1Und dies sind die Geschlechter Aarons und Moses, an dem Tage, da Jehova auf dