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Numbers 3:1
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The Sons of Aaron

1 Now these are the arecords of Aaron and Moses when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.  
2 And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab, the afirstborn, and bAbihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.  
3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, athe anointed priests, whom he consecrated to minister as priests.  
4 aNadab and Abihu had died before the Lord when they offered profane fire before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests in the presence of Aaron their father.  

The Levites Serve in the Tabernacle

5 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
6 a“Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him.  
7 And they shall attend to his needs and the needs of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of meeting, to do athe work of the tabernacle.  
8 Also they shall attend to all the furnishings of the tabernacle of meeting, and to the needs of the children of Israel, to do the work of the tabernacle.
9 And ayou shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are given entirely to1 him from among the children of Israel.  
10 So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, aand they shall attend to their priesthood; bbut the outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”  
11 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
12 “Now behold, aI Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be bMine,  
Commentaries:
Matthew Henry
<< Numbers 2:34   Numbers 3:2 >>


Numbers 3:1-51

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.


 
<< Numbers 2:34   Numbers 3:2 >>

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