Numbers 3:12-22

12 "I am choosing the Levites from all the Israelites to take the place of all the firstborn children of Israel. The Levites will be mine,

13 because the firstborn are mine. When you were in Egypt, I killed all the firstborn children of the Egyptians and took all the firstborn of Israel to be mine, both animals and children. They are mine. I am the Lord."

14 The Lord again said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,

15 "Count the Levites by families and family groups. Count every male one month old or older."

16 So Moses obeyed the Lord and counted them all.

17 Levi had three sons, whose names were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

18 The Gershonite family groups were Libni and Shimei.

19 The Kohathite family groups were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

20 The Merarite family groups were Mahli and Mushi. These were the family groups of the Levites.

21 The family groups of Libni and Shimei belonged to Gershon; they were the Gershonite family groups.

22 The number that was counted was 7,500 males one month old or older.

Numbers 3:12-22 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.