14 20<\/strong>. Summary of the Levitical families.<\/p>\n 14-31. Number the children ofLevi<\/B>They were numbered as well as the other tribes; but theenumeration was made on a different principlefor while in theother tribes the number of males was calculated from twenty years andupward [Nu 1:3<\/span>], in that of Levithey were counted “from a month old and upward.” The reasonfor the distinction is obvious. In the other tribes the survey wasmade for purposes of war [Nu 1:3<\/span>],from which the Levites were totally exempt. But the Levites wereappointed to a work on which they entered as soon as they werecapable of instruction. They are mentioned under the names ofGershon, Kohath, and Merari, sons of Levi, and chiefs or ancestralheads of three subdivisions into which this tribe was distributed.Their duties were to assist in the conveyance of the tabernacle whenthe people were removing the various encampments, and to form itsguard while stationarythe Gershonites being stationed on the west,the Kohathites on the south, and the families of Merari on the north.The Kohathites had the principal place about the tabernacle, andcharge of the most precious and sacred thingsa distinction withwhich they were honored, probably, because the Aaronic familybelonged to this division of the Levitical tribe. The Gershonites,being the oldest, had the next honorable post assigned them, whilethe burden of the drudgery was thrown on the division of Merari.<\/P><\/p>\n And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai<\/strong>,…. At the same time he gave the order, and made the declaration before mentioned, and in the place where now the children of Israel were, and from whence they shortly removed:<\/p>\n saying<\/strong>; as follows.<\/p>\n The muster of the Levites included all the males from a month old and upwards, because they were to be sanctified to Jehovah in the place of the first-born; and it was at the age of a month that the latter were either to be given up or redeemed (comp. Num 3:40<\/span> and Num 3:43<\/span> with Num 18:16<\/span>). In Num 3:17-20<\/span> the sons of Levi and their sons are enumerated, who were the founders of the mishpachoth <\/em> among the Levites, as in Exo 6:16-19<\/span>.<\/p>\n 14 And the LORD<\/B> 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<\/B>, as he was commanded. 17 And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari. 18 And these are<\/I> 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<\/I> the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers. 21 Of Gershon was<\/I> the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are<\/I> 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<\/I> those that were numbered of them were<\/I> 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<\/I> Eliasaph the son of Lael. 25 And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be<\/I> 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<\/I> by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof. 27 And of Kohath was<\/I> 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<\/I> the families of the Kohathites. 28 In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were<\/I> 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<\/I> Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31 And their charge shall be<\/I> 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<\/I> chief over the chief of the Levites, and have<\/I> the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary. 33 Of Merari was<\/I> the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are<\/I> 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<\/I> six thousand and two hundred. 35 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was<\/I> Zuriel the son of Abihail: these<\/I> shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward. 36 And under<\/I> the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be<\/I> 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<\/I> before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be<\/I> 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<\/B>, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were<\/I> twenty and two thousand.<\/P> The Levites being granted to Aaron to minister to him, they are here delivered to him by tale, that he might know what he had, and employ them accordingly. Observe,<\/P> I. By what rule they were numbered: Every male from a month old and upward,<\/I> v.<\/span> 15<\/span><\/U><\/I><\/span>. The rest of the tribes were numbered only from twenty years old and upwards, and of them those only that were able to go forth to war;<\/I> but into the number of the Levites they must take in both infants, and infirm; being exempted from the war, it was not insisted upon that they should be of age and strength for the wars. Though it appears afterwards that little more than a third part of the Levites were fit to be employed in the service of the tabernacle (about 8000 out of 22,000, Num 4:47<\/span>; Num 4:48<\/span>), yet God would have them all numbered as retainers to his family; that none may think themselves disowned and rejected of God because they are not in a capacity of doing him that service which they see others do him. The Levites of a month old could not honour God and serve the tabernacle, as those that had grown up; yet out of the mouths of babes and sucklings the Levites’ praise was perfected. Let not little children be hindered from being enrolled among the disciples of Christ, for such was the tribe of Levi, of such is the kingdom of heaven, that kingdom of priests. The redemption of the first-born was reckoned from a month old (Num 18:15<\/span>; Num 18:16<\/span>), therefore from that age the Levites were numbered. They were numbered after the house of their fathers,<\/I> not their mothers,<\/I> for, if the daughter of a Levite married one of another tribe, her son was not a Levite; but we read of a spiritual priest to out God who inherited the unfeigned faith which dwelt in his mother and grandmother, 2 Tim. i. 5<\/span>.