Numbers 3

1 haec sunt generationes Aaron et Mosi in die qua locutus est Dominus ad Mosen in monte Sinai

2 et haec nomina filiorum Aaron primogenitus eius Nadab dein Abiu et Eleazar et Ithamar

3 haec nomina filiorum Aaron sacerdotum qui uncti sunt et quorum repletae et consecratae manus ut sacerdotio fungerentur

4 mortui sunt Nadab et Abiu cum offerrent ignem alienum in conspectu Domini in deserto Sinai absque liberis functique sunt sacerdotio Eleazar et Ithamar coram Aaron patre suo

5 locutus est Dominus ad Mosen dicens

6 adplica tribum Levi et fac stare in conspectu Aaron sacerdotis ut ministrent ei et excubent

7 et observent quicquid ad cultum pertinet multitudinis coram tabernaculo testimonii

8 et custodiant vasa tabernaculi servientes in ministerio eius

9 dabisque dono Levitas

10 Aaron et filiis eius quibus traditi sunt a filiis Israhel Aaron autem et filios eius constitues super cultum sacerdotii externus qui ad ministrandum accesserit morietur

11 locutusque est Dominus ad Mosen dicens

12 ego tuli Levitas a filiis Israhel pro omni primogenito qui aperit vulvam in filiis Israhel eruntque Levitae mei

13 meum est enim omne primogenitum ex quo percussi primogenitos in terra Aegypti sanctificavi mihi quicquid primum nascitur in Israhel ab homine usque ad pecus mei sunt ego Dominus

14 locutus est Dominus ad Mosen in deserto Sinai dicens

15 numera filios Levi per domos patrum suorum et familias omnem masculum ab uno mense et supra

16 numeravit Moses ut praeceperat Dominus

17 et inventi sunt filii Levi per nomina sua Gerson et Caath et Merari

18 filii Gerson Lebni et Semei

19 filii Caath Amram et Iessaar Hebron et Ozihel

20 filii Merari Mooli et Musi

21 de Gerson fuere familiae duae lebnitica et semeitica

22 quarum numeratus est populus sexus masculini ab uno mense et supra septem milia quingentorum

23 hii post tabernaculum metabuntur ad occidentem

24 sub principe Eliasaph filio Lahel

25 et habebunt excubias in tabernaculo foederis

26 ipsum tabernaculum et operimentum eius tentorium quod trahitur ante fores tecti foederis et cortinas atrii tentorium quoque quod adpenditur in introitu atrii tabernaculi et quicquid ad ritum altaris pertinet funes tabernaculi et omnia utensilia eius

27 cognatio Caath habebit populos Amramitas et Iessaaritas et Hebronitas et Ozihelitas hae sunt familiae Caathitarum recensitae per nomina sua

28 omnes generis masculini ab uno mense et supra octo milia sescenti habebunt excubias sanctuarii

29 et castrametabuntur ad meridianam plagam

30 princepsque eorum erit Elisaphan filius Ozihel

31 et custodient arcam mensamque et candelabrum altaria et vasa sanctuarii in quibus ministratur et velum cunctamque huiuscemodi supellectilem

32 princeps autem principum Levitarum Eleazar filius Aaron sacerdotis erit super excubitores custodiae sanctuarii

33 at vero de Merari erunt populi Moolitae et Musitae recensiti per nomina sua

34 omnes generis masculini ab uno mense et supra sex milia ducenti

35 princeps eorum Surihel filius Abiahihel in plaga septentrionali castrametabuntur

36 erunt sub custodia eorum tabulae tabernaculi et vectes et columnae ac bases earum et omnia quae ad cultum huiuscemodi pertinent

37 columnaeque atrii per circuitum cum basibus suis et paxilli cum funibus

38 castrametabuntur ante tabernaculum foederis id est ad orientalem plagam Moses et Aaron cum filiis suis habentes custodiam sanctuarii in medio filiorum Israhel quisquis alienus accesserit morietur

