Numbers 1:3
twenty <06242> [twenty.]
serve <03318> [able.]
army ............ divisions <06635> [by their.]
Numbers 1:50
appoint <06485> [thou shalt.]
tabernacle .................. tabernacle ............... it <04908> [the tabernacle.]
camp <02583> [shall encamp.]
Numbers 2:33
Numbers 3:1--4:49
records <08435> [generations.]
spoke <01696> [spake.]
priests <03548> [the priests.]
consecrated <04390> [whom he consecrated. Heb. whose hand he filled.]
Nadab <05070> [Nadab.]
The word {hakraiv,} here rendered bring near, is properly a sacrificial word, and signifies the presenting of a sacrifice or offering to the Lord. As an offering, the tribe of Levi was entirely given up to the service of the sanctuary, to be no longer their own, but the Lord's.
responsible <08104> [keep.]
attending .... service <05647 05656> [to do the.]
be responsible <08104> [they shall.]
unauthorized <02114> [and the stranger.]
When God miraculously destroyed all the first-born of the Egyptians, (Ex 12:29,) he spared those of the Israelites; and, in commemoration of that event, he was pleased to appoint that all the first-born males "should be set apart unto himself." (Ex 13:12-16.) God is here pleased to relinquish this claim, and to appoint the whole tribe of Levi to attend his immediate service in their stead.
firstborn ......... firstborn .............. firstborn <01060> [Because.]
When <03117> [on the day.]
<06310> [word. Heb. mouth.]
[Gershom.]
month old <02320 01121> [from a month old.]
The males of all the other tribes were numbered from twenty years old and upwards; but, had the Levites been numbered in this way, they would not have been nearly equal in number to the first-born of the twelve tribes. Add to this, that as there must have been first-born of all ages in the other tribes, it was necessary that the Levites, who were to be their substitutes, should also be of all ages; and it appears to have been partly on this ground, that the Levites were numbered from a month old and upwards.
responsibilities <04931> [the charge.]
From this and the next chapter, we see the very severe labour which the Levites were to perform, while the journeyings of the Israelites lasted. When we consider, that there was not less than 14 tons 266 lbs. of metal employed in the tabernacle, (see note on Ex 38:24,) besides the immense weight of the skins, hangings, cords, boards, and posts, we shall find it was no easy matter to transport this moveable temple from place to place. The Gershonites, who were 7,500 in number had to carry the tent, coverings, vail, hangings of the court, cords, etc. (ver. 25, 26); the Kohathites, who were 8,600, the ark, table, candlestick, altars, and instruments of the sanctuary (ver. 31); and the Merarites, who were 6,200, the boards, bars, sockets, and all matters connected with these belonging to the tabernacle, with the pillars of the court, their sockets, pins, and cords (ver. 36, 37).
tent ........ tent ............ tent <0168> [the tabernacle and.]
curtain <04539> [and the hanging.]
hangings <07050> [the hangings.]
ropes <04340> [the cords.]
8,600 <0505 08083> [eight thousand.]
responsible <08104> [keeping.]
ark <0727> [the ark.]
altars <04196> [the altars.]
curtain <04539> [and the hanging.]
camp <02583> [shall.]
north <06828> [northward.]
appointed responsibilities <04931 06486> [under the custody and charge. Heb. the office of the charge. the boards.]
east <06924> [toward.]
responsible <08104> [keeping.]
needs ........ needs <04931> [for the charge.]
Aaron <0175> [and Aaron.]
The word [w'hrn,] {we„haron,} and "Aaron," has a point over each of its letters, probably designed as a mark of spuriousness. The word is wanting in the Samaritan, Syriac, and Coptic, and also in eight of Dr. Kennicott's and in four of De Rossi's MSS. Moses alone, as Houbigant observes, was commanded to number the Levites, (ver. 5, 11, 40, 44, 51:) for as the money with which the first-born were redeemed was to be paid to Aaron and his sons, (ver. 48,) it was decent that he, whose advantage it was that the number of the first-born should exceed, should not be authorized to take that number himself. twenty and two thousand. This total does not agree with the particulars; for the Gershonites were 7,500, the Kohathites 8,600, and the Merarites 6,200, which make a total of 22,300. Several methods of solving this difficulty have been proposed by learned men. Houbigant supposes there is an error in the enumeration of the Kohathites in ver. 28; the numeral {shesh,} "six," being written instead of {shalosh,} "three," before "hundred." Dr. Kennicott's mode of reconciling the discrepancy, however, is the most simple. He supposes that an error has crept into the number of the Gershonites in ver. 22, where instead of 7,500 we should read 7,200, as [k,] {caph} final, which stands for 500, might have been easily mistaken for [r,] resh, 200. (Dr. Kennicott on the Hebrew Text, vol. II. p. 212.) Either of these modes will equally reconcile the difference.
redemption <06302> [redeemed.]
