Numbers 3:7-17

7 They shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle.

8 They shall keep all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, and the obligations of the children of Yisra'el, to do the service of the tabernacle.

9 You shall give the Levites to Aharon and to his sons. They are wholly given to him on the behalf of the children of Yisra'el.

10 You shall appoint Aharon and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death."

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.

Numbers 3:7-17 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.