Numbers 3:1-13

Aaron's Sons and the Levites

1 These are the family records of Aaron and Moses at the time the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.^[a]

2 These are the names of Aaron's sons: Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

3 These are the names of Aaron's sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests.

4 But Nadab and Abihu died in the Lord's presence when they presented unauthorized fire^[b] before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests under the direction of Aaron their father.^[c]

5 The Lord spoke to Moses:

6 "Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.

7 They are to perform duties for^[d] him and the entire community before the tent of meeting by attending to the service of the tabernacle.

8 They are to take care of^[e] all the furnishings of the tent of meeting^[f] and perform duties for^[g] the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle.

9 Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they have been assigned exclusively to him^[h] from the Israelites.^[i]

10 You are to appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out their priestly responsibilities, but any unauthorized person who comes near [the sanctuary] must be put to death."^[j]

11 The Lord spoke to Moses:

12 "See, I have taken the Levites from the Israelites in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb.^[k] The Levites belong to Me,

13 because every firstborn belongs to Me. At the time I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt,^[l] I consecrated every firstborn in Israel to Myself, both man and animal; they are Mine; I am the Lord."^[m]

Numbers 3:1-13 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]. Ex 19:3
• [b]. Lv 10:1-2
• [c]. Nm 4:16,28,33; Lv 10:6
• [d]. Or to guard
• [e]. Or to guard
• [f]. Nm 1:50,53
• [g]. Or and guard
• [h]. Some Hb mss, LXX, Sam read Me; Nm 8:16
• [i]. Nm 8:16,19,22; 18:6
• [j]. Nm 1:51; 3:38; 18:7
• [k]. Nm 8:16-18; Ex 13:1-2
• [l]. Ex 15-16
• [m]. Nm 3:41,45; Ex 3:14-16; 6:6-7