Numbers 1:49

49 Do not thou number the lineage of Levi, neither set thou the sum of them with the sons of Israel; (Do not thou list, or register, the tribe of Levi, nor take thou the sum of them among the Israelites;)

Numbers 1:49 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 1:49

Only thou shall not number the tribe of Levi
That is, along with the other tribes, for it might be numbered by itself, as it afterwards was, ( Numbers 3:43 ) ;

neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel;
which confirms what is before observed: now this being the declared will of God clears Moses from all partiality to his own tribe, he doing nothing but what he had a command of God for it.

Numbers 1:49 In-Context

47 Soothly the deacons in the lineage of their families were not numbered with them. (But the Levites, in the tribe of their families, were not listed with them.)

48 And the Lord spake to Moses, and said, (For the Lord spoke to Moses, and said,)

49 Do not thou number the lineage of Levi, neither set thou the sum of them with the sons of Israel; (Do not thou list, or register, the tribe of Levi, nor take thou the sum of them among the Israelites;)

50 but thou shalt ordain them upon the tabernacle of (the) witnessing, and upon all the vessels thereof, and upon whatever thing pertaineth to [the] ceremonies, either sacrifices. They shall bear the tabernacle, and all the purtenances thereof, and they shall be in the service of it, and they shall set [their] tents by compass of the tabernacle (and they shall pitch their tents around the Tabernacle).

51 When men shall go forth, or be removed, the deacons shall take down the tabernacle; when the tents shall be set (up), they shall set it up (again). Whoever of strangers nigheth (to it), he shall be slain (he shall be put to death).