Numbers 3-4

CHAPTER 3:
            Chapters 3 and 4 focus on the tribe of Levi. After the rest of Israel has been numbered and their position in the camp assigned, God now turns His attention to the Levites whom He has chosen to help Aaron and his sons in the tabernacle.
 
            Verse 1: The Hebrew word for “generations” in this verse is the same one used in Genesis 5:1: tôledâh. Strong’s concordance defines it as “an account of men and their descendants”. It can also mean “results, proceedings, generations, or genealogies”. The Holman Bible Commentary has this to say about verse 1: Within the cultural framework of the ancient Near East, genealogical records served several purposes: (1) to provide historical connection to a pivotal point in the past; (2) to preserve familial community and organization within the larger societal structure; (3) to justify one’s position within the societal structure by providing a historical precedent from within one’s family line; and (4) to provide future generations with a source of pride. In this chapter, Moses is using the genealogy of Levi, the son of Jacob, to establish his and Aaron’s authority over the people.
 
         Verses 2-4: Aaron’s sons are listed in the order of their birth: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. (v.2) All four had been anointed and consecrated to serve as priests before the Lord alongside their father who is the high priest. (v.3) (Exodus 28:41) The deaths of Nadab and Abihu had occurred less than a month earlier (Leviticus 10:1-2), and neither of them had any children. That leaves only Aaron’s youngest sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, to continue the priestly line. (v.4)
        There is another important reason for Moses inserting this note about Nadab and Abihu. Besides the genealogical record, this is a reminder to all of Israel about the consequences of disobedience to God, especially regarding the holiness of His sanctuary. Obedience, remember, is one of the central themes of this book.
 
            Verses 5-10: The tribe of Levi is ordered by God to assist Aaron and his sons in their daily duties of the tabernacle, as well as being responsible for the assembly and disassembly of the tent itself when it comes time to move camp. (v.6-8) (Numbers 8:6, 19, 18:6-7, Deuteronomy 10:8, 33:8) This includes packing up and storing all the dishes, utensils, and other items used by the priests in their daily ministry. The entire tribe is to be given over to this service (v.9), but only Aaron and his sons are to serve in the roles of high priest and priests. (v.10) Anyone besides them that attempts to come near to the tabernacle to do any task other than what is prescribed to the priests alone will be put to death. (Numbers 1:51, 16:40) This warning is repeated again in verse 38.
 
        Verses 11-13, 40-51: God institutes a new rule regarding the Levites and the firstborn of all Israel and their livestock. (Exodus 13:2) From the night of their exodus from Egypt, and because of His striking all the firstborn of the Egyptians, God had claimed all the firstborn of Israel, both man and beast. (v.13) Up to this point, the firstborn belonged to God and His service, but now God is setting aside the entire tribe of Levi to serve Him instead. (v.12, 45)
       However, because of the census that He orders Moses to conduct of the tribe of Levi (v.15-16) and then of all the firstborn of Israel (v.40), there are 273 more of the firstborn of Israel older than one month than of all the males of the Levites. (v.43, 46) So the Lord tells Moses to redeem those 273 according to the law that was given in Leviticus 27 since only the Levites are now needed for service to the priests. He is releasing all the other firstborn from their obligation to Him. (v.47-48) This results in a sum of $1,365 shekels that is given to Aaron and his sons. (v.50-51) (Leviticus 27:6, Numbers 18:16)
 
           Verses 14-39: The three sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. (v.17) (Genesis 46:11, Numbers 26:57, 1 Chronicles 6:1, 16, 23:6) From these three descends the entire tribe of Levi which now numbers 22,000. (v.39) The tribe is divided into three groups according to the descendants of each of those three sons, and each group has an assigned section or category of tabernacle responsibilities. (Refer to the table below, courtesy of the Moody Bible Commentary.) Each group also has an assigned place to set up camp around the tabernacle in the same manner that God assigned the rest of Israel a specific side of camp in the previous chapter.
          From the totals given in verses 22, 28 and 34, you will see that there is a difference of 300, not 273. From the Moody Bible Commentary: “The simplest solution is that the additional 300 were excluded from consideration because they were themselves firstborn of the Levites and thus were not eligible to redeem the firstborn of Israel. All of the Levites over a month in age were tallied, and the count was 22,000.”

