Numbers 3:28

28 In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand six hundred, keeping the charge 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 and the hangings of the court and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.

27 And of Kohath was the family of Amram and the family of Izehar and the family of Hebron and the family of Uzziel; these are the families of the Kohathites.

28 In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.

29 The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle towards the Negev;

30 and the prince of the house of the father of the families of Kohath, Elizaphan, son of Uzziel.