Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 4:34
And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers,
34 49. A detailed statement that Moses and Aaron numbered the men between the ages of 30 and 50 in the three Levitical families, as had been commanded.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Num 4:34-49
They were numbered . . . every one according to his service.
Proportion between number and service
Looking at the relation of the numbers to the service required of them we discover illustrations of–
I. The wisdom of God. By this diversity of numbers among the Levite families, saith Trapp, God showeth His wisdom in fitting men for the work whereunto He hath appointed them, whether it requireth multitude or gifts (1Co 12:8-12). Every one hath his own share; all are not alike gifted.
II. The reasonableness of the divine requirements. Though the sum total of effective Levites, says Greenfield, was very small compared with that of the other tribes: yet they would be far more than could be employed at once in this service. But they might carry by turns and ease one another, and thus do the whole expeditiously and cheerfully. They would also have their own tents to remove, and their own families to take care of. There was an ample number for the performance of the work; and its distribution amongst so many would render it comparatively easy to every one. Gods claims upon us and our service are in the highest degree reasonable. He is a kind and gracious Master.
III. The exemplary obedience of the servants of the Lord. (W. Jones.)
Many in the Church who do not add to its service:
Observe–
1. That the Kohathites were in all eight thousand and six hundred, from a month old and upward: but of those there were but two thousand seven hundred and fifty serviceable men, not a third part. The Gershonites in all seven thousand and five hundred: and of them but two thousand six hundred and thirty serviceable men, little more than a third part. Note–Of the many that add to the numbers of the Church, there are comparatively but few that contribute to the service of it. So it has been, and so it is; many have a place in the tabernacle, that do but little of the work of the tabernacle (Php 2:20-21).
2. That the Merarites were but six thousand and two hundred in all; and yet of these there were three thousand and two hundred serviceable men, which were a good deal above half. The greatest burden lay upon that family, the boards, and pillars, and sockets. And God so ordered it, that though they were the fewest in number, yet they should have the most able men among them; for whatever service God calls men to, He will furnish them for it, and give strength in proportion to the work, grace sufficient.
3. The whole number of the able men of the tribe of Levi, which entered into Gods host to war His warfare, was but eight thousand five hundred and eighty; whereas the able men of the other tribes that entered into the host of Israel to war their warfare were many more. The least of the tribes had almost four times as many able men as the Levites, and some of them more than eight times as many. For those that are engaged in the service of this world, and war after the flesh, are many more than those that are devoted to the service of God, and fight the good fight of faith. (Matthew Henry, D. D.)
The numbered people:
I. Here is authority for the muster-roll–According to the commandment of the Lord they were numbered. It was not left to Moses to number the people without Divine sanction, else the deed might have been as evil in the sight of the Lord as that of David when he made a census of the nation: neither may any man at this day summon the saints of the Lord at his own discretion to enterprises for which they were never set apart. The armies of Israel are none of ours to lead whither we will, nor even to reckon up that the number may be told to our own honour.
1. Believers in Christ Jesus, you are now called forth to do suit and service, because like the tribe of Levi you are the Lords. He views you as the church of the firstborn, as the redeemed from among men, and as His peculiar inheritance, and therefore above all other men you are under His special rule and governance.
2. You are further called because this is a charge laid upon you of the Lord, to whom you specially belong. The Levites were not numbered with the rest of the nation, for their vocation was altogether different, and their whole business was about holy things. Ye see in this your calling, for hereunto are ye also ordained that ye may live unto the Lord alone.
3. The Lord may well call you to this service, seeing He has given you to His Son, even as He gave the Levites to Aaron, as it is written (Num 3:9), They are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel. Because ye belong to Christ, therefore hide not yourselves from His service, but come forward with alacrity.
4. The Lord has constituted you the servants of all His people, even as He said of the Levites that they were to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation. We are debtors to all our brethren, and we are their servants to the full extent of our power.