<\/P> II. How they were distributed into three classes, according to the number of the sons of Levi, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, and these subdivided into several families, v.<\/I><\/span> 17-20<\/span>.<\/P> 1. Concerning each of these three classes we have an account, (1.) Of their number. The Gershonites were 7500. The Kohathites were 8600. The Merarites were 6200. The rest of the tribes had not their subordinate families numbered by themselves as those of Levi; this honour God put upon his own tribe. (2.) Of their post about the tabernacle on which they were to attend. The Gershonites pitched behind the tabernacle, westward, v.<\/I><\/span> 23<\/span>. The Kohathites on the right hand, southward, v.<\/I><\/span> 29<\/span>. The Merarites on the left hand, northward, v.<\/I><\/span> 35<\/span>. And, to complete the square, Moses and Aaron, with the priests, encamped in the front, eastward, v.<\/I><\/span> 38<\/span>. Thus was the tabernacle surrounded with its guards; and thus does the angel of the Lord encamp round about those that fear him,<\/I> those living temples, Ps. xxxiv. 7<\/span>. Every one knew his place, and must therein abide with God. (3.) Of their chief or head. As each class had its own place, so each had its own prince. The commander of the Gershonites was Eliasaph (v.<\/I><\/span> 24<\/span>); of the Kohathites Elizaphan (v.<\/I><\/span> 30<\/span>), of whom we read (Lev. x. 4<\/span>) that he was one of the bearers at the funeral of Nadab and Abihu; of the Merarites Zuriel, v.<\/I><\/span> 35<\/span>. (4.) Of their charge, when the camp moved. Each class knew their own business; it was requisite they should, for that which is every body’s work often proves nobody’s work. The Gershonites were charged with the custody and carriage of all the curtains and hangings and coverings of the tabernacle and court (Num 3:25<\/span>; Num 3:26<\/span>), the Kohathites of all the furniture of the tabernacle–the ark, altar, table, c. (Num 3:31<\/span>Num 3:32<\/span><\/U><\/span>), the Merarites of the heavy carriage, boards, bars, pillars, c., Num 3:36<\/span>Num 3:37<\/span><\/U><\/span>.<\/P> 2. Here we may observe, (1.) That the Kohathites, though they were the second house, yet were preferred before the elder family of the Gershonites. Besides that Aaron and the priests were of that family, they were more numerous, and their post and charge more honourable, which probably was ordered to put an honour upon Moses, who was of that family. Yet, (2.) The posterity of Moses were not at all dignified or privileged, but stood upon the level with other Levites, that it might appear he did not seek the advancement of his own family, nor to entail any honours upon it either in church or state; he that had honour enough himself coveted not to have his name shine by that borrowed light, but rather to have the Levites borrow honour from his name. Let none think contemptibly of the Levites, though inferior to the priests, for Moses himself though it preferment enough for his sons to be Levites. Probably it was because the family of Moses were Levites only that in the title of this chapter, which is concerning that tribe (v.<\/I><\/span> 1<\/span>), Aaron is put before Moses.<\/P> III. The sum total of the numbers of this tribe. They are computed in all 22,000, v.<\/I><\/span> 39<\/span>. The sum of the particular families amounts to 300 more; if this had been added to the sum total, the Levites, instead of being 273 fewer than the first-born, as they were (v.<\/I><\/span> 43<\/span>), would have been twenty-seven more, and so the balance would have fallen the other way; but it is supposed that the 300 which were struck off from the account when the exchange was to be made were the first-born of the Levites themselves, born since their coming out of Egypt, which could not be put into the exchange, because they were already sanctified to God. But that which is especially observable here is that the tribe of Levi was by much the least of all the tribes. Note, God’s part in the world is too often the smallest part. His chosen are comparatively a little flock.<\/P> <\/p>\n Verses 14-20:<\/strong><\/p>\n This text begins the census of the Levites by families, in preparation for their consecration. <\/strong>Specific duties were assigned to each family in the Tabernacle service. For additional details of these families, see Ex 6:16-27; 1Ch chapters 6 and 23.<\/p>\n THE NUMBERING OF THE LEVITES, Num 3:14-39<\/span>.<\/p>\n 14<\/strong>. <\/strong> Unto Moses <\/strong> To whom alone this order is given, probably because Aaron and his sons had a pecuniary interest in the result, inasmuch as the redemption money for the excess of the firstborn was to be paid to them.<\/p>\n In Num 3:39<\/span> of this chapter Aaron <\/strong> is spoken of as taking part with Moses in the enumeration; but in the Hebrew the Masoretic marks indicate a spurious reading. The same unauthorized reading occurs again in the Septuagint in Num 3:16<\/span>.<\/p>\n Positioning and Arrangements for Travel of the Levites ( Num 3:14-51<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> ). <\/p>\n i). The Command to Number The Levites Over One Month Old ( Num 3:14-16<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> ).<\/strong> <\/p>\n Num 3:14-15<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n ‘And Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, “Number the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families, every male from a month old and upward shall you number them.” <\/p>\n God now commanded the numbering of the male children of Levi. But the numbering was to be on a different basis to that in Numbers 1<\/span>. Rather than being of those who were twenty years old and upwards it was of those who were one month old and upwards. This was because the comparison was to be made with all firstborn sons, not just adult ones. We can therefore assume that the same basis applied to the firstborn. They did not need to be redeemed until they were one month old. <\/p>\n Num 3:16<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n ‘And Moses numbered them according to the word of Yahweh, as he was commanded.’ <\/p>\n And as Yahweh commanded, so Moses did. He numbered the sons of Levi. He was continually obedient. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/strong> The Formal Mustering<\/p>\n v. 14. And the Lord spake unto Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying,<\/strong> <\/p>\n v. 15. Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families,<\/strong> as had been done in the case of the other tribes; every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them. <\/p>\n v. 16. And Moses numbered them according to the word of the Lord, as he was commanded,<\/strong> thus completing the census of all the tribes. <\/p>\n v. 17. And these were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon and Kohath and Merari. <\/p>\n v. 18. And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei. <\/p>\n v. 19. And the sons of Kohath by their families: Amram,<\/strong> the father of Moses and Aaron, these two, however, not being reckoned with the Kohathites, but in a separate category, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel. <\/p>\n v. 20. And the sons of Merari by their families: Mabli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers,<\/strong> as they reckoned their descent from these princes among their ancestors. <\/p>\n Num 3:14-15<\/span><\/em><\/strong>. <\/strong>And the Lord spake unto Moses<\/em><\/strong><\/strong> Bishop Kidder remarks here, very judiciously, that though the number of the Israelites was to be taken by Aaron as well as by Moses (chap. Num 1:3<\/span>.); the precept to number the Levites is directed to, and executed only by Moses, Num 3:16<\/span>. In like manner we find that Moses only was concerned in numbering the first-born of Israel, Num 3:40-42<\/span>. For, as the money with which the first-born of Israel who exceeded the number of Levites were redeemed, was to be paid to Aaron and his sons, Num 3:48<\/span>, it was decent that he, whose advantage it was that the number of the first-born of Israel should exceed, should not be authorised to take that number himself. We may observe too, that the Levites being numbered to know how many there were in all, (not how many were able to bear arms, <\/em>chap. Num 1:3<\/span>.) that so there might be an exchange of them for an equal number of the first-born; it was proper that they should he all numbered without distinction; even from a month old; <\/em>the age at which the firstling males were appointed to be redeemed. <\/p>\n It is worthy the Reader’s closest attention here, that while Israel at large, were only numbered from the age of 20, and upward; the children of the Levites were commanded to be numbered from a month old. Yes! our dearest Redeemer hath told us, that in his record little infants as well as elder years are enumerated; for of such is the kingdom of GOD. Mar 10:14<\/span> . And what a sweet scripture that is, which from the lips of the same precious Saviour, enjoins the greatest caution of despising one of his little ones, for in heaven their angels do always behold the face of their FATHER which is in heaven. Mat 18:10<\/span> .<\/p>\n Num 3:14-39. The Numbers of the Levites, their Position and Duties.The census here described included all Levites above one month, whose numbers amounted to 22,000. Their three divisions, when the camp was stationary, formed a cordon round the Tabernacle. The Gershonites on the W. had the care of the external hangings, the Kohathites on the S. that of the contents, the Merarites on the N. that of the framework. On the E., the position of most honour, Moses, Aaron, and the priests had their station.<\/p>\n Num 3:25. the tabernacle: i.e. the linen curtains of Exo 26:1*.the tent: i.e. the goats-hair curtains of Exo 26:7.the covering: i.e. the rams skins of Exo 26:14*.<\/p>\n Num 3:26. the altar: i.e. of burnt-offering.<\/p>\n Num 3:28. Read eight thousand three hundred.<\/p>\n Num 3:31. the table: i.e. of shewbread.the altars: i.e. of burnt-offering and of incense. The latter, which is ignored in Num 3:26, was probably of late origin: incense was at first burnt in censers (Num 16:6 f.).the screen: i.e. the veil (Num 3:45) between the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place. The laver (Exo 30:18*) is overlooked in this enumeration.<\/p>\n 3. LEVITICAL SERVICE<\/p>\n Num 3:14-39; Num 4:1-49<\/p>\n The sacred service of the Levites is described in detail. There are three divisions, the Gershonites, the Kohathites, the Merarites. The Gershonites, from a month old and upward, numbered 7,500; the Kohathites, 8,600; the Merarites, 6,200. Eleazar, son of Aaron, is prince of the princes of the Levites.<\/p>\n The office of the Kohathites is of peculiar sanctity, next to that of Aaron and his sons. They are not “cut off” or specially separated from among the Levites; {Num 4:18} but they have duties that require great care, and they must not venture to approach the most holy things till preparation has been made by the priests. The manner of that preparation is fully described. When order has been given for the setting forward of the camp, Aaron and his sons cover the ark of the covenant first with the veil of the screen, then with a covering of sealskin, and lastly with a cloth of blue; they also insert in the rings the long staves with which the ark is to be carried. Next the table of shewbread is covered with a blue cloth; the dishes, spoons, bowls, and cups are placed on the top, over them a scarlet cloth, and above that a sealskin covering; the staves of the table are also placed in readiness. The candlestick and its lamps and other appurtenances are wrapped up in like manner and put on a frame. Then the golden altar by itself, and the vessels used in the service of the sanctuary by themselves are covered with blue cloth and sealskin and made ready for carriage. Finally, the great altar is cleansed of ashes, covered up with purple cloth and sealskin, and its staves set in their rings. When all this is done the sons of Kohath may advance to bear the holy things, never touching them lest they die.