Numbers 3:6

6 Present thou the lineage of Levi, and make it to stand in the sight of Aaron, the priest, that they minister to him; (Present thou the tribe of Levi, and make them to stand before Aaron, the priest, to serve him;)

Numbers 3:6 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 3:6

Bring the tribe of Levi near
Separate them from the rest, set them apart for special service about, the sanctuary, let them have a place nearer to it than the other tribes, or offer them, that is, to the Lord, as in ( Numbers 8:11 ) ; as well as bring them near to Aaron; so it follows:

and present them before Aaron the priest;
that he may receive them as a gift unto him, as servants to wait upon him; and! that he may appoint and declare unto them their work, and set them about it:

that they may minister unto him;
in guarding the tabernacle taking care of the vessels of it, taking it down, carrying it, from place to place, and setting it up as there was occasion for it.

Numbers 3:6 In-Context

4 Nadab and Abihu [died], when they offered alien fire in the sight of the Lord, in the desert of Sinai, (and they) were dead without free children; and Eleazar and Ithamar were set in priesthood before Aaron their father. (But then Nadab and Abihu were killed, when they offered unholy fire before the Lord, in the Sinai Desert, and they died before having any children; and so Eleazar and Ithamar were ordained in the priesthood in the sight of their father Aaron.)

5 And the Lord spake to Moses, saying,

6 Present thou the lineage of Levi, and make it to stand in the sight of Aaron, the priest, that they minister to him; (Present thou the tribe of Levi, and make them to stand before Aaron, the priest, to serve him;)

7 and (to stand) watch, and that they keep whatever thing pertaineth to the religion of the multitude, before the tabernacle of witnessing; (and to keep charge, and to do whatever thing pertaineth to the service of the multitude, in the Tabernacle of the Witnessing;)

8 and that they keep (charge of) the vessels of the tabernacle, and serve in the service of it.