II. Notice the appointment of the individuals–Every one according to his service, and according to his burden. By our varied gifts, positions, offices, and opportunities, we are as much set apart to special services as were the sons of Kohath, &c. Great evils arise out of persons mistaking their calling, and undertaking things of which they are not capable; and, on the other hand, the success of Christian work in a large measure arises out of places of usefulness being filled by the right men.
III. Our text is the summary of the chapter in which we have an account of the actual fulfilment of the Lords command by Moses. He numbered each family, and cast up the total of the tribe, at the same time mentioning in detail the peculiar service of each. We would imitate him at this important moment, and take the census of those who are consecrated to the Lords own service.
1. Where are you, then, who can bear the heavier service of the sanctuary, carrying its pillars, and the boards, and the sockets thereof? You are now needed to speak in the meetings, to lead the people in prayer, to order the assemblies, and to take the heavier work of this holy business. The Lord Jesus should have able men to speak for Him; He deserves the best of the best. Now is the hour, where is the man? Let no diffidence or love of ease keep one back who might make known the gospel and win a soul for Jesus.
2. But where are you who can only carry the pins and the cords? Your burden is lighter, but probably your strength is also less, and lighter though your load may be, the matters which you carry are quite as essential as the pillars and the boards. Where are you? You who can say a few words to lonely inquiring ones; you who can do no more than pray, where are you? At your posts, or idling? Answer quickly, for time and need are pressing. If the load which you can carry be so very small, be all the more ready to bear it.
3. Are you a lover of the Lord Jesus and do you wish to be omitted from the roll-call? If so, let it be known to yourself, and stated plainly to your conscience. Do not pretend to be a labourer and remain a loiterer, but openly avow to your own soul that you stand all the day idle, and feel fully justified in so doing. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
All have a work to do for God:
There is a work for all of us. And there is special work for each, work which I cannot do in a crowd, or as one of a mass, but as one man, acting singly, according to my own gifts, and under a sense of my personal responsibility. There is, no doubt, associated work for me to do; I must do my work as part of the worlds great whole, or as a member of some body. But I have a special work to do, as one individual who, by Gods plan and appointment, has a separate position, separate responsibilities, and a separate work; if I do not do it, it must be left undone. No one of my fellows can do that special work for me which I have come into the world to do; he may do a higher work, a greater work, but he cannot do my work. I cannot hand my work over to him, any more than I can hand over my responsibilities or my gifts. Nor can I delegate my work to an association of men, however well-ordered and powerful. They have their own work to do, and it may be a very noble one. But they cannot do my work for me. I must do it with these hands or with these lips which God has given me. I may do little or I may do much. That matters not. It must be my own work, and by doing my own work, poor as it may seem to some, I shall better fulfil Gods end in making me what I am, and more truly glorify His name, than if I were either going out of my own sphere to do the work of another, or calling in another into my sphere to do my proper work for me. (John Ruskin.)
Happiness of working for God:
The Rev. Andrew Fuller, the eminent Baptist minister, was depressed at one time by his people living in a low state of mind; they did nothing but sigh and groan. All his endeavours were fruitless to raise them to a higher spiritual life. Much perplexed, he made inquiry into their actions, and found that they were doing nothing for Christ. He at once set them to work, and a marked change took place; instead of sighs, groans, and gloomy faces, there were cheerfulness and faces glowing with happiness. If your state of heart and mind is low and depressed, carry the story of the life, death, and resurrection of the Saviour to some perishing soul; do something for the Master, and soon your heart will leap with joy and gratitude.
Unfaithful helpers are a burden
An overworked minister, whilst lamenting the lack of workers in his church, dozed, and, as the story goes, dreamed. He thought he was between the shafts of a four-wheeled coach, and four of his helpers were each pushing a wheel, and up the hill they all toiled together. Soon he felt the coach drag heavily, and at last he could pull no further so came to a standstill. On looking behind he discovered that his four helpers had quietly got inside to ride. How much happier and easier Christian work would be if all would do their best. (Young Mens Review.)
