Numbers 3:30-40

30 princepsque eorum erit Elisaphan filius Ozihel

31 et custodient arcam mensamque et candelabrum altaria et vasa sanctuarii in quibus ministratur et velum cunctamque huiuscemodi supellectilem

32 princeps autem principum Levitarum Eleazar filius Aaron sacerdotis erit super excubitores custodiae sanctuarii

33 at vero de Merari erunt populi Moolitae et Musitae recensiti per nomina sua

34 omnes generis masculini ab uno mense et supra sex milia ducenti

35 princeps eorum Surihel filius Abiahihel in plaga septentrionali castrametabuntur

36 erunt sub custodia eorum tabulae tabernaculi et vectes et columnae ac bases earum et omnia quae ad cultum huiuscemodi pertinent

37 columnaeque atrii per circuitum cum basibus suis et paxilli cum funibus

38 castrametabuntur ante tabernaculum foederis id est ad orientalem plagam Moses et Aaron cum filiis suis habentes custodiam sanctuarii in medio filiorum Israhel quisquis alienus accesserit morietur

39 omnes Levitae quos numeraverunt Moses et Aaron iuxta praeceptum Domini per familias suas in genere masculino a mense uno et supra fuerunt viginti duo milia

40 et ait Dominus ad Mosen numera primogenitos sexus masculini de filiis Israhel a mense uno et supra et habebis summam eorum

Numbers 3:30-40 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.