Numbers 3 (New International Version)
The Levites
1 This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses1 at the time the LORD talked with Moses on Mount Sinai.2 2 The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn3 and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.4 3 Those were the names of Aaron's sons, the anointed priests,5 who were ordained to serve as priests. 4 Nadab and Abihu, however, fell dead before the LORD6 when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai.7 They had no sons; so only Eleazar and Ithamar8 served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.9 5 The LORD said to Moses, 6 "Bring the tribe of Levi10 and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.11 7 They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community12 at the Tent of Meeting by doing the work13 of the tabernacle. 8 They are to take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. 9 Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons;14 they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.a 10 Appoint Aaron15 and his sons to serve as priests;16 anyone else who approaches the sanctuary must be put to death."17 11 The LORD also said to Moses, 12 "I have taken the Levites18 from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring19 of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,20 13 for all the firstborn are mine.21 When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether man or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord."22 14 The LORD said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,23 15 "Count24 the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more."25 16 So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord. 17 These were the names of the sons of Levi:26 Gershon,27 Kohath28 and Merari.29 18 These were the names of the Gershonite clans: Libni and Shimei.30 19 The Kohathite clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.31 20 The Merarite clans:32 Mahli and Mushi.33 These were the Levite clans, according to their families. 21 To Gershon34 belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;35 these were the Gershonite clans. 22 The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500. 23 The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle.36 24 The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. 25 At the Tent of Meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle37 and tent, its coverings,38 the curtain at the entrance39 to the Tent of Meeting,40 26 the curtains of the courtyard41, the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,42 and the ropes43--and everything44 related to their use. 27 To Kohath45 belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;46 these were the Kohathite47 clans. 28 The number of all the males a month old or more48 was %"8,600.b The Kohathites were responsible49 for the care of the sanctuary.50 29 The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side51 of the tabernacle. 30 The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan52 son of Uzziel. 31 They were responsible for the care of the ark,53 the table,54 the lampstand,55 the altars,56 the articles57 of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,58 and everything related to their use.59 32 The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar60 son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible61 for the care of the sanctuary.62 33 To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;63 these were the Merarite clans.64 34 The number of all the males a month old or more65 who were counted was 6,200. 35 The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.66 36 The Merarites were appointed67 to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,68 its crossbars,69 posts,70 bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,71 37 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard72 with their bases, tent pegs73 and ropes. 38 Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east74 of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the Tent of Meeting.75 They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary76 on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.77 39 The total number of Levites counted78 at the LORD's command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.79 40 The LORD said to Moses, "Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more80 and make a list of their names.81 41 Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites,82 and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord."83 42 So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the LORD commanded him. 43 The total number of firstborn males a month old or more,84 listed by name, was 22,273.85 44 The LORD also said to Moses, 45 "Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be mine.86 I am the Lord.87 46 To redeem88 the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, 47 collect five shekelsc89 for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel,90 which weighs twenty gerahs.91 48 Give the money for the redemption92 of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons."93 49 So Moses collected the redemption money94 from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the firstborn of the Israelites95 he collected silver weighing %"1,365 shekels,d96 according to the sanctuary shekel. 51 Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version)
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Geneva Study Bible
John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
- Numbers
- Numbers 3
- Numbers 3:1
- Numbers 3:2
- Numbers 3:3
- Numbers 3:4
- Numbers 3:5
- Numbers 3:6
- Numbers 3:7
- Numbers 3:8
- Numbers 3:9
- Numbers 3:10
- Numbers 3:11
- Numbers 3:12
- Numbers 3:13
- Numbers 3:14
- Numbers 3:15
- Numbers 3:16
- Numbers 3:17
- Numbers 3:18
- Numbers 3:19
- Numbers 3:20
- Numbers 3:21
- Numbers 3:22
- Numbers 3:23
- Numbers 3:24
- Numbers 3:25
- Numbers 3:26
- Numbers 3:27
- Numbers 3:28
- Numbers 3:29
- Numbers 3:30
- Numbers 3:31
- Numbers 3:32
- Numbers 3:33
- Numbers 3:34
- Numbers 3:35
- Numbers 3:36
- Numbers 3:37
- Numbers 3:38
- Numbers 3:39
- Numbers 3:40
- Numbers 3:41
- Numbers 3:42
- Numbers 3:43
- Numbers 3:44
- Numbers 3:45
- Numbers 3:46
- Numbers 3:47
- Numbers 3:48
- Numbers 3:49
- Numbers 3:50
- Numbers 3:51
Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete)
Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)
Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition)
Treasury Of Scripture Knowledge
- Numbers
- Numbers 3
- Numbers 3:1
- Numbers 3:2
- Numbers 3:3
- Numbers 3:4
- Numbers 3:5
- Numbers 3:6
- Numbers 3:7
- Numbers 3:8
- Numbers 3:9
- Numbers 3:10
- Numbers 3:11
- Numbers 3:12
- Numbers 3:13
- Numbers 3:14
- Numbers 3:15
- Numbers 3:16
- Numbers 3:17
- Numbers 3:18
- Numbers 3:19
- Numbers 3:20
- Numbers 3:21
- Numbers 3:22
- Numbers 3:23
- Numbers 3:24
- Numbers 3:25
- Numbers 3:26
- Numbers 3:27
- Numbers 3:28
- Numbers 3:29
- Numbers 3:30
- Numbers 3:31
- Numbers 3:32
- Numbers 3:33
- Numbers 3:34
- Numbers 3:35
- Numbers 3:36
- Numbers 3:37
- Numbers 3:38
- Numbers 3:39
- Numbers 3:40
- Numbers 3:41
- Numbers 3:42
- Numbers 3:43
- Numbers 3:44
- Numbers 3:45
- Numbers 3:46
- Numbers 3:47
- Numbers 3:48
- Numbers 3:49
- Numbers 3:50
- Numbers 3:51
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
a.
Numbers 3:9 - Most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint (see also Num. 8:16) "to me"
b.
Numbers 3:28 - Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts "8,300"
c.
Numbers 3:47 - That is, about 2 ounces (about 55 grams)
d.
Numbers 3:50 - That is, about 35 pounds (about 15.5 kilograms)
42.
Numbers 3:26 - ver 31
48.
Numbers 3:28 - ver 15
61.
Numbers 3:32 - ver 28
65.
Numbers 3:34 - ver 15
78.
Numbers 3:39 - S ver 15
80.
Numbers 3:40 - ver 15
82.
Numbers 3:41 - ver 12
84.
Numbers 3:43 - ver 15
85.
Numbers 3:43 - ver 39
86.
Numbers 3:45 - S ver 9
92.
Numbers 3:48 - ver 51
93.
Numbers 3:48 - ver 50
94.
Numbers 3:49 - ver 48
95.
Numbers 3:50 - ver 41,45
96.
Numbers 3:50 - S ver 46-48