Numbers 4:42-49

42 Those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers' houses,

43 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service, for work in the Tent of Meeting,

44 even those who were numbered of them by their families, were three thousand two hundred.

45 These are those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moshe and Aharon numbered according to the mitzvah of the LORD by Moshe.

46 All those who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moshe and Aharon and the princes of Yisra'el numbered, by their families, and by their fathers' houses,

47 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered in to do the work of service, and the work of bearing burdens in the Tent of Meeting,

48 even those who were numbered of them, were eight thousand five hundred eighty.

49 According to the mitzvah of the LORD they were numbered by Moshe, everyone according to his service, and according to his burden. Thus were they numbered by him, as the LORD commanded Moshe.

Numbers 4:42-49 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.