Numbers 3:3-13

3 haec nomina filiorum Aaron sacerdotum qui uncti sunt et quorum repletae et consecratae manus ut sacerdotio fungerentur

4 mortui sunt Nadab et Abiu cum offerrent ignem alienum in conspectu Domini in deserto Sinai absque liberis functique sunt sacerdotio Eleazar et Ithamar coram Aaron patre suo

5 locutus est Dominus ad Mosen dicens

6 adplica tribum Levi et fac stare in conspectu Aaron sacerdotis ut ministrent ei et excubent

7 et observent quicquid ad cultum pertinet multitudinis coram tabernaculo testimonii

8 et custodiant vasa tabernaculi servientes in ministerio eius

9 dabisque dono Levitas

10 Aaron et filiis eius quibus traditi sunt a filiis Israhel Aaron autem et filios eius constitues super cultum sacerdotii externus qui ad ministrandum accesserit morietur

11 locutusque est Dominus ad Mosen dicens

12 ego tuli Levitas a filiis Israhel pro omni primogenito qui aperit vulvam in filiis Israhel eruntque Levitae mei

13 meum est enim omne primogenitum ex quo percussi primogenitos in terra Aegypti sanctificavi mihi quicquid primum nascitur in Israhel ab homine usque ad pecus mei sunt ego Dominus

Numbers 3:3-13 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.