<\/p>\n The question arises, why so great care is considered necessary that none but the priests should handle the furniture of the sanctuary. We have learned to think that a real religion should avoid secrecy, that everything connected with it should be done in the open light of day. Why, then, is the shrine of Jehovah guarded with such elaborate precaution? And the answer is that the idea of mystery appears here as absolutely needful, in order to maintain the solemn feelings of the people and their sense of the holiness of God. Not only because the Israelites were rude and earthly, but also because the whole system was symbolic, the holy things were kept from common sight. In this respect the worship described in these books of Moses resembled that of other nations of antiquity. The Egyptian temple had its innermost shrine where the arks of the gods were placed; and into that most holy place with its silver soil the priests alone went. But even Egyptian worship, with all its mystery, did not always conceal the arks and statues of the gods. When those gods were believed to be favourable, the arks were carried in procession, the images so far unveiled that they could be seen by the people. It was entirely different in the case of the sacred symbols and instruments of Hebrew worship, according to the ideal of the law. And the elaborate precautions are to be regarded as indicating the highest tidemark of symbolised sanctity. Jehovah was not like Egyptian or Assyrian or Phoenician gods. These might be represented by statues which the people could see. But everything used in His worship must be kept apart. The worship must be of faith; and the ark which was the great symbol must remain always invisible. The effect of this on the popular mind was complex, varying with the changing circumstances of the nation; and to trace it would be an interesting piece of study. It may be remembered that in the time of most ardent Judaism the want of the ark made no difference to the veneration in which the temple was held and the intense devotion of the people to their religion. The ark was used as a talisman in Elis time; in the temple erected after the captivity there was no ark; its place in the holy of holies was occupied by a stone.<\/p>\n The Gershonites had as their charge the screens and curtains of the tabernacle, or most holy place, and the tent of meeting or holy place, also the curtains of the court of the tabernacle. The boards, bars, pillars, and sockets of the tabernacle and of the court were to be entrusted to the Merarites.<\/p>\n In the whole careful ordering of the duties to be discharged by these Levites we see a figure of the service to be rendered to God and men in one aspect of it. Organisation, attention to details, and subordination of those who carry out schemes to the appointed officials, and of all, both inferior and superior, to law-these ideas are here fully represented. Assuming the incapacity of many for spontaneous effort, the principle that God is not a God of confusion but of order in the churches of the saints may be held to point to subordination of a similar kind even under Christianity. But the idea carried to its full limit, implies an inequality between men which the free spirit of Christianity will not admit. It is an honour for men to be connected with any spiritual enterprise, even as bearers of burdens. Those who take such a place may be spiritual men, thoughtful men, as intelligent and earnest as their official superiors. But the Levites, according to the law, were to be bearers of burdens, menials of the sanctuary from generation to generation. Here the parallel absolutely fails. No Christian, however cordially he may fill such a place for a time, is bound to it in perpetuity. His way is open to the highest duties and honours of a redeemed son of God. In a sense Judaism even did not prevent the spiritual advancement of any Levite, or any man. The priesthood was practically closed, but the office of the prophet, really higher than that of the priest, was not. From the routine work of the priesthood men like Jeremiah and Ezekiel were called by the Spirit of God to speak in the name of the Highest. The word of the Lord was put into their mouths. Elijah, who was apparently of the tribe of Manasseh, Amos and Daniel, who belonged to Judah, became prophets. The open door for the men of the tribes was into this calling. Neither in Israel nor in Christendom is priesthood the highest religious function. The great servants of God might well refuse it or throw aside its shackles.<\/p>\n And the LORD spoke unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, 14 20. Summary of the Levitical families. Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 14-31. Number the children ofLeviThey were numbered as well as the other tribes; but theenumeration was made on a different principlefor while in theother tribes the number of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 3:14”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3715","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3715","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3715"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3715\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3715"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3715"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Expositors Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"