Numbers 3:11-21

11 The LORD spoke to Moshe, saying,
12 "Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Yisra'el instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the children of Yisra'el; and the Levites shall be mine:
13 for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Mitzrayim I made holy to me all the firstborn in Yisra'el, both man and animal. They shall be mine. I am the LORD."
14 The LORD spoke to Moshe in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,
15 "Number the children of Levi by their fathers' houses, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shall you number."
16 Moshe numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.
17 These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, and Kehat, and Merari.
18 These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Livni and Shim`i.
19 The sons of Kehat by their families: `Amram, and Yitzhar, Hevron, and `Uzzi'el.
20 The sons of Merari by their families: Machli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers' houses.
21 Of Gershon was the family of the Livni, and the family of the Shim`i: these are the families of the Gershoni.

Numbers 3:11-21 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.

The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.