King James Version
Numbers 3
51 verses with commentary
The Levites
These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
This verse introduces the genealogy of Aaron and Moses, establishing their priestly and prophetic credentials. The phrase 'in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai' anchors their calling in that defining covenant moment when God revealed His Law and established the priesthood. The order 'Aaron and Moses' (rather than birth order Moses and Aaron) emphasizes Aaron's priestly role as ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
III.
(1) **These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses . . . —**The name of Aaron is placed first, not only because he was the elder brother, but also because the ministry of Moses was restricted to his own person, and his sons are merely classed amongst the rest of the Levitical families in 1Chronicles 23:14; whereas the office of Aaron was perpetuated in the persons of his descendants. Hen...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 3
Chapter Outline
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 w...
Read full commentary →And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The naming of Aaron's sons emphasizes the continuity of priestly office through specific family lines, demonstrating God's sovereign choice in appointing mediators between Himself and His people. Nadab and Abihu's later judgment (Leviticus 10:1-2) shows that priestly privilege brings heightened responsibility and severe consequences for presumption. This foreshadows the Christian principle that 't...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 27 Le 27:1-18. Concerning Vows.
**2-8. When a man shall make a singular vow, &c.--**Persons have, at all times and in all places, been accustomed to present votive offerings, either from gratitude for benefits received, or in the event of deliverance from apprehended evil. And Moses was empowered, by divine authority, to prescribe the conditions of this voluntary duty.
**the persons...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 3
Chapter Outline
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 w...
Read full commentary →These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office. whom: Heb. whose hand he filled
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The phrase 'the priests which were anointed' emphasizes that priestly authority derived from divine appointment and consecration, not from personal merit or self-appointment. The anointing oil symbolized the Holy Spirit's empowerment for sacred service, a pattern fulfilled in Christ (the 'Anointed One') and extended to all believers who are 'anointed' by the Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:21; 1 John 2:27...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) **Whom he consecrated . . . —**Literally, *filled their hand. *The rites of consecration are described at length in Exodus 29:1-37, where the command given to Moses is related. and in Leviticus 8:1-13, where the account is given of the actual consecration, on which occasion the appointed sacrificial offerings were placed by Moses in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons. The act of c...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 27 Le 27:1-18. Concerning Vows.
**2-8. When a man shall make a singular vow, &c.--**Persons have, at all times and in all places, been accustomed to present votive offerings, either from gratitude for benefits received, or in the event of deliverance from apprehended evil. And Moses was empowered, by divine authority, to prescribe the conditions of this voluntary duty.
**the persons...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 3
Chapter Outline
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 w...
Read full commentary →And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
Nadab and Abihu's death 'before the LORD' (Leviticus 10:1-2) for offering 'strange fire' demonstrates that God's holiness allows no presumption or innovation in worship. Their sin of adding human creativity to divinely prescribed worship resulted in immediate judgment, establishing the principle that God determines acceptable worship according to His revealed will, not human preference. This has d...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **Died before the Lord.**—The account is given in Leviticus 10:1-2, where the same expression “before the Lord” is used both in regard to the offering of strange fire by Nadab and Abihu, and also in regard to their death.
**And they had no children.**—To die childless was regarded not only as a reproach, but also as a judgment. This was especially the case in regard to Nadab and Abihu, inasmuc...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 27 Le 27:1-18. Concerning Vows.
**2-8. When a man shall make a singular vow, &c.--**Persons have, at all times and in all places, been accustomed to present votive offerings, either from gratitude for benefits received, or in the event of deliverance from apprehended evil. And Moses was empowered, by divine authority, to prescribe the conditions of this voluntary duty.
**the persons...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 3
Chapter Outline
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 w...
Read full commentary →And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
God's command to 'bring the tribe of Levi near' establishes their unique position of service to Aaron and his sons in maintaining the tabernacle. The Levites' intermediate position—above the common Israelites but below the Aaronic priests—illustrates that God establishes offices and ranks according to His sovereign will. This hierarchical structure does not diminish anyone's worth but assigns diff...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 27 Le 27:1-18. Concerning Vows.
**2-8. When a man shall make a singular vow, &c.--**Persons have, at all times and in all places, been accustomed to present votive offerings, either from gratitude for benefits received, or in the event of deliverance from apprehended evil. And Moses was empowered, by divine authority, to prescribe the conditions of this voluntary duty.
**the persons...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 3
Chapter Outline
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 w...
Read full commentary →Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
God commands: 'Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.' The Hebrew 'sharat' (minister/serve) indicates service under Aaron's direction. Levites assisted priests but couldn't perform priestly duties (offering sacrifices, entering the holy place, burning incense). This distinction between priests and Levites illustrates the difference ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 27 Le 27:1-18. Concerning Vows.
**2-8. When a man shall make a singular vow, &c.--**Persons have, at all times and in all places, been accustomed to present votive offerings, either from gratitude for benefits received, or in the event of deliverance from apprehended evil. And Moses was empowered, by divine authority, to prescribe the conditions of this voluntary duty.