273 <03967> [the two hundred.]
As the number of the Levites was 22,000, and the first-born males of the Israelites were 22,273, there were therefore 372 more of the latter than of the former, which are here ordered to be redeemed. The price of redemption is fixed at five shekels, or about 15s. each, in ver 47. This money, amounting to 1,365 shekels, equal to Å“204. 15s. English, was taken of the first-born. There is some difficulty, however, in determining which of the first-born should be redeemed by paying this sum, and which should be exchanged for the Levites; for every Israelite, no doubt, would rather have his first-born redeemed by a Levite, than pay five shekels; and yet some of them must have incurred this expense. Rabbi Solomon Jarchi says, to prevent contention, Moses took 22,000 slips of parchment, and wrote on each a son of Levi, and 273 more, on which he wrote five shekels; then putting them in an urn, and shaking them together, he ordered every one of the first-born to draw out a slip. If he drew out one with the first inscription, he said to him, a Levite hath redeemed thee: but if he drew out one of the latter, he said, pay the price. This is pronounced by Dr. A. Clarke to be a stupid, silly tale; but when we know that the determination by lot was used among the Israelites, it does not seem improbable that it was now resorted to, though we cannot vouch for the accuracy of the detail. This species of redeeming men is referred to by St. Peter in his 1st Epistle, ch. 1:18, 19.
273 ....... who <05736> [which are.]
five shekels .................. shekel ... shekel <02568 08255> [five shekels.]
shekels .................. shekel ... shekel <08255> [the shekel.]
Moses ....................... Moses <04872> [Moses.]
Lord .... Lord <03068> [as the Lord.]
thirty years ....... years <08141 07970> [thirty years.]
enter <0935> [enter.]
do <06213> [to do.]
camp <04264> [And when.]
Aaron ...... come <0175 0935> [Aaron shall come.]
The law prohibiting any person, except the high priest on one day in the year, to enter into the most holy place, must have admitted an exception while the Israelites were in the wilderness: that exception, therefore, is here expressly made; and the directions given respecting it must be religiously observed, or the service could not be safely performed. While the cloud rested on the tabernacle, the general rule was in force; but when it was removed, then the priests might enter to prepare the sacred vessels for removal.
down <03381> [they shall.]
cover <03680> [and cover.]
fine leather <05785 08476> [badgers' skins.]
This was not the covering of badgers' skins made for the tabernacle, which was carried by the Gershonites, (ver. 24, 25,) but one made for the purpose of concealing and sheltering the ark when it was to be carried.
cloth <0899> [a cloth.]
put ...................... insert <05414 07760> [and shall put.]
{Wesamoo baddaiv,} rather, "and adjust the staves thereof;" i.e., dispose them rightly under the covering, that they might be laid on their shoulders: for the staves were never taken out of the rings.
poles <0905> [the staves.]
table <07979> [the table.]
pouring <05262> [cover withal. or, pour out withal. the continual.]
The Israelites, without doubt, were able to procure corn enough from the adjacent countries, even when in the wilderness, to make the shewbread, and to present the daily meat offerings.
The embers of the sacred fire seem to have been removed in the grate, which was carried apart from the brazen altar; both being covered from view by purple cloths.
implements ..... serve ............... utensils <03627 08334> [all the vessels thereof.]
basins <04219> [basons. or, bowls.]
sons .................. ready ...... Kohathites ......................... Kohathites <0310 01121> [after that.]
touch <05060> [they shall.]
responsibilities <04853> [These things.]
responsibility .................................. responsibility <06486> [the office.]
Eleazar himself, perhaps with the other priests, was required to carry the oil for the light, the incense, and the flour for the daily meat offering, and the holy ointment; besides superintending the Levites. It may be supposed, that he himself carried no more of the oil than for present use. (see ver. 9.)
oil ................. oil <08081> [the oil.]
spiced <05561> [the sweet.]
daily <08548> [the daily.]
anointing <04888> [the anointing.]
responsibility .................................. responsibility <06486> [the oversight.]
