Numbers 4:34-49

34 And Moses and Aaron and the chiefs of the congregation listed the sons of the Kohathites, by their clans and their fathers' houses,
35 1from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come on duty, for service in the tent of meeting;
36 and those listed by clans were 2,750.
37 2This was the list of the clans of the Kohathites, all who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron listed according to the commandment of the LORD by Moses.
38 Those listed of the sons of Gershon, by their clans and their fathers' houses,
39 3from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come on duty for service in the tent of meeting--
40 those listed by their clans and their fathers' houses were 2,630.
41 4This was the list of the clans of the sons of Gershon, all who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron listed according to the commandment of the LORD.
42 Those listed of the clans of the sons of Merari, by their clans and their fathers' houses,
43 5from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come on duty, for service in the tent of meeting--
44 those listed by clans were 3,200.
45 6This was the list of the clans of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron listed according to the commandment of the LORD by Moses.
46 All those who were listed of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chiefs of Israel listed, by their clans and their fathers' houses,
47 7from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come to do the service of ministry and the service of bearing burdens in the tent of meeting,
48 those listed were 8,580.
49 According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses they were listed, 8each one with his task of serving or carrying. Thus they were listed by him, 9as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 4:34-49 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 4

This chapter relates an order to number the Levites fit for business, and gives an account of the time and age when they should enter into service, and how long they should continue therein, Nu 4:1-3; what their particular service should be; and first of the Kohathites, Nu 4:4-20; next of the Gershonites, Nu 4:21-28; and then of the Merarites, Nu 4:29-33; after which Moses and Aaron, with the chief of the congregation, numbered each of them, even as many as were at the age fit for service, as the Kohathites, Nu 4:34-37; the Gershonites, Nu 4:38-41; the Merarites, Nu 4:42-45; the sum total of which is given, Nu 4:46-49.

Cross References 9

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.