The Levites' office and charge.

Before

CHRIST

1490.

to war;

43 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.

44 These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers.

45 So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel;

46 Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

47 But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.

51 And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

52 And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.

53 But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.

54 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.

CHAP. II.

The order of the tribes in their tents. Aes and unto Aaron, saying, ND the LORD spake unto Mo

Moses, saying,

49 Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:

50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minis48. For the Lord had spoken unto Moses, &c.] It was by the special commandment of God, that Moses did not number the Levites at this time; because they were intended for another service, and were therefore to be numbered by themselves. In the same manner all nations have exempted their ministers of religion from other services, particularly from war. Strabo notes this custom to have been as old as Homer's time; and Cæsar observes that the ancient Druids were exempt from war and tribute. Bp. Patrick.

50.

over the tabernacle—and over all the vessels thereof,] Not to officiate in the tabernacle, or use any of its vessels in any sacred ministry, for this belonged to the priests alone; but to carry it, chap. iv, and to minister unto it, see chap. iii, and to encamp round it as a special guard. For this reason they did not march under the standard of any other tribe, because they formed a camp by themselves; nor did they go to the wars with the others, because they were to attend on the tabernacle of God. Dr. Wells, Bp. Patrick.

Before CHRIST 1490.

2 Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: +far off about the tabernacle + Heb. over of the congregation shall they pitch. against. 3 And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and NahThe tribes being mustered, registered, and formed into companies, the next orders given were about the form of their encampments and of their marches. Their general camp was to be in the form of a square; of which the four sides were to be placed towards the four quarters of the compass. Each side was to consist of three tribes, nearest related to each other: that they were to pitch at such a distance, from the tabernacle, which was in the midst of all, as might shew their reverence for it, at the same time that the whole camp might serve for its protection. Pyle.

2. by his own standard,] By the standard or banner of that tribe to which he shall be attached by the following order. Bp. Patrick.

- with the ensign of their father's house:] All the twelve tribes were distinguished by particular standards; and each standard is supposed by some to have been of the colour of that stone in Aaron's breastplate, on which the name of the particular tribe was written. Stackhouse. The Jews have a tradition that the ensign, carried in the standard of Judah, was a lion; in that of Reuben, a man; in that of Ephraim, an ox; and in that of Dan, an eagle. St. John seems to allude to this in Rev. iv. 7. Dr. Wells. Probably the name of Judah, was embroidered in great letters on his standard; of Reuben, on his; and so on. Or they were distinguished by their colours only, as our regiments now are. Bp. Patrick.

3.- throughout their armies:] That is, all the several

The order of the tribes.

Before CHRIST

1490.

-

captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran.

28 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred."

The sons of Aaron.

nacle, 11 instead of the firstborn. 14 The Levites are numbered by their families. 21 The families, number, and charge of the Gershonites, 27 of the Kohathites, 33 of the Merarites. 38 The place and charge of Moses and Aaron. 40 The firstborn are freed by the Levites. 44 The overplus are redeemed.

Enan.

30 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.

31 All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards.

and Moses in the day also are the generations

that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai.

Before CHRIST 1491.

2 And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, a Exod. 6. 23. and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, + whom he consecrated to Heb. whose minister in the priest's office.

hand he filled.

1490. b Lev. 10. 1.

33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.

34 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.

CHAP. III.

1 The sons of Aaron. 5 The Levites are given to the priests for the service of the taber

31. They shall go hindmost] They were the most numerous body after that under the standard of Judah: and were therefore appointed to bring up the rear, as the former led the van, for the greater security of the sanctuary. Bp. Patrick, Pyle.

Chap. III. ver. 1. These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses &c.] This that follows is an account of the genealogy of Aaron, and Moses, and the other Levites. Dr. Wells. He puts Aaron first, because he was the elder brother, and his posterity were advanced to the dignity of priests; whereas the descendants of Moses were only ministers to the priests, as were the other Levites. The posterity of Moses are reckoned among the Kohathites, ver. 27. Bps. Patrick and Kidder.

6. Bring the tribe of Levi near,] They had consecrated themselves to God by a noble act, mentioned Exod. xxxii. 29, which procured them this blessing of being presented to God, and solemnly consecrated to his service. Bp. Patrick.

that they may minister unto him.] The work and office of the Levites were as follows: 1. To minister to the priests, as appears from this verse, and from

5 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

6 Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.

7 And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.

8 And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the

2.