Eleazar and the priests would be chargeable with the death of the Kohathites, if they failed to give them proper cautions and directions; or permitted them to gaze with irreverence or curiosity upon the holy things, which they might carry, but not see. (ver. 20.)
most holy things <06944> [the most holy.]
go <0935> [they shall.]
holy <06944> [the holy things.]
{Hakkodesh,} "the holy," or "sanctuary," i.e., the ark, as the Jews generally understand it; and with good reason, as any one may be convinced, who compares 1 Ki 8:8 with 2 Ch 5:9, where that which is called the holy in the former, is called the ark in the latter.
thirty years ....... years <08141 07970> [thirty years.]
company <06633 06635> [to perform the service. Heb. to war the warfare.]
carry <04853> [burdens. or, carriage.]
curtains <03407> [the curtains.]
covering ... covering <04372> [the covering.]
hangings <07050> [the hangings.]
ropes <04340> [and their cords.]
<06310> [appointment. Heb. mouth.]
The Levites were under the command of the priests. Eleazar exercised this authority in general, as next in succession to Aaron: and he in particular was placed over the Kohathites; while Ithamar, his younger brother, commanded the Gershonites and Merarites. (ver. 33.)
company <06635> [service. Heb. warfare.]
responsible <04931> [the charge.]
frames <07175> [the boards.]
names <08034> [and by name.]
An inventory was taken of every particular, even to the very pins belonging to each part, that nothing might be wanting when the tabernacle was set up.
furnishings .............. items <03627> [the instruments.]
authority <03027> [under the hand.]
In the third chapter we have an account of the whole number of the Levites; and here of those only who were able to serve the Lord in the sanctuary. By comparing the two places, we find the number of the effective and ineffective males to stand thus:-- Kohathites. Effective men . . . . . . . 2,750 Ineffective . . . . . . . . 5,850 ----- Total 8,600 Gershonites. Effective men . . . . . . . 2,630 Ineffective . . . . . . . . 4,870 ----- Total 7,500 Merarites. Effective men . . . . . . . 3,200 Ineffective . . . . . . . . 3,000 ----- Total 6,200 Thus we find that the whole number of the Levites amounted to 22,300; of whom 8,580 were fit for service and 13,720 unfit, being either too old or too young. What an astonishing number of men, all performing some service by which God was glorified, and the congregation at large benefited!
The family of Merari, though smaller than either of the other families of Levi, yet had a greater number of able men than any of them; for out of 6,200 males of a month old and upwards, we find 3,200 who were neither too young nor too old for the service of the sanctuary; which was more than one-half of their whole number. In this the wisdom and providence of God appear most conspicuously; for the Merarites were charged with the heaviest part of the sanctuary, as the boards, bars, sockets, etc; and though waggons were afterwards provided for them, yet the loading and unloading of the sockets, and other things of great weight, would require much strength, both bodily and numerical. (Compare ver. 36, 40, with ch. 3:22, 28, 24.) Thus God ever manifests his wisdom, in fitting men for the work to which they are appointed, whether with respect to number or gifts: "For to one is given, by the Spirit, the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge, by the same Spirit; to another faith, by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing, by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."
thirty <07970> [From thirty.]
entered <0935> [every one.]
word <06310> [According to the.]
each <0376> [every one.]
Lord ............................... Lord <03068> [as the Lord.]
Numbers 8:1-26
When this was spoken, says Bp. Patrick, is not certain. If Moses went into the tabernacle immediately after the princes had offered, (ch. 7:89,) it may be thought he then spake these things unto him; but both this and what follows, concerning the Levites, seem rather to have been delivered after the order for giving them to the priests, and appointing their several charges. (ch. 3; 4.) But some other things intervening, which depended upon what had been ordered respecting their camp, and that of the Israelites, Moses omits this until he had stated them, and some other matters which he had received from God. (See ch. 7:11.)
work <04639> [this work.]
beaten ............. beaten work <04749> [beaten work.]
pattern <04758> [the pattern.]
purify <02891> [cleanse them.]
Sprinkle <05137> [Sprinkle.]
water <04325> [water.]
shave <08593> [let them shave. Heb. let them cause a razor to pass over, etc.]
wash ... clothes <03526 0899> [wash their.]
young ..................... young <01121> [a young.]
grain offering <04503> [his meat.]
second <08145> [another.]
bring <07126> [thou shalt bring.]
assemble .... community <06950 05712> [shalt gather the whole.]