39 omnes Levitae quos numeraverunt Moses et Aaron iuxta praeceptum Domini per familias suas in genere masculino a mense uno et supra fuerunt viginti duo milia

40 et ait Dominus ad Mosen numera primogenitos sexus masculini de filiis Israhel a mense uno et supra et habebis summam eorum

41 tollesque Levitas mihi pro omni primogenito filiorum Israhel ego sum Dominus et pecora eorum pro universis primogenitis pecoris filiorum Israhel

42 recensuit Moses sicut praeceperat Dominus primogenitos filiorum Israhel

43 et fuerunt masculi per nomina sua a mense uno et supra viginti duo milia ducenti septuaginta tres

44 locutusque est Dominus ad Mosen

45 tolle Levitas pro primogenitis filiorum Israhel et pecora Levitarum pro pecoribus eorum eruntque Levitae mei ego sum Dominus

46 in pretio autem ducentorum septuaginta trium qui excedunt numerum Levitarum de primogenitis filiorum Israhel

47 accipies quinque siclos per singula capita ad mensuram sanctuarii siclus habet obolos viginti

48 dabisque pecuniam Aaron et filiis eius pretium eorum qui supra sunt

49 tulit igitur Moses pecuniam eorum qui fuerant amplius et quos redemerant a Levitis

50 pro primogenitis filiorum Israhel mille trecentorum sexaginta quinque siclorum iuxta pondus sanctuarii

51 et dedit eam Aaroni et filiis eius iuxta verbum quod praeceperat sibi Dominus

Numbers 3 Commentary

Chapter 3

The sons of Aaron, The Levites taken instead of the first-born. (1-13) The Levites numbered by their families, Their duties. (14-39) The first-born are numbered. (40-51)

Verses 1-13 There was much work belonging to the priests' office, and there were now only Aaron and his two sons to do it; God appoints the Levites to attend them. Those whom God finds work for, he will find help for. The Levites were taken instead of the first-born. When He that made us, saves us, as the first-born of Israel were saved, we are laid under further obligations to serve him faithfully. God's right to us by redemption, confirms the right he has to us by creation.

Verses 14-39 The Levites were in three classes, according to the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; and these were subdivided into families. The posterity of Moses were not at all honoured or privileged, but stood upon the level with other Levites; thus it was plain, that Moses did not seek the advancement of his own family, or to secure any honours to it. The tribe of Levi was by much the least of all the tribes. God's chosen are but a little flock in comparison with the world.

Verses 40-51 The number of the first-born, and that of the Levites, came near to each other. Known unto God are all his works beforehand; there is an exact proportion between them, and so it will appear, when they are compared together. The small number of first-born, over and above the number of the Levites, were to be redeemed, and the redemption-money given to Aaron. The church is called the church of the first-born, which is redeemed, not as they were, with silver and gold; but, being devoted by sin to the justice of God, is ransomed with the precious blood of the Son of God. All men are the Lord's by creation, and all true christians are his by redemption. Each should know his own post and duty; nor can any service required by such a Master be rightly accounted mean or hard.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 3

In this chapter an account is given of the genealogy of the priests and Levites, and of the gift of the Levites to the priests, of the numbering of them, and the service they were to perform; and first of the priests, the sons of Aaron, Nu 3:1-4; and then of the Levites, as given unto them, to wait upon them, and assist them, Nu 3:5-10; and these were taken instead of the firstborn, Nu 3:11-13; and ordered to be numbered, which was done accordingly by their families, Nu 3:14-20; and the sum of each is given, and the particular work assigned to them; of the Gershonites, Nu 3:21-26; of the Kohathites, Nu 3:27-32; of the Merarites, Nu 3:33-38; the sum total of them is given, Nu 3:39; then the firstborn of the children of Israel, from a month old are ordered to be numbered, and were, Nu 3:40-43; and these appearing to be more in number than the Levites, by two hundred seventy three a direction is given that the two hundred seventy three should be redeemed at the rate of five, shekels apiece, and the money paid to Aaron and his sons, Nu 3:44-48; which was accordingly done, Nu 3:49-51.