1 Chron. xxiii. 28. 2. To serve at the tabernacle; expressed by keeping the charge of the whole congregation, ver. 7. And herein they served the people; see 2 Chron. xxxv. 3. We have an account in this chapter of the particular charge of the Gershonites, ver. 25, 26; of the Kohathites, ver. 31; of the Merarites, ver. 36; and of their burdens and the carrying of the ark, chap. iv, and Deut. x. 8. From these duties they were excused, when the temple was built, 1 Chron. xxiii. 26. But then they were appointed (3) to be singers, 1 Chron. xxiii. 30, and chap. xxv; (4) and porters to the several gates of the temple, 1 Chron. xxvi. 13. 5. They had the charge of the treasure, 1 Chron. xxvi. 20, of the house of God, and of the dedicated things. And lastly, some of them were made officers and judges in business of the Lord, and service of the king. See 1 Chron. xxvi. 29, 30. Bp. Kidder.

7.- they shall keep his charge,] They shall do that service, which Aaron, as from the Lord, shall appoint to them. Bp. Hall.

before the tabernacle of the congregation,] Not officiating in it, for that belonged to the priests; but assisting the priests in their service before it, or about the external part of it. Bp. Patrick.

The Levites'

Before CHRIST

1490.

Lev. 27. 26. chap. 8. 16. Luke 2. 23.

congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

9 And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.

10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

11 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;

13 Because all the firstborn are e Exod. 13.1. mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.

10.-priest's office:] It was the proper and peculiar office of the priests to bless the people in the name of the Lord; to offer incense; and to minister at the altar, Numb. xviii. 7; Deut. xxi. 5; 1 Chron. xxiii. 13. Bp. Kidder.

-the stranger] Any one, though a Levite, that was not of the sons of Aaron. God Himself sent out fire to consume Korah and his company, who presumed to offer incense, being only Levites, and not priests, chap. xvi. Bp. Patrick.

12. I have taken the Levites—instead of all the firstborn &c.] Whereas before the firstborn of the family was ordained to execute the office of priesthood, and to offer sacrifices for the rest, now I have confined this office to one tribe alone; so that only those of Levi, instead of the firstborn, shall be set apart for this work. Bp. Hall.

several charges.

families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

20 And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.

21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.

22 Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred.

23 The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.

24 And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.

25 And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,

26 And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.

27¶ And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.

28 In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.

29 The families of the sons of

Before CHRIST 1490.

13.—I am the Lord.] Who, as such, may take whom I please to be employed in my service, and therefore much more make such an exchange. Dr. Wells.

14.

the Lord spake unto Moses] And not to Aaron also. The number of the Israelites was to be taken by them both, chap. i. 3, as was that of the Kohathites, chap. iv. 2. And the Gershonites and Merarites were numbered by Aaron as well as by Moses, chap. iv. 41. 45. But the precept to number the Levites here is directed to Moses only, and by him was executed, ver. 16, whatever assistance or approbation Aaron might give, ver. 39. And again we find that Moses alone was concerned in numbering the firstborn of Israel, ver. 40-42, in which no mention at all is made of Aaron. For since the money, with which the firstborn of Israel, that exceeded the number of the Levites, were to be redeemed, was to be paid to Aaron and his sons, ver. 48,

The firstborn are freed

Before CHRIST 1490.

+ Heb. the office of the charge.

Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.

30 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.

31 And their charge, shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.

32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.

33 ¶ Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites these are the families of Merari.

34 And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.

35 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward.

36 And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto,

37 And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.

38 But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and

he, whose advantage it was that the number of the firstborn should exceed, was not authorized to take the number. Bp. Kidder.

32. And Eleazar the son of Aaron &c.] There was one officer in chief set over each of these great families, ver. 24. 30. 35; and over all these officers there was one supreme chief, namely, Eleazar, who was more than a Levite, being the eldest son of Aaron the high priest. Bp. Patrick.

by the Levites.

Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

39 All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

40 And the LORD said unto Moses, number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

41 And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.

42 And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.

43 And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.

44 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.

46 And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites;

Before CHRIST 1490.

twenty-seven short of the real number of the Levites. It is probable, therefore, that the 300, not reckoned here, were the firstborn of the Levites; which, being due to God before from the tribe of Levi, as well as from the other tribes, were not to be reckoned among those Levites, who were to be taken instead of the firstborn of Israel. Bp. Kidder, Dr. Wall.

41.-the cattle of the Levites] In the gross. Dr. Wells. Not to be sacrificed, or taken from the Levites; but to continue in their possession, by God's allow