Numbers 3:18

3:14-39 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.

And these are the names of the sons of Gershon, by their families,.... Or to Gershon belonged two families, called after the names of his sons, who were now numbered, namely: Libni and Shimei; and who are elsewhere mentioned as his sons, Exodus 6:17; and from hence were the families of the Libnites and Shimites, as in Numbers 3:21.

14-31. Number the children of Levi—They were numbered as well as the other tribes; but the enumeration was made on a different principle—for while in the other tribes the number of males was calculated from twenty years and upward [Nu 1:3], in that of Levi they were counted "from a month old and upward." The reason for the distinction is obvious. In the other tribes the survey was made for purposes of war [Nu 1:3], from which the Levites were totally exempt. But the Levites were appointed to a work on which they entered as soon as they were capable of instruction. They are mentioned under the names of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, sons of Levi, and chiefs or ancestral heads of three subdivisions into which this tribe was distributed. Their duties were to assist in the conveyance of the tabernacle when the people were removing the various encampments, and to form its guard while stationary—the Gershonites being stationed on the west, the Kohathites on the south, and the families of Merari on the north. The Kohathites had the principal place about the tabernacle, and charge of the most precious and sacred things—a distinction with which they were honored, probably, because the Aaronic family belonged to this division of the Levitical tribe. The Gershonites, being the oldest, had the next honorable post assigned them, while the burden of the drudgery was thrown on the division of Merari.

The muster of the Levites included all the males from a month old and upwards, because they were to be sanctified to Jehovah in the place of the first-born; and it was at the age of a month that the latter were either to be given up or redeemed (comp. Numbers 3:40 and Numbers 3:43 with Numbers 18:16 ). In Numbers 3:17-20 the sons of Levi and their sons are enumerated, who were the founders of the mishpachoth among the Levites, as in Exodus 6:16-19 .

[Reformed Biblical] of the Levites numbered, Num_3:14-39. The first-born numbered, Num_3:40- 43. Being more than the Levites, some of them are redeemed, and the money given to Aaron and his sons, Num_3:41-51. ## These which follow in this chapter are the generations, i.e. either, ## 1. The things done by them; as the word generation is sometimes used, as Gen_6:9 25:19 37:2 . Or rather, 2. The kindred or family, for that is the subject of this chapter, and not their events or actions. ## Object. Aaron’s family indeed is here mentioned, but not Moses’s family. ## Answ. Moses’s family and children are here included under the general name of the Amramite , Num_3:27, which includes all the children and grandchildren of Amram , the persons only of Aaron and Moses being excepted. And the generations of M oses are thu s obscurely mentioned, because they were but common Levites, the priesthood being given solely to Aaron’s posterity, whence Aaron is here put before Moses, who elsewhere is commonly named after him. In the day that the Lord spake with Moses in Mount ## Sinai: this seems to be added, because Nadab and Abihu, mentioned Num_3:2, were then alive, though dead at the time of taking this account. Numbers 3:2 Numbers 3:3 Numbers 3:4 ## In the time of Aaron’s life, as this phrase is taken, Num_3:4; see also Psa_72:5 ,17 ; and under their father’s inspection and direction, and as their father’s servants or ministers in the priest’s office; for servants are oft described by this phra

[Reformed Biblical] her hands. A nd God would not commit it to some other persons in each tribe, which might be an occasion of idolatry, confusion, division, and contempt of sacred things, but to one distinct tribe, which might be entirely devoted to that service, and particularly to the tribe of Levi; partly, out of his respect to Moses and Aaron, branches of this tribe; partly, as a recompence of t heir zeal fo r God and against idolaters; see Exo_32:26 ,29 Deu 33:9 ; and partly, because it was the smallest of the tribes, and therefore most likely to find bot h employment in and maintenance for the work. Numbers 3:13 Who may appoint whom I please for my service. Numbers 3:14 Numbers 3:15 ## From a month old, because at that time the first-born, in whose stead the Levites came, Num_8:16, were offered to God, Luk_2:22, and to be redeemed, Num_18:16. And from that time the Levites were consecrated to God, and were as soon as they were capable,’ to be instructed in their work. Elsewhere they are numbered from twenty-five years old, when they were entered as novices to part of their work, Num_8:24; and from thirty years old, when they were completely admitted to their whole office. Numbers 3:16 Numbers 3:17 Numbers 3:18 Numbers 3:19 Numbers 3:20 Numbers 3:21 Numbers 3:22 Numbers 3:23 Numbers 3:24 Numbers 3:25 ## The tabernacle; not the boards, which be