Power running to waste:
We are told sometimes of the vast power unutilised as the waters leap over the Falls of Niagara; in fact, statisticians have given us calculations of the marvellous saving of steam, which means coal, which means money, that might thus be saved. We are not sure but that it has been proved that there is power enough, if it could be communicated, to give electric light to the whole continent, and no one who has walked along the banks of the Niagara River for two or three miles above the Falls, and studied the tremendous force of the current, will hesitate to doubt such statements. Is there not in this a parable? There is a whole Niagara of Christian power running to waste in our land–power that if utilised would flash the light of salvation over the world, and bring in the perfect day of Christs kingdom on earth. Take any of our churches, what are a large portion of the members doing? Absolutely nothing–they are in their places on the Sabbath, and just possibly at the weekly prayer-meeting; beyond that what? But, I can do so little. Oh, my friend, pug your little and a thousand littles of your brethren together, and it would make a power that by the grace of God would be irresistible. Niagara is but the united power of a thousand streams far, far away. (Canadian Independent.)
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Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
34-49. Moses and Aaron and the chiefof the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites, c.Thisenumeration was made on a different principle from that which isrecorded in the preceding chapter [Nu3:15]. That was confined to the males from a month old andupward, while this was extended to all capable of service in thethree classes of the Levitical tribe. In considering their relativenumbers, the wisdom of Divine Providence appears in arranging that,whereas in the Kohathites and Gershonites, whose burdens were few andeasier, there were but about a third part of them which were fit forservice the Merarites, whose burdens were more and heavier, had aboveone half of them fit for this work [POOLE].The small population of this tribe, so inferior to that of the othertribes, is attempted to be explained (see on Nu3:39).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Moses and Aaron, and the chief of the congregation,
numbered the sons of the Kohathites,…. Perhaps these chiefs were the same with those who were concerned with Moses and Aaron in numbering all the tribes whose names were given, Nu 1:5; the Kohathites are begun with, according to the divine direction, and then the Gershonites and Merarites in their order; and in Nu 4:34 is only an account of the numbering of each of them, as ordered by the Lord, and this account is expressed in the same terms in them all; there remains nothing to be observed but the particular sums of each of them, the number of the Kohathites from thirty years old even to fifty, men able and fit for business, were 2750, Nu 4:36; whereas their number from a month old were 8600, Nu 3:28; so that not a third part of them were at an age for service: the number of the Gershonites were 2630, Nu 4:40; whose number of males in all were 7500, Nu 3:22; so that they were rather more than a third part who were able-bodied then and fit for business; and the number of the Merarites were 3200, Nu 4:44; and as the number of males of a month old and upwards were 6200, Nu 3:34; there were more than half of them able and fit men for service; in which, as Ainsworth observes, may be seen the wisdom of divine Providence, that whereas the service of the Kohathites and Gershonites were the lightest, and what was committed to them the easiest of carriage, they had the fewer hands of able men to be employed, though their numbers of individuals were the greatest; and the Merarites, who had the smallest number of males, yet having the heaviest work to do in carrying burdens, loading and unloading wagons, were superior to the rest in their number of able bodied men; and thus God makes good his promise, that as the day of his people is, their strength shall be; whatever work and service God calls men to, he will fit them for it: the sum total of the Levites, in the several divisions of them, who were between: thirty and fifty years of age, in which they performed their office, was 8580, Nu 4:48; a small number, as the above writer observes, of such as warred the spiritual warfare in the sanctuary of God, when the tribe of Judah afforded 74,600 for the outward warfare.
after their families, and after the house of their fathers;
[See comments on Nu 4:2].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Completion of the prescribed mustering, and statement of the number of men qualified for service in the three Levitical families: viz., 2750 Kohathites, 2630 Gershonites, and 3200 Merarites – in all, 8580 Levites fit for service: a number which bears a just proportion to the total number of male Levites of a month old and upwards, viz., 22,000.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
34 And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers, 35 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation: 36 And those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty. 37 These were they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 38 And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers, 39 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation, 40 Even those that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty. 41 These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD. 42 And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, 43 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation, 44 Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred. 45 These be those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 46 All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers, 47 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation, 48 Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore. 49 According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the LORD commanded Moses.
