Numbers 3:9-19

9 You will give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They have been assigned as a gift to him from the Israelites.

10 You will appoint Aaron and his sons to be responsible for the priesthood. Any other person who approaches will be put to death.

11 The LORD spoke to Moses:

12 I claim the Levites from the Israelites in place of all the oldest males who open an Israelite womb. The Levites are mine

13 because all the oldest males are mine. When I killed all the oldest males in the land of Egypt, I reserved for myself all the oldest males in Israel, both humans and animals. They are mine; I am the LORD.

14 The LORD spoke to Moses in the Sinai desert:

15 Enroll the Levites by their households and their clans. You will enroll all the males over one month old.

16 Moses enrolled them according to the LORD's word as he was commanded.

17 These were Levi's sons by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

18 These were the names of Gershon's sons by their clans: Libni and Shimei.

19 Kohath's sons by their clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

Numbers 3:9-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 3

In this chapter an account is given of the genealogy of the priests and Levites, and of the gift of the Levites to the priests, of the numbering of them, and the service they were to perform; and first of the priests, the sons of Aaron, Nu 3:1-4; and then of the Levites, as given unto them, to wait upon them, and assist them, Nu 3:5-10; and these were taken instead of the firstborn, Nu 3:11-13; and ordered to be numbered, which was done accordingly by their families, Nu 3:14-20; and the sum of each is given, and the particular work assigned to them; of the Gershonites, Nu 3:21-26; of the Kohathites, Nu 3:27-32; of the Merarites, Nu 3:33-38; the sum total of them is given, Nu 3:39; then the firstborn of the children of Israel, from a month old are ordered to be numbered, and were, Nu 3:40-43; and these appearing to be more in number than the Levites, by two hundred seventy three a direction is given that the two hundred seventy three should be redeemed at the rate of five, shekels apiece, and the money paid to Aaron and his sons, Nu 3:44-48; which was accordingly done, Nu 3:49-51.