**the persons...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 3
Chapter Outline
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 w...
Read full commentary →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.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The Levites' dual charge—'keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation'—demonstrates that their service benefited both Aaron (enabling him to fulfill priestly duties) and all Israel (maintaining the tabernacle where God dwelt among them). This principle of serving both leadership and congregation applies to church officers today who assist pastors while also serving the body of Christ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) **And they shall keep his charge.**—The word rendered *charge *may mean the directions which the Levites should receive from Aaron (comp. Genesis 26:5); or—as seems more probable from the use of the same word in this and the following verse with reference to the congregation—it may refer to the charge which was laid upon Aaron and upon the whole congregation in matters pertaining to the public...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 27 Le 27:1-18. Concerning Vows.
**2-8. When a man shall make a singular vow, &c.--**Persons have, at all times and in all places, been accustomed to present votive offerings, either from gratitude for benefits received, or in the event of deliverance from apprehended evil. And Moses was empowered, by divine authority, to prescribe the conditions of this voluntary duty.
**the persons...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 3
Chapter Outline
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 w...
Read full commentary →And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The command that Levites 'keep all the instruments of the tabernacle' emphasizes faithful stewardship of sacred things. God's people are trustees, not owners, of what He entrusts to them. The tabernacle's instruments were tools for worship, and the Levites' careful maintenance ensured they remained fit for sacred use. This principle extends to the church's stewardship of Word, sacraments, and mini...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 27 Le 27:1-18. Concerning Vows.
**2-8. When a man shall make a singular vow, &c.--**Persons have, at all times and in all places, been accustomed to present votive offerings, either from gratitude for benefits received, or in the event of deliverance from apprehended evil. And Moses was empowered, by divine authority, to prescribe the conditions of this voluntary duty.
**the persons...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 3
Chapter Outline
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 w...
Read full commentary →And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The description of Levites as 'wholly given unto him from among the children of Israel' uses the Hebrew nethunim nethunim (literally 'given, given'), a double emphasis demonstrating complete dedication. The Levites were given first to God (consecrated for His service) and then given to Aaron (to assist in priestly duties). This double giving illustrates that all Christian service ultimately flows ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(9) **They are wholly given unto him.**—Hebrew, *Given, given are they to him. *This repetition of the word *nethunim *(given) is emphatic. The same repetition occurs in Numbers 8:16, where the Levites are represented as “wholly given” to the Lord instead of the firstborn; and in Numbers 3:19 of that chapter, as in Numbers 3:12 of this chapter, they are represented as being given by Him to Aaron a...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9-13. if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the Lord--**a clean beast. After it had been vowed, it could neither be employed in common purposes nor exchanged for an equivalent--it must be sacrificed--or if, through some discovered blemish, it was unsuitable for the altar, it might be sold, and the money applied for the sacred service. If an unclean beast--such as an ass or camel, ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 3
Chapter Outline
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 w...
Read full commentary →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.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
God commands: 'the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.' The Hebrew 'zar' (stranger/unauthorized person) refers to non-priests, including Levites and ordinary Israelites, who approached priestly duties. This death penalty protected God's holiness and the priesthood's integrity. Korah's rebellion (ch 16) demonstrated this principle's seriousness - usurping priestly authority brought div...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(10) **Thou shalt appoint.**—Or, *number. *The word is the same as that which is used for the numbering of the Israelites generally (Numbers 1:19) and for the numbering of the Levites (Numbers 3:15).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9-13. if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the Lord--**a clean beast. After it had been vowed, it could neither be employed in common purposes nor exchanged for an equivalent--it must be sacrificed--or if, through some discovered blemish, it was unsuitable for the altar, it might be sold, and the money applied for the sacred service. If an unclean beast--such as an ass or camel, ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 3
Chapter Outline
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 w...
Read full commentary →And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
God's declaration 'And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying' introducing His claim on Israel's firstborn emphasizes divine initiative in establishing this substitution. God speaks first, establishing His rights and His provisions. Human beings don't negotiate terms with God but receive His gracious arrangements. The pattern throughout Scripture: God speaks, establishes His covenant, provides the mean...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9-13. if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the Lord--**a clean beast. After it had been vowed, it could neither be employed in common purposes nor exchanged for an equivalent--it must be sacrificed--or if, through some discovered blemish, it was unsuitable for the altar, it might be sold, and the money applied for the sacred service. If an unclean beast--such as an ass or camel, ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 3
Chapter Outline
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 w...
Read full commentary →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;
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
God declares: 'I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn... therefore the Levites shall be mine.' This substitutionary principle - one group standing in place of another - foreshadows Christ's substitution for sinners. The firstborn belonged to God after Passover's redemption (Ex 13:2), but Levites now represent all Israel in tabernacle service. The He...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9-13. if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the Lord--**a clean beast. After it had been vowed, it could neither be employed in common purposes nor exchanged for an equivalent--it must be sacrificed--or if, through some discovered blemish, it was unsuitable for the altar, it might be sold, and the money applied for the sacred service. If an unclean beast--such as an ass or camel, ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 3
Chapter Outline
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 w...