We have here a particular account of the numbers of the three families of the Levites respectively, that is, of the effective men, between thirty years old and fifty. Observe, 1. The Kohathites were, in all, 8600 from a month old and upwards; but of these there were but 2750 serviceable men, not a third part. The Gershonites, in all, 7500, and of them but 2630 serviceable men, little more than a third part. Note, Of the many that add to the numbers of the church, there are comparatively but few that contribute to the service of it. So it has been, and so it is; many have a place in the tabernacle that do but little of the work of the tabernacle, Phi 2:20; Phi 2:21. 2. That the Merarites were but 6200 in all, and yet of these there were 3200 serviceable men, that is, more than half. The greatest burden lay upon that family, the boards, and pillars, and sockets; and God so ordered it that, though they were the fewest in number, yet they should have the most able men among them; for whatever service God calls men to he will furnish them for it, and give strength in proportion to the work, grace sufficient. 3. The whole number of the able men of the tribe of Levi who entered into God’s host to war his warfare was but 8580, whereas the able men of the other tribes that entered into the host of Israel to war their warfare were many more. The least of the tribes had almost four times as many able men as the Levites, and some of them more than eight times as many; for those that are engaged in the service of this world, and war after the flesh, are many more than those that are devoted to the service of God, and fight the good fight of faith.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Verses 34-37:
The census of the Kohathites eligible for Tabernacle service, males between thirty and fifty years of age, was 2,750. Allowing one wife and one child per man, there were. likely about 8,250 people in this clan.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
34. And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation Another exception is subjoined, viz., that none should be received unless they were free from all defect and blemish; for we have seen elsewhere that those, who were blind and lame, or defective in any part of their body, were excluded from the tabernacle, lest their disfigurement should produce contempt; and also that they might be admonished by this external sign, to preserve themselves more diligently from all spiritual defilement. Therefore, those are said to enter into the sanctuary who are fit to exercise the priesthood; and hence the expression, “for the service,” (426) is added.
Inasmuch as the inequality (of their charges) might have been the source of envy, God’s authority is asserted at the end of the chapter, where Moses records that he was only acting ministerially, and that he distributed the offices among them according to God’s command.
(426) “For the work.” — A. V. Ver. 35.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
D. THE CENSUS OF THE PRIESTLY FAMILIES vv. 3449
TEXT
Num. 4:34. And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers, 35. From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation: 36. And those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty. 37. These were they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. 38. And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers, 30. From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation, 40. even those that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty. 41. These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the Lord.
42. And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, 43. From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation, 44. Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred. 45. These be those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses. 46. All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers, 47. From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation, 48. Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore. 49. According to the commandment of the Lord they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the Lord commanded Moses.
PARAPHRASE
Num. 4:34. And Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation counted the sons of the Kohathites by their families and by their fathers houses, 35. from thirty years of age up to fifty, everyone who entered the service for work in the Tent of Meeting. 36. And those who were counted of them by their families were 2,750. 37. These were the men counted from the Kohathite families, all who were serving in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. 38. And those who were counted of the sons of Gershon, by their families, and by the house of their fathers, from thirty years of age and up to fifty, everyone who enters into the service for work in the Tent of Meeting. 40. And those who were counted by them, by families, by their fathers houses, were 2,630. 41. These are the men counted of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all who might do service in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to the commandment of the Lord.
42. And those who were counted of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers houses, from thirty years old up to fifty, everyone who enters into the service, for work in the Tent of Meeting, even those who were counted of them by their families, were 3,200. 45. These are the men counted of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron counted, according to the word of the Lord, by the hand of Moses. 46. All of the men counted of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel counted, by their families and by their fathers houses, from thirty years of age and up to fifty, everyone who came to do the work of serving and the work of carrying in the Tent of Meeting48. those who were counted of them were 8,500. 49. They were counted by the hand of Moses according to the commandment of the Lord, everyone according to his service, and according to his burden; thus they were counted, as the Lord commanded Moses.
