Numbers 3:16

16 And Moses numbered them, according to the commandment of Jehovah, -- as he had been commanded.

Numbers 3:16 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 3:16

And Moses numbered them according to the word of the Lord,
&c.] Took the account of all of a month old in the several houses and families of the tribe of Levi; though Moses is only here mentioned, yet it seems from ( Numbers 3:39 ) ; that Aaron was concerned with him in it; yea, in an after numbering of the Levites who were fit for business from thirty to fifty years of age, the chief of the children of Israel were assisting to him and Aaron, ( Numbers 4:46 ) ; as he commanded;
he was obedient to the divine will in all things, and so in this, though it was his own tribe and his own posterity, which in all successive ages were to be no other than ministering servants to the priests, and to have no inheritance in the land of Israel.

Numbers 3:16 In-Context

14 And Jehovah spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,
15 Number the sons of Levi according to their fathers' houses, after their families; every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.
16 And Moses numbered them, according to the commandment of Jehovah, -- as he had been commanded.
17 And these are the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.
18 And these are the names of the sons of Gershon according to their families: Libni and Shimei.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Lit. 'mouth:' as very frequently in Numbers.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.