Read full commentary →Because all the firstborn are 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.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
God commands Moses to consecrate (Hebrew 'qadash', קָדַשׁ, 'to set apart as holy') the Levites as substitutes for Israel's firstborn sons. The theological foundation is stated: 'all the firstborn are mine'—God's claim on Israel's firstborn stems from the Passover deliverance when He spared Israel's firstborn while judging Egypt's. The Levites' consecration fulfilled God's righteous claim without r...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(13) **On the day that I smote all the firstborn.**—The command given to Moses respecting the sanctification or separation of the firstborn, both of man and of beast, is recorded immediately after the account of the exodus and of the institution of the Passover (Exodus 13:1-2). It does not clearly appear, however, from the terms employed whether the sanctification or separation applied to the firs...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**9-13. if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the Lord--**a clean beast. After it had been vowed, it could neither be employed in common purposes nor exchanged for an equivalent--it must be sacrificed--or if, through some discovered blemish, it was unsuitable for the altar, it might be sold, and the money applied for the sacred service. If an unclean beast--such as an ass or camel, ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Chapter 3
Chapter Outline
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 w...
Read full commentary →The Census of the Levites
And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
God's command to 'Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families' establishes that even those consecrated for special service must be carefully organized and counted. The Levitical census differed from the military census (it included all males from one month old, not just those 20+), but it shared the same principle: God knows His servants individually and organiz...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**14-15. when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto the Lord, &c.--**In this case, the house having been valued by the priest and sold, the proceeds of the sale were to be dedicated to the sanctuary. But if the owner wished, on second thought, to redeem it, he might have it by adding a fifth part to the price.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The command to number Levitical males 'from a month old and upward' contrasts with the military census (20+ years), showing that consecration to God begins in infancy while active service awaits maturity. This supports the Reformed understanding of covenant children's inclusion in the covenant community from birth, though their active service awaits maturity. The principle: covenant identity prece...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(15) **From a month old and upward . . . —**The males of the other tribes had been numbered “from twenty years old and upward” (Numbers 1:3). The firstborn males, however, among all the children of Israel, in whose place the Levites were taken, wer-directed to be numbered “from a month old and upward” (Numbers 3:40; Numbers 3:43); and this was the age afterwards fixed for their redemption (Numbers...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**14-15. when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto the Lord, &c.--**In this case, the house having been valued by the priest and sold, the proceeds of the sale were to be dedicated to the sanctuary. But if the owner wished, on second thought, to redeem it, he might have it by adding a fifth part to the price.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded. word: Heb. mouth
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
Moses' obedience in numbering the Levites 'according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded' demonstrates faithful execution of divine commands even in seemingly mundane administrative tasks. Faithful stewardship appears not only in spectacular acts of faith but in careful obedience to detailed instructions. This challenges the modern tendency to dichotomize 'spiritual' and 'practical' work—...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**16-24. if a man shall sanctify unto the Lord some aprt of a field of his possession, &c.--**In the case of acquired property in land, if not redeemed, it returned to the donor at the Jubilee; whereas the part of a hereditary estate, which had been vowed, did not revert to the owner, but remained attached in perpetuity to the sanctuary. The reason for this remarkable difference was to lay eve...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
<strong>The Three Levitical Clans:</strong> This verse introduces the genealogical structure of the Levitical tribe by naming Levi's three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. In Hebrew, "sons" (<em>bene</em>, בְּנֵי) indicates direct descendants and establishes the patriarchal lines through which Levitical duties were organized. Each of these three clans received specific responsibilities related t...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**16-24. if a man shall sanctify unto the Lord some aprt of a field of his possession, &c.--**In the case of acquired property in land, if not redeemed, it returned to the donor at the Jubilee; whereas the part of a hereditary estate, which had been vowed, did not revert to the owner, but remained attached in perpetuity to the sanctuary. The reason for this remarkable difference was to lay eve...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The naming of Gershon's sons 'by their families' continues the pattern of genealogical precision, demonstrating that God's covenant administration follows family lines across generations. The Gershonites' assignment to transport the tabernacle's curtains and coverings (Numbers 3:25-26) was passed from fathers to sons, establishing multi-generational patterns of service. This family-based service s...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**16-24. if a man shall sanctify unto the Lord some aprt of a field of his possession, &c.--**In the case of acquired property in land, if not redeemed, it returned to the donor at the Jubilee; whereas the part of a hereditary estate, which had been vowed, did not revert to the owner, but remained attached in perpetuity to the sanctuary. The reason for this remarkable difference was to lay eve...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The listing of Kohath's sons 'by their families' establishes the genealogical line that included both Aaron (the priestly line) and Moses (the prophetic/civil leader), showing God's sovereign distribution of offices within the same extended family. The Kohathites received the most sacred responsibility—transporting the holy furnishings (ark, table, lampstand, altars)—demonstrating that even among ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**16-24. if a man shall sanctify unto the Lord some aprt of a field of his possession, &c.