Numbers 3:28

28 There were 8,600 males one month old or older among these Kohathite clans. They were responsible for the care 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 that surrounded the Tabernacle and altar, the curtain at the courtyard entrance, the ropes, and all the equipment related to their use.

27 The descendants of Kohath were composed of the clans descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

28 There were 8,600 males one month old or older among these Kohathite clans. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary,

29 and they were assigned the area south of the Tabernacle for their camp.

30 The leader of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.

Footnotes

• [a]. Some Greek manuscripts read 8,300; see total in 3:39 .