COMMENTARY
PC proposes that the numbering in this census is rounded out by tens rather than to show each individual. Further, it is said, the task of carrying all the items of the Tabernacle as listed would not have required such a large number of people; hence, the duties were also assigned by units of ten. It is also suggested that something has disturbed the relative numbers between the Merarites and the other families, with such an abnormally high percentage of those counted being between thirty and fifty years of age. In the ordinary situation, we might expect the age bracket to account for about one-fourth of the total population; the Merarites double this figure. We are given no explanation of the fact. The same source advances the possible thoughts that an abnormally high number of children of this tribe might have been slaughtered as infants in Egypt, or that they may suddenly have reduced the number of marriages. We can only speculate on the actual solution.
QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS
92.
Is the suggestion that the census here is computed by tens out of harmony with the totals from the other tribes?
93.
What advantage would there be to tallying in this fashion?
94.
What explanations might be offered for the unusually high percentage of Merarites between the ages of thirty and fifty?
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
CENSUS OF COMPETENT LEVITES, Num 4:34-49.
The results of the enumeration of Levites between thirty and fifty years are here tabulated, together with the number of incompetents and the total:
Percent. Competent Percent. Incompetent. Kohathites 32 68 Gershonites 35 65 Merarites 52 48 The total number of competent men tallies well with the whole number of Levites. The percentage of competent Merarites is remarkable. “What an astonishing number of men, all purely ecclesiastics; all performing some service by which God is glorified, and the congregation at large benefitted!” A. Clarke. We should not regard the thirteen thousand seven hundred and twenty incompetents as entirely useless. The care of the cattle and flocks, and the transportation of the families and their tents, would afford sufficient scope for the healthful activity of both the young and the old. Superannuates in the Christian ministry often glorify their Master more by suffering his will than by doing it.
By inspecting the above table the wisdom and goodness of Jehovah are seen in adjusting the heaviest burden to the strongest shoulders. Merari, numerically the least family, has the largest number of strong men, and the severest labour.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Assessment or ‘Numbering’ of the Levites.
Num 4:34-37
‘And Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by their fathers’ houses, from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one who entered on the service, for work in the tent of meeting, and those who were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty. These are they who were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses.’
This numbering was a mobilisation for service. The first to be ‘numbered’ were the males between 30 and 50 years old of the Kohathites. They came in at two chieftains (or ‘families’) and seven ‘hundreds’ (or fathers’ houses) of men to serve and a fifty. In the light of the addition of the fifty in the listing of the tribes (Num 1:25) the addition of this fifty is probably intended to stress the connection of all three sub-tribes with the covenant. If the significance of the ‘two ’lph’ is two families we may probably see a combination of clans, Amram and Izehar, together with Hebron and Uzziel (Num 3:19). But for this reason we are probably to read ‘chieftains’.
The mention of them as working in the Tent of Meeting may just suggest that they were permitted to do so, but possibly only once the sacred furniture was packed up. This would enable the carrying out of much needed repairs. Note that all was in accordance with Yahweh’s command to Moses.
Num 4:38-41
‘And those who were numbered of the sons of Gershon, their families, and by their fathers’ houses, from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one who entered on the service, for work in the tent of meeting, even those who were numbered of them, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty. These are they who were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, all who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Yahweh.’
The second to be numbered were the Gershonites. Their 30-50 year old males ready for service came to two chieftains (or ‘families’) and six ‘hundreds’ (or ‘father’s houses’) of men to serve, and a thirty. In line with the mention of a thirty in the listing of the tribes in Num 26:7 this may indicate the completeness of the three sub-tribes for their task. Again we note that all was in accordance with the command to Moses.
Num 4:42-45
‘And those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one who entered on the service, for work in the tent of meeting, even those who were numbered of them by their families, were three thousand and two hundred. These are they who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses.’