--**In the case of acquired property in land, if not redeemed, it returned to the donor at the Jubilee; whereas the part of a hereditary estate, which had been vowed, did not revert to the owner, but remained attached in perpetuity to the sanctuary. The reason for this remarkable difference was to lay eve...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →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.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The naming of Merari's sons completes the Levitical genealogical record, demonstrating that God's care extends to the seemingly least prominent. The Merarites transported the tabernacle's structural framework—boards, bars, pillars, and sockets (Numbers 3:36-37)—the heavy, foundational components. This illustrates that kingdom work includes both spectacular and mundane tasks, with the structural su...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**16-24. if a man shall sanctify unto the Lord some aprt of a field of his possession, &c.--**In the case of acquired property in land, if not redeemed, it returned to the donor at the Jubilee; whereas the part of a hereditary estate, which had been vowed, did not revert to the owner, but remained attached in perpetuity to the sanctuary. The reason for this remarkable difference was to lay eve...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The enumeration of Gershonite families continues the systematic organization of Levitical service, demonstrating that God's order extends to the most detailed levels. No family was overlooked or assigned haphazardly; each received specific responsibilities contributing to the whole. This comprehensive organization reflects the New Testament principle that the body of Christ has many members, each ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**16-24. if a man shall sanctify unto the Lord some aprt of a field of his possession, &c.--**In the case of acquired property in land, if not redeemed, it returned to the donor at the Jubilee; whereas the part of a hereditary estate, which had been vowed, did not revert to the owner, but remained attached in perpetuity to the sanctuary. The reason for this remarkable difference was to lay eve...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →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.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The specific census number for the Gershonites (7,500) demonstrates God's precise knowledge of those consecrated to His service. The numerical precision throughout the Levitical census shows that God doesn't deal in vague generalities but knows exactly who serves Him and in what capacity. This anticipates Jesus's teaching that He knows His sheep by name (John 10:3) and calls each believer to speci...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**16-24. if a man shall sanctify unto the Lord some aprt of a field of his possession, &c.--**In the case of acquired property in land, if not redeemed, it returned to the donor at the Jubilee; whereas the part of a hereditary estate, which had been vowed, did not revert to the owner, but remained attached in perpetuity to the sanctuary. The reason for this remarkable difference was to lay eve...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The Gershonites' assigned camp position 'behind the tabernacle westward' demonstrates that even camp arrangement served theological purposes. The four sides of the tabernacle housed different Levitical clans, creating a living barrier between God's holy presence and the people's camp. This spatial arrangement taught Israel that approaching God requires mediation, a principle fulfilled in Christ wh...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(23) **Behind the tabernacle westward.**—As the position of the twelve tribes in respect of the tent of meeting had been already determined, so in this and the following verses the position of the priests and Levites is fixed. On the east side of the tent Moses and Aaron and Aaron’s sons were to encamp, on the south the Kohathites, on the west the Gershonites, on the north the Merarites.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**16-24. if a man shall sanctify unto the Lord some aprt of a field of his possession, &c.--**In the case of acquired property in land, if not redeemed, it returned to the donor at the Jubilee; whereas the part of a hereditary estate, which had been vowed, did not revert to the owner, but remained attached in perpetuity to the sanctuary. The reason for this remarkable difference was to lay eve...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The appointment of Eliasaph as 'chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites' establishes leadership structure within each Levitical clan. Even among those consecrated for service, God appoints leaders responsible for organizing and directing their divisions. This pattern of leadership within leadership demonstrates that biblical organization involves multiple levels of authority and respon...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**16-24. if a man shall sanctify unto the Lord some aprt of a field of his possession, &c.--**In the case of acquired property in land, if not redeemed, it returned to the donor at the Jubilee; whereas the part of a hereditary estate, which had been vowed, did not revert to the owner, but remained attached in perpetuity to the sanctuary. The reason for this remarkable difference was to lay eve...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →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,
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The sons of Gershon received charge over the tabernacle's structural coverings—the tent, covering, and outer veil. This assignment demonstrates God's orderly distribution of sacred responsibilities, with each Levitical family having distinct roles in serving God's dwelling place. The coverings protected the holy place from external defilement, symbolizing the separation required between God's holi...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(25) **In the tabernacle of the congregation.**—Better, *in the tent of meeting. *It is important to distinguish between the *ohel*—i.e., the tent—and the *mishkan*—*i.e., *the tabernacle—which was the building of shittim wood with its curtains which was within the tent. The word *ohel, *where it occurs in the second place in this verse, evidently means the outer covering, as in Exodus 26:7, where...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →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.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The Gershonites' responsibility for the tabernacle courtyard hangings and gate emphasizes the importance of maintaining proper boundaries around sacred space. The courtyard separated common space from holy space, teaching Israel that approaching God required recognition of His transcendent holiness. Every cord and pin served a purpose in maintaining the structure's integrity, illustrating how seem...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(26) **And the hangings of the court . . . —**See Exodus 27:9 and Note.
