Bamidbar 4:2

2 Take the census of the Bnei Kehat from among the Bnei Levi, after their mishpekhot, by the bais of their avot,

Bamidbar 4:2 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 4:2

Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of
Levi
They were to begin with them first, and number them:

after their families, by the house of their fathers;
as many as were of the age after mentioned; and the reason why they began with Kohath, and not Gershon, the eldest son, as in the former numbering, was; not as Aben Ezra suggests, because of Moses and Aaron, who sprung from him, for that, if it had any strength in it, would have held good before; but rather, as Chaskuni and others, because the Kohathites carried the ark and other holy things; though the true reason seems to be, because of the order observed in taking down the tabernacle, and removing the parts of it, and the things in it; and it was most proper and reasonable, when they were about to take it down, first to take out the ark, table which was the business of the Kohathites to carry; next to take down the curtains, coverings, and hangings for the tabernacle and court, and the doors thereof, which were the charge of the Merarites; wherefore, in this order the sum out of each of them fit for business were ordered to be numbered.

Bamidbar 4:2 In-Context

1 And Hashem spoke unto Moshe and unto Aharon, saying,

2 Take the census of the Bnei Kehat from among the Bnei Levi, after their mishpekhot, by the bais of their avot,

3 From shloshim shanah (thirty years old) and upward even until chamishim shanah (fifty years old), all that enter into the tz’va (holy militia of Hashem) to do the melachah (work) in the Ohel Mo’ed.

4 This shall be the Avodat Bnei Kehat in the Ohel Mo’ed: kodesh hakodashim (the most holy things);

5 And when the machaneh (camp) setteth forward, Aharon shall come, and his banim, and they shall take down the Parochet (veil) of the screen, and cover the Aron HaEdut (Ark of the Testimony) with it;