The final ones to be numbered were the sons of Merari. Their thirty to fifty year olds ready for service amounted to three chieftains (or ‘families’) and two ‘hundreds’ (fathers’ houses) of men to serve. The fact that the number of ’lphs in no case tie in with the number of clans would favour translating ’lph as ‘chieftain’.
Num 4:46
‘All those who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel numbered, by their families, and by their fathers’ houses, from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one who entered in to do the work of service, and the work of bearing burdens in the tent of meeting, even those who were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore.’
We note here that the princes of Israel had been involved with Moses and Aaron in the numbering. All the tribes were concerned with the efficient and faithful service of the Sanctuary, and were to have their part in their appointment. The full total of those who entered into the work of service and the work of bearing burdens in respect of the Dwellingplace came in total to eight ’lph and five ‘hundreds’ and eighty. The eight ’lph would be made up of the six chieftains and two ’lph of ten ‘hundreds’ each, making together eight ’lph. The remaining five ‘hundreds’ and the eighty made up the balance to achieve the sum total of the three totals of the clans. The ‘eighty’ was simply the necessary result of having a fifty and a thirty.
Num 4:49
‘According to the commandment of Yahweh they were numbered by Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden. Thus were they numbered by him, as Yahweh commanded Moses.’
Again it is stressed (twice) that this was done at Yahweh’s command to Moses., mobilising the sons of Levi for the service they had to perform and the burdens they would have to bear as they looked after the Tent of Meeting when it was on the move.
Among the lessons we learn from these chapters is the importance of organisation and planning in our service for God, and the recognition that there is a need for each of us to play our part, however small it may seem. There were three strata. The priests at the top, the most holy, to whom the Levites looked; the Levites in the middle, the next most holy, to whom the people looked; and the armies of Israel at the bottom, who were still holy while not being as holy as the other two. ‘Outside’ were the resident aliens who had not yet merged with a tribe. This was not a question of righteousness or lack of it, but of the position that God had placed them in. We will see shortly that if Israelites wished to improve their ‘holiness’ God had provided a way by which this could be done, the way of the Nazirite, which could by choice be permanent or temporary.
But it should be noted that all were necessary to the ongoing of God’s purposes in and for Israel. Just as the Dwellingplace furniture and coverings were nothing without the nuts and bolts, so the priesthood and the Levites would have achieved nothing without the soldiers. God had a place for all.
We may see the priesthood as representing the activity of our Lord Jesus Christ on our behalf, offering Himself for us and interceding on our behalf; the Levites as those called by God to act on His behalf as His servants; and the men-at-arms as representing the whole people of God. And yet in another sense we have all been made priests that we may serve at the heavenly Sanctuary with sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The Total Number of the Levites in Service
v. 34. And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families and after the house of their fathers.
v. 35. From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service for the work in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, v. 36. and those that were numbered of them by their families, were two thousand seven hundred and fifty.
v. 37. These were they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, v. 38. And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families and by the house of their fathers, v. 39. from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service for the work in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, v. 40. even those that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty.
v. 41. These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all that might do service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the Lord.
v. 42. And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, v. 43. from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, v. 44. even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred.
v. 45. These be those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom. Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.
v. 46. All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers, v. 47. from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, v. 48. even those that were numbered of them, v. 49. According to the commandment of the Lord they were numbered by the hand of Moses,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Similar instructions, as to their respective services, are given also to the Merarites; that in the general charge, to the tabernacle ministry, all might have their distinct and separate work; that all things might be done decently, and in order. But how sweet is it to the true believer in JESUS, to observe, that he, and he alone, hath wrought the work, finished the labour, and hath the care of all his church and people. It is thine office, dearest JESUS, both to serve and to bear the burden, both to carry the weight of the curtains of the tabernacle of the true sanctuary, which the LORD hath pitched, and not man; and, as the prophet beautifully expresseth it to have hung upon thee, all the glory of thy FATHER’S house! Oh! thou precious GOD of all our mercies, be thou to us, as a nail fastened in a sure place, and thou wilt be for a glorious throne to all thy people. Isa 22:23 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Num 4:2
Reciprocal: 1Ch 23:24 – after the house