**And the cords of it for all the service thereof.**—The pronominal suffixes do not seem to refer to the court, the cords belonging to which appear to have been under the custody of the Merarites (Numbers 3:37), but to the *mishkan *or Tabernacle itself. Or, the latter suffix (*its *service, or the service *thereof*) may be de...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**26-27. Only the firstling of the beasts--**These, in the case of clean beasts, being consecrated to God by a universal and standing law (Ex 13:12; 34:19), could not be devoted; and in that of unclean beasts, were subject to the rule mentioned (Le 27:11, 12).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →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.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
This verse identifies the Kohathite clan descended from Kohath, one of Levi's three sons. The Hebrew <em>mishpachot</em> (families/clans) emphasizes tribal organization under divine order. The Kohathites received the most sacred duty—caring for the holy things of the tabernacle—demonstrating God's sovereign distribution of service roles. This principle applies to New Testament ministry gifts, wher...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**26-27. Only the firstling of the beasts--**These, in the case of clean beasts, being consecrated to God by a universal and standing law (Ex 13:12; 34:19), could not be devoted; and in that of unclean beasts, were subject to the rule mentioned (Le 27:11, 12).
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →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.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The enumeration of 8,600 Kohathite males from one month old demonstrates that consecration to God's service begins from infancy, not from personal choice or maturity. This pictures covenant theology—God sets apart His elect before they can choose Him, as He knew Jeremiah before formation in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5). The substantial size of this clan shows God's provision of sufficient workers for s...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**28-29. no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the Lord of all that he hath, ... shall be sold or redeemed--**This relates to vows of the most solemn kind--the devotee accompanying his vow with a solemn imprecation on himself not to fail in accomplishing his declared purpose.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The Kohathites encamped on the south side of the tabernacle, positioning them for immediate access to the holy furnishings they would transport. This strategic placement reflects divine wisdom in organizing worship logistics. The Hebrew <em>teyman</em> (southward) positioned them near the altar and laver. God orders His people not randomly but with purpose—proximity to sacred objects required thos...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(29) **on the side of the tabernacle southward.**—The south has its name in Hebrew (*Teman*) from *Yamin, the right hand, *because when a man stands with his face towards the east the south is on his right hand.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**28-29. no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the Lord of all that he hath, ... shall be sold or redeemed--**This relates to vows of the most solemn kind--the devotee accompanying his vow with a solemn imprecation on himself not to fail in accomplishing his declared purpose.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
Elizaphan (meaning 'God has protected') as chief of the Kohathite families demonstrates that leadership in sacred service requires divine appointment and protection. The Hebrew <em>nasi</em> (prince/leader) indicates authority derived from God, not popular election. His title 'prince of the house of the father' shows patriarchal structure under divine ordering. This becomes the pattern for church ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**30-33. all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land--**This law gave the sanction of divine authority to an ancient usage (Ge 14:20; 28:22). The whole produce of the land was subjected to the tithe tribute--it was a yearly rent which the Israelites, as tenants, paid to God, the owner of the land, and a thank offering they rendered to Him for the bounties of His providence. (See Pr ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →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.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The Kohathites' specific charge over the ark, table, candlestick, altars, and holy vessels represents the most sacred responsibility among the Levites. These were the objects that directly facilitated Israel's approach to God and God's manifestation among His people. The assignment of these most holy items to one clan demonstrates that even among those consecrated for service, God establishes vary...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**30-33. all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land--**This law gave the sanction of divine authority to an ancient usage (Ge 14:20; 28:22). The whole produce of the land was subjected to the tithe tribute--it was a yearly rent which the Israelites, as tenants, paid to God, the owner of the land, and a thank offering they rendered to Him for the bounties of His providence. (See Pr ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →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.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
Eleazar's appointment as 'chief over the chief of the Levites' established a supervisory role overseeing all Levitical service. As Aaron's son and eventual successor as high priest, Eleazar represented the connection between priestly and Levitical offices, ensuring coordination between those who officiated at the altar and those who maintained the tabernacle. This hierarchical structure maintained...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(32) **And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest . . . —**In virtue, as it should seem, of the descent of Moses and Aaron from Kohath, the Kohathites had the most honourable portion of the service of the Tabernacle assigned to them; and hence, as the priests belonged to the Amramites, one of the four families of the Kohathites, Eleazar, the eldest surviving son of Aaron, was chosen to have the overs...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**30-33. all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land--**This law gave the sanction of divine authority to an ancient usage (Ge 14:20; 28:22). The whole produce of the land was subjected to the tithe tribute--it was a yearly rent which the Israelites, as tenants, paid to God, the owner of the land, and a thank offering they rendered to Him for the bounties of His providence. (See Pr ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The enumeration of Merarite families (Mahlites and Mushites) completes the systematic organization of all three Levitical clans. Each received specific assignments, ensuring comprehensive coverage of tabernacle maintenance with no gaps or overlaps. This thorough organization demonstrates that effective kingdom work requires careful planning where every necessary function is assigned to capable wor...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**30-33. all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land--**This law gave the sanction of divine authority to an ancient usage (Ge 14:20; 28:22). The whole produce of the land was subjected to the tithe tribute--it was a yearly rent which the Israelites, as tenants, paid to God, the owner of the land, and a thank offering they rendered to Him for the bounties of His providence. (See Pr ...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →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.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The Merarite census (6,200 males from one month old) made them the smallest of the three main Levitical clans, yet their work transporting the tabernacle's heavy structural components was essential. Small numbers didn't diminish importance; faithfulness in assigned tasks mattered most. This pattern recurs throughout Scripture: God uses the seemingly weak and small to accomplish His purposes, direc...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**34. These are the commandments, &c.--**The laws contained in this book, for the most part ceremonial, had an important spiritual bearing, the study of which is highly instructive (Ro 10:4; He 4:2; 12:18). They imposed a burdensome yoke (Ac 15:10), but yet in the infantine age of the Church formed the necessary discipline of "a schoolmaster to Christ" [Ga 3:24].
