Numbers 3:23-33

23 And the sons of Gedson shall encamp westward behind the tabernacle.

24 And the ruler of the household of the family of Gedson Elisaph the son of Dael.

25 And the charge of the sons of Gedson in the tabernacle of witness the tent and the veil, and the covering of the door of the tabernacle of witness,

26 and the curtains of the court, and the veil of the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and the remainder of all its works.

27 To Caath one division, that of Amram, and another division, that of Issaar, and another division, that of Chebron, and another division, that of Oziel: these are the divisions of Caath, according to number.

28 Every male from a month old and upward, eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charges of the holy things.

29 The families of the sons of Caath, shall encamp beside the tabernacle toward the south.

30 And the chief of the house of the families of the divisions of Caath, Elisaphan the son of Oziel.

31 And their charge the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and all the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they do holy service, and the veil, and all their works.

32 And the chief over the chief of the Levites, Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, appointed to keep the charges of the holy things.

33 To Merari the family of Mooli, and the family of Musi: these are the families of Merari.

Numbers 3:23-33 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.