The words, {kol Æ’dath,} which are rendered "the whole assembly," often signify all the elders, or principal persons in the several tribes. (ch. 15:4; 25:7; 35:12.) And they cannot well have any other sense here; for it would be impossible for all the children of Israel to put their hands on the Levites, as stated in the next verse.
offer <05130> [offer. Heb. wave. offering. Heb. wave-offering.]
Not that they were actually waved, but they were presented to God, as the God of heaven, and the Lord of the whole earth, as the wave offerings were; and in calling them wave-offerings, it was intimated to them that they must move to and fro with readiness in the business of their profession.
they may <05647> [they may execute. Heb. they may be to execute, etc.]
Levites .................................. Levites <03881> [Levites.]
one ........ other <0259> [the one.]
atonement <03722> [atonement.]
then offer them .... wave offering <05130 08573> [offer them.]
{Wehainaphta othom tenoophath,} literlly, as in ver. 11, "and thou shalt wave them for a wave-offering;" manifestly in allusion to the ancient sacrificial rite of waving the sacrifices before the Lord; and it is probable, that some significant action, analogous to the waving of the sacrifice, was employed on this occasion; for the Levites were considered as an offering to the Lord, to whose service they were wholly dedicated. To this the apostle Paul manifestly alludes, when, in writing to the Romans, he says, (ch. 12:1,) "I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
separate <0914> [separate.]
Levites ........ Levites <03881> [and the Levites.]
go <0935> [go in.]
them ... offer them like <05130> [and offer.]
entirely given <05414> [wholly given.]
{Nethunim, nethunim,} "given; given;" The word being repeated, "because," says Bp. Patrick, "the children of Israel had devoted them to him, by laying their hands upon them, (ver. 10,) and Aaron had waved them as a wave-offering to the Lord." (ver. 11.)
open <06363> [instead of such.]
Houbigant, on the authority of the Samaritan, reads, "instead of every first-born of the children of Israel, who openeth the womb."
firstborn males ................ firstborn <01060> [all the.]
when <03117> [on the day.]
apart <06942> [I sanctified.]
given <05414> [I have given.]
given <05414> [a gift. Heb. given. that there.]
purified <02398> [were purified.]
then ... presented them like <05130> [offered.]
Aaron ............ Aaron ... atonement <0175 03722> [Aaron made.]
After ..... went <0310 0935> [after that.]
Lord <03068> [as the Lord.]
twenty-five <06242> [from twenty.]
In ch. 4:3, the Levites are appointed to the service of the tabernacle at the age of 30 years; and in 1 Ch 23:24, they are ordered to commence their work at 20 years of age. In order to reconcile this apparent discrepancy, it is to be observed, 1. At the time of which Moses speaks in ch. 4:3, the Levitical service was exceedingly severe, and consequently required full grown, robust men, to perform it; the age of 30 was therefore appointed as the period for commencing this service, the weightier part of which was probably there intended. 2. In this place God seems to speak of the service in a general way: hence the age of 25 is fixed. 3. In David's time, and afterwards, in the fixed tabernacle and temple, the laboriousness of the service no longer existed, and hence 20 years was the age appointed.
company .... work <06633 05656> [wait upon. Heb. war the warfare of, etc.]
must retire ... performing ... work <06635 05656 07725> [cease waiting upon the service thereof. Heb. return from the warfare of the service.]
The Levites, above fifty years of age, might superintend and assist their junior brethren in the ordinary offices, and give them and the people counsel and instruction; but they were exempted from carrying the tabernacle and from other laborious services. It is remarkable, that no law was made concerning the age at which the priests should begin to officiate, and though various blemishes disqualified them for the service of the sanctuary, yet they continued their ministrations till death, if capable. On the other hand, nothing is said concerning any bodily defects or blemishes disqualifying the Levites; but the time of their service is expressly settled. Their work was far more laborious than that of the priests; it is therefore likely that the priests would not begin very early to officiate; and the wisdom and experience of age would increase, rather than diminish, their fitness for the sacred duties of their office.
attend <08104> [to keep.]
work <05647> [and shall.]
Numbers 26:57-62
numbered <06485> [these are.]
Gershon <01648> [of Gershon.]
numbered ................ numbered <06485> [those that.]
numbered ................ numbered <06485> [they were not.]
inheritance <05159> [because.]