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →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.
View commentary (2 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The Merarites' camp assignment on the north side of the tabernacle completed the four-sided Levitical enclosure around God's dwelling. Each clan's position had purpose and dignity, with no location considered inferior. This equal dignity across varying responsibilities illustrates that in God's kingdom, worth comes from faithful service in assigned roles, not from human hierarchies of importance.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →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, under: Heb. the office of the charge
View commentary (2 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The Merarites' specific charge over boards, bars, pillars, sockets, and tent pegs represents the foundational structural work enabling the tabernacle to stand. Without these components, the fabric elements (Gershonite responsibility) and holy furnishings (Kohathite responsibility) would have no structure to support them. This teaches that kingdom work includes essential but less visible support fu...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The detailed listing of Merarite responsibilities (pillars, sockets, pins, cords) demonstrates that God values and assigns even the smallest components of worship infrastructure. Nothing was too minor for divine attention or careful assignment. This comprehensive concern for details teaches that faithfulness in small things characterizes genuine kingdom service, and nothing is beneath notice when ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(37) **And the pillars of the court round about . . . —**See Notes on Exodus 27:9-19.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
THE FOURTH BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED NUMBERS.
Commentary by Robert Jamieson
CHAPTER 1 Nu 1:1-54. Moses Numbering the Men of War.
**1-2. on the first day of the second month, &c.--**Thirteen months had elapsed since the exodus. About one month had been occupied in the journey; and the rest of the period had been passed in encampment among the recesses of Sinai, where the transactions took place...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and 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.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's sons camping east of the tabernacle, before the entrance, positioned the supreme leaders at the place of highest honor facing the Holy Place's entry. This spatial arrangement taught that covenant leadership derives from proximity to God's presence and responsibility for guarding His holiness. The warning that 'the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death' maintaine...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(38) **Keeping the charge of the sanctuary . . . —**The word *mikdash *(sanctuary) appears to be of a more comprehensive import than *mishkan, *the shittimwood building, or *ohel, *the tent which covered it, and it seems to include the court which surrounded the Tabernacle, as in Leviticus 12:4; Leviticus 21:12.
**For the charge of the children of Israel**—i.e., to attend to everything which was c...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
THE FOURTH BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED NUMBERS.
Commentary by Robert Jamieson
CHAPTER 1 Nu 1:1-54. Moses Numbering the Men of War.
**1-2. on the first day of the second month, &c.--**Thirteen months had elapsed since the exodus. About one month had been occupied in the journey; and the rest of the period had been passed in encampment among the recesses of Sinai, where the transactions took place...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →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.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The total of 22,000 Levites (though the individual family totals sum to 22,300, likely due to rounding or textual issues) demonstrates God's provision of adequate ministers for tabernacle service. This number was significant as it closely matched the 22,000 firstborn males of Israel (verse 43), showing God's gracious substitution. The Levites served as representatives replacing all Israel's firstb...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(39) **And Aaron . . . —**In the Hebrew text the word Aaron has certain marks over it, known as *puncta extraordinaria, *denoting that it is to be regarded as spurious or doubtful. It is omitted in the Samaritan and Syriac versions and in a few MSS. There appears. however, to be no sufficient reason for its rejection from the text.
**Twenty and two thousand.**—The total of the three several items—...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**3. Aaron shall number them by their armies--**or companies. In their departure from Egypt they were divided into five grand companies (Ex 13:18), but from the sojourn in the wilderness to the passage of the Jordan, they were formed into four great divisions. The latter is here referred to.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 ...
