Numbers 3:1-11

1 This is the family line of Aaron and Moses as it was recorded when the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai:

2 The names of Aaron’s sons were Nadab (the oldest), Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

3 These sons of Aaron were anointed and ordained to minister as priests.

4 But Nadab and Abihu died in the LORD ’s presence in the wilderness of Sinai when they burned before the LORD the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. Since they had no sons, this left only Eleazar and Ithamar to serve as priests with their father, Aaron.

5 Then the LORD said to Moses,

6 “Call forward the tribe of Levi, and present them to Aaron the priest to serve as his assistants.

7 They will serve Aaron and the whole community, performing their sacred duties in and around the Tabernacle.

8 They will also maintain all the furnishings of the sacred tent, serving in the Tabernacle on behalf of all the Israelites.

9 Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They have been given from among all the people of Israel to serve as their assistants.

10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood. But any unauthorized person who goes too near the sanctuary must be put to death.”

11 And the LORD said to Moses,

Numbers 3:1-11 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew around the Tent of Meeting, doing service at the Tabernacle.
• [b]. Hebrew the Tent of Meeting; also in 3:25 .