            The locations of the camps for each of the three groups are as follows: Gershonites: west side of the tabernacle (v.23); Kohathites: south side of the tabernacle (v.29); Merarites: north side of the tabernacle (v.35). One member from each family is designated as the head of that family, and another as the overseer of their assigned tasks. (Refer to the table in Figure 2.) (v.24, 30, 32, 35) Moses, Aaron, and their families are to camp on the east side of the tabernacle, in front of the entrance. (v.38) They are the primary guard that will keep the tabernacle from defilement. According to the Moody commentators, “The Kohathites were the most favored clan of the tribe of Levi because of their responsibility to care for the objects of the holy place. Because both Moses and Aaron descended from that clan, the Lord gave Moses and Aaron and his sons a campsite on the favored east side of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise.”

CHAPTER 4:
        Of the three clans of the tribe of Levi that were named in the previous chapter, God instructs Moses to conduct another census. (v.1-3) (Numbers 8:24, 1 Chronicles 23:3, 24, 27, Ezra 3:8) This one counts all the males between 30 and 50 years of age for the purpose of organizing and assigning them their respective tasks within the tabernacle. Contrary to chapter 3, the three sons of Levi are not named here in their birth order but rather in the order of the importance of what part of the tabernacle they will be working on, starting from greatest to least.
 
        Verses 4-20: The Kohathites are named first because they will be responsible for transporting the most holy things: the two altars, the ark of the covenant, the table of the shewbread, the golden lampstand, and all the dishes and utensils. (Numbers 3:31) However, no one but Aaron and his sons are allowed to enter the tabernacle and, thus, look upon the most holy things. To do so is to suffer immediate death by the judgment of God. (v.15) Therefore they must first pack up all the furnishings so that the sons of Kohath may then transport them safely when it’s time to move the camp. (v.19-20)
           The veil which separates the holy place from the holy of holies is to be used to cover the ark of the covenant. On top of that is a layer of badgers’ skins and then a cloth of blue. (v.5-6) The last step is to insert the poles by which it may be borne. Only then may the ark be safely transported upon the shoulders of the Kohathites.
            Eleazar is put charge of all the furnishings of the tabernacle, including the oil used for the lamp, the incense, the daily meat offering, and for anointing. (Exodus 25:6, Leviticus 24:2) He will direct the other priests in the covering and packing of the furnishings and all the dishes and utensils, and then he will oversee the transportation of them by the Kohathites.
 
            Verses 21-28: The Gershonites are responsible for the skins which form the ceiling of the tabernacle and all the curtains that are hung in the outer court, as well as that which forms the door of the court and the door of the tabernacle itself. (v.25-26) But the curtains within the tabernacle, and especially that which separates the holy place from the holy of holies, are handled only by Aaron and his sons. (v.5-6) Ithamar, Aaron’s youngest son, is put in charge of the Gershonites. (v.28)
 
        Verses 29-33: Lastly, the Merarites are put in charge of dismantling all the framework of the tabernacle once the previous two tasks have been completed. Verse 32 mentions a system of numbering and categorization by which each board, pillar, socket, and peg are labeled so that the whole framework may be easily and properly reassembled. “…and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden.” This group is also under the charge of Ithamar. (v.33)
 
       Verses 34-49: These are the totals of each clan: 2,750 Kohathites, 2,630 Gershonites, and 3,200 Merarites. That total number, 8,580, represents about 39% of the total number of male Levites, 22,000, that was given in verse 39 of chapter 3. Four times in this chapter does the phrase “…according to the commandment (word) of the Lord…” appear. (v.37, 41, 45, 49) Thus far, Moses, Aaron, and all the Israelites are obedient and submissive to all of God’s directives and commands. There is no record here of any of the Levites or Aaron’s sons rebelling against the authority that God placed over them. The commentators of my study Bible have this to say about the final verses of this chapter: “Note the New Testament exhortation in Hebrews 13:17 to “…obey them that have rule over you, and submit yourselves…”. (Compare 1 Corinthians 16:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, 1 Peter 5:5) Then note the admonitions to leaders to “command” (1 Timothy 4:11) and “rebuke with all authority” (Titus 2:15), for by adhering to scriptural teaching “…thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee…” (1 Timothy 4:16).