Read full commentary →Redeeming the Firstborn
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.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
God commands Moses: 'Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward.' Every firstborn belonged to God due to Passover deliverance when God spared Israel's firstborn while judging Egypt's (Ex 13:2). The one-month minimum age reflects ancient Near Eastern practice where infant mortality was high. God's claim on the firstborn demonstrates that redemption c...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-16. with you there shall be a man of every tribe, &c.--**The social condition of the Israelites in the wilderness bore a close resemblance to that of the nomad tribes of the East in the present day. The head of the tribe was a hereditary dignity, vested in the oldest son or some other to whom the right of primogeniture was transferred, and under whom were other inferior heads, also heredit...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 calle...
Read full commentary →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.
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KJV Study Commentary
This verse contains God's direct command to Moses regarding the Levites' consecration. The phrase <strong>"thou shalt take the Levites for me"</strong> (<em>velaqachta et-haleviyim li</em>) shows divine ownership—the Levites belong to God specifically. The parenthetical <strong>"I am the LORD"</strong> (<em>ani YHWH</em>) is a powerful assertion of divine authority and covenant identity, grounding...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(41) **And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the Lord) . . . —**Or, *And thou shalt take the Levites for Me—for Me, Jehovah. *The assertions which have been frequently made respecting the transference of the priesthood of the firstborn to the Levites appear to be altogether without foundation. For (1) the priesthood which was exercised in patriarchal times was not restricted to the firstbor...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-16. with you there shall be a man of every tribe, &c.--**The social condition of the Israelites in the wilderness bore a close resemblance to that of the nomad tribes of the East in the present day. The head of the tribe was a hereditary dignity, vested in the oldest son or some other to whom the right of primogeniture was transferred, and under whom were other inferior heads, also heredit...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 calle...
Read full commentary →And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
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KJV Study Commentary
The census of Merarite males from one month old parallels the Kohathite and Gershonite counts, emphasizing that every Levite was numbered and known to God from infancy. The specificity of 6,200 demonstrates God's precise knowledge of His servants. This meticulous accounting reflects the doctrine of divine omniscience—God knows each of His elect by name (John 10:3). The Merarites, though handling t...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-16. with you there shall be a man of every tribe, &c.--**The social condition of the Israelites in the wilderness bore a close resemblance to that of the nomad tribes of the East in the present day. The head of the tribe was a hereditary dignity, vested in the oldest son or some other to whom the right of primogeniture was transferred, and under whom were other inferior heads, also heredit...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 calle...
Read full commentary →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 .
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KJV Study Commentary
The phrase 'all the males...every male from a month old and upward' emphasizes completeness and thoroughness in God's census. No Levite was overlooked or considered insignificant. This reflects the biblical principle that God's call extends to all within the covenant community, not just the mature or capable. The inclusive counting foreshadows the Great Commission—making disciples of all nations, ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(43) **Twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.**—The extremely small number of the firstborn in proportion to a male population of 600,000 of twenty years of age and upwards—i.e., to a population of about 1,000,000 males—has been a fruitful source of difficulty, and, in some cases, a ground for the rejection of the historical truth of the narrative, which involves, it has ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-16. with you there shall be a man of every tribe, &c.--**The social condition of the Israelites in the wilderness bore a close resemblance to that of the nomad tribes of the East in the present day. The head of the tribe was a hereditary dignity, vested in the oldest son or some other to whom the right of primogeniture was transferred, and under whom were other inferior heads, also heredit...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 calle...
Read full commentary →And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
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KJV Study Commentary
The LORD speaking unto Moses initiates God's solution to the redemption arithmetic. When Israelite firstborn males (22,273, verse 43) exceeded Levites (22,000, verse 39), a gap of 273 required atonement. God's specific command for their redemption demonstrates that every soul has value and requires proper accounting before God. The numerical precision teaches divine omniscience—God knows each indi...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-16. with you there shall be a man of every tribe, &c.--**The social condition of the Israelites in the wilderness bore a close resemblance to that of the nomad tribes of the East in the present day. The head of the tribe was a hereditary dignity, vested in the oldest son or some other to whom the right of primogeniture was transferred, and under whom were other inferior heads, also heredit...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 calle...
Read full commentary →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.
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KJV Study Commentary
God's command to take the Levites 'instead of all the firstborn' establishes the principle of substitutionary consecration. The firstborn belonged to God by right of the Passover deliverance, but He graciously accepted the Levitical tribe as substitutes, allowing the other tribes' firstborn to remain with their families. This foreshadows Christ's substitutionary atonement, where He takes the place...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(45) **And the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle.**—There appears to have been no numbering of the cattle. Had it been otherwise, an argument might have been used in support of the prospective reference of the command to number the firstborn, derived from the fact that it would have been impossible to ascertain the number of firstborn among the cattle. It appears, however, that the who...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-16. with you there shall be a man of every tribe, &c.--**The social condition of the Israelites in the wilderness bore a close resemblance to that of the nomad tribes of the East in the present day. The head of the tribe was a hereditary dignity, vested in the oldest son or some other to whom the right of primogeniture was transferred, and under whom were other inferior heads, also heredit...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 calle...
