo 24:5, sacrifice was offered by young men of the children of Israel (without any mention of their belonging to a special priestly tribe); and in the time of David, his sons (of the tribe of Judah) and Ira (probably a Manassite) were priests (2Sa 8:18*, 2Sa 20:26*). But after the promulgation of Dt. the priesthood was limited to the tribe of Levi; and after the time of Ezekiel (see Eze 44:10-16*) it was confined to the sons of Zadok, a descendant of Aaron (1Ch 6:3-8).
Num 3:10. priesthood: LXX adds, and everything about the altar and within the veil (cf. Num 18:7).stranger: i.e. everyone (including Levites, contrast Num 15:1) who is not a descendant of Aaron.