Numbers 4:42-49

42 And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the houses of their fathers,

43 from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to minister in the tabernacle of the testimony,

44 those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand two hundred.

45 These were those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

46 All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel numbered, after their families and after the houses of their fathers,

47 from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entered in to serve in the service and to bear a burden in the tabernacle of the testimony,

48 those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand five hundred and eighty.

49 As the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, they were numbered, each one according to his ministry and according to his burden; thus were they numbered of Moses, as the LORD commanded him.

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.