Read full commentary →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;
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KJV Study Commentary
The specification 'for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel' emphasizes that redemption addresses specific individuals, not abstract groups. God redeemed exactly 273 people, knowing each one. The Hebrew <em>piduyim</em> (those to be redeemed) stresses that these were actual persons requiring ransom. This precision r...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-16. with you there shall be a man of every tribe, &c.--**The social condition of the Israelites in the wilderness bore a close resemblance to that of the nomad tribes of the East in the present day. The head of the tribe was a hereditary dignity, vested in the oldest son or some other to whom the right of primogeniture was transferred, and under whom were other inferior heads, also heredit...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 calle...
Read full commentary →Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:)
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KJV Study Commentary
The specification 'after the shekel of the sanctuary' establishes a divine standard for measurement, not human manipulation. The sanctuary shekel was an exact, God-ordained weight preventing fraud. This principle extends to all God's standards—His law is the unchanging measure of righteousness, not situational ethics (Malachi 3:6). The Hebrew <em>shekel ha-kodesh</em> (holy shekel) was twenty gera...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(47) **Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll.**—It is not stated in what manner the 273 families of whom the redemption money was exacted were determined. Inasmuch, however, as the law of the redemption of the firstborn by the payment of five shekels came into operation from this time (Numbers 18:16), it seems probable that the money was exacted in the case of those who had been mos...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-16. with you there shall be a man of every tribe, &c.--**The social condition of the Israelites in the wilderness bore a close resemblance to that of the nomad tribes of the East in the present day. The head of the tribe was a hereditary dignity, vested in the oldest son or some other to whom the right of primogeniture was transferred, and under whom were other inferior heads, also heredit...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 calle...
Read full commentary →And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.
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KJV Study Commentary
The 273 firstborn exceeding the number of Levites required redemption at 'five shekels apiece after the shekel of the sanctuary.' This redemption money (1,365 shekels total) went to Aaron and his sons for sanctuary service. The 'shekel of the sanctuary' (about 0.4 ounces of silver) was the standard weight ensuring fair transactions. This redemption price foreshadows Christ's redemption of believer...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(48) **And thou shalt give the money . . . —**The verse may be rendered thus: *And thou shalt give the money to Aaron and to his sons: even the redemption money of those who are over and above amongst them.*
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-16. with you there shall be a man of every tribe, &c.--**The social condition of the Israelites in the wilderness bore a close resemblance to that of the nomad tribes of the East in the present day. The head of the tribe was a hereditary dignity, vested in the oldest son or some other to whom the right of primogeniture was transferred, and under whom were other inferior heads, also heredit...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 calle...
Read full commentary →And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:
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KJV Study Commentary
The phrase 'as the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them' demonstrates complete obedience to divine instruction. Moses' faithful execution of God's commands establishes him as the model mediator until Christ. The Hebrew <em>pakad</em> (numbered/appointed) carries connotations of oversight and care—God numbers His people not merely for census but as a shepherd knows his flock (John 10:14). This...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(49) **Redeemed by the Levites.**—i.e., who were redeemed by the substitution of the Levites in their place.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-16. with you there shall be a man of every tribe, &c.--**The social condition of the Israelites in the wilderness bore a close resemblance to that of the nomad tribes of the East in the present day. The head of the tribe was a hereditary dignity, vested in the oldest son or some other to whom the right of primogeniture was transferred, and under whom were other inferior heads, also heredit...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 calle...
Read full commentary →Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
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KJV Study Commentary
This verse records the final census count of the Levites, demonstrating God's meticulous care in organizing His people for worship and service. The numbering of the Levites represents divine order and accountability within the covenant community. Each Levite was known and counted, reflecting the Reformed principle that God knows and calls each of His elect by name. The precision of this census emp...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-16. with you there shall be a man of every tribe, &c.--**The social condition of the Israelites in the wilderness bore a close resemblance to that of the nomad tribes of the East in the present day. The head of the tribe was a hereditary dignity, vested in the oldest son or some other to whom the right of primogeniture was transferred, and under whom were other inferior heads, also heredit...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 calle...
Read full commentary →And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.
View commentary (4 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
Moses giving the redemption money to Aaron and his sons demonstrates the priestly role in mediation. The silver represents ransomed lives placed into priestly hands, prefiguring Christ our high priest who received the payment of His own blood for our redemption (Hebrews 9:12). The transfer of silver to the priests shows that atonement requires priestly mediation—sinners cannot approach God directl...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(51) **The money of them that were redeemed.**—Better, *the ransom *(or, *redemption*)* money.*
**Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**4-16. with you there shall be a man of every tribe, &c.--**The social condition of the Israelites in the wilderness bore a close resemblance to that of the nomad tribes of the East in the present day. The head of the tribe was a hereditary dignity, vested in the oldest son or some other to whom the right of primogeniture was transferred, and under whom were other inferior heads, also heredit...
Read full commentary →Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
**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 calle...
Read full commentary →