Numbers 3:23-33

23 These shall set tents behind the tabernacle at the west part, (They shall pitch their tents behind the Tabernacle, on the west side,)

24 under the prince Eliasaph, the son of Lael. (and their leader shall be Eliasaph, the son of Lael.)

25 And they shall have the keepings in the tabernacle of [the] bond of peace, the tabernacle itself, and the covering thereof, (and) the tent that is drawn before the gates of the covering of the witnessing of the bond of peace; (And they shall keep charge of the Tabernacle of the Covenant, that is, the Tabernacle itself, and its coverings, and the curtain which is hung at the entrance to the Tabernacle of the Covenant;)

26 and the curtains of the great entry, also the tent that is hanged in the entering of the great entry of the tabernacle, and whatever thing pertaineth to the use of the altar, the cords of the tabernacle, and to all the service thereof. (and the curtains for the courtyard all around the Tabernacle, and the curtain that is hung at the entrance to the courtyard, and whatever pertaineth to the use of the altar, and all the other things in the service thereof.)

27 The kindred of Kohath shall have the peoples of Amram, and of Izhar, and of Hebron, and of Uzziel; these be the families of Kohathites,

28 numbered by their names, all of male kind, from one month and above, eight thousand and six hundred. They shall have the keepings of the saintuary, (and the number of all the males, from one month of age and older, was eight thousand and six hundred. They shall keep charge of the holy things of the sanctuary,)

29 and they shall set their tents at the south coast thereof; (and they shall pitch their tents on its south side;)

30 and the prince of them shall be Elizaphan, the son of Uzziel. (and their leader shall be Elizaphan, the son of Uzziel.)

31 And they shall keep (charge of) the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, the altars, and the vessels of the saintuary in which it is served, and the veil, and all such manner purtenance. (And they shall keep charge of the Ark, that is, the Box containing the tablets of the Law, and the table, and the lamp-stand, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary with which they shall serve, or they shall minister, and the Veil, and all the other things in the service thereof.)

32 Soothly the prince of princes of Levites shall be Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest; and he shall be upon the keepers of the keeping of the saintuary. (And the leader of the leaders of the Levites shall be Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest; and he shall be over those in charge of the sanctuary.)

33 And soothly of Merari shall be the peoples of Mahli, and of Mushi,

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.