Numbers 3:28

28 The number of all the males a month old or more was 8,600. ^[a] They were responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.

Numbers 3:28 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 3:28

In the number of all the males, from a month old and upwards,
[were] eight thousand and six hundred
8,600 men, which was the largest number of any of the houses of the Levites; but considering it had double the number of families in it, the increase was not so large in proportion, at least to Gershon, whose two families wanted but 1,100 of these four:

keeping the charge of the sanctuary;
of the holy and most holy places, and the vessels and instruments belonging thereunto; not that the males of a month old were keeping them, but when they were grown up and were capable of it, they had the charge thereof, in which they were instructed and trained up from their youth.

Numbers 3:28 In-Context

26 the curtains of the courtyard, the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and altar, and the cords—all the service for these items.

27 From Kohath came the clans of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites; these were the clans of the Kohathites.

28 The number of all the males a month old or more was 8,600. They were responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.

29 The clans of the Kohathites were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle,

30 and the leader of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew; some LXX manuscripts 8,300; see the total in verse 39.