Numbers 4:37-47

37 These are they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, every one that served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Jehovah through Moses.
38 And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, after their families, and according to their fathers' houses,
39 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one that entered into the labour, for service in the tent of meeting,
40 even those that were numbered of them, after their families, according to their fathers' houses, were two thousand six hundred and thirty.
41 These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, all that served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Jehovah.
42 And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, after their families, according to their fathers' houses,
43 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one that entered into the labour, for service in the tent of meeting,
44 even those that were numbered of them according to their families, were three thousand two hundred.
45 These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Jehovah through Moses.
46 All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel numbered, after their families and according to their fathers' houses,
47 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one that came to serve [in] the work of the service, and [in] the work of carrying, in the tent of meeting,

Numbers 4:37-47 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 4

This chapter relates an order to number the Levites fit for business, and gives an account of the time and age when they should enter into service, and how long they should continue therein, Nu 4:1-3; what their particular service should be; and first of the Kohathites, Nu 4:4-20; next of the Gershonites, Nu 4:21-28; and then of the Merarites, Nu 4:29-33; after which Moses and Aaron, with the chief of the congregation, numbered each of them, even as many as were at the age fit for service, as the Kohathites, Nu 4:34-37; the Gershonites, Nu 4:38-41; the Merarites, Nu 4:42-45; the sum total of which is given, Nu 4:46-49.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Lit. 'by the hand of,' here and often elsewhere.
  • [b]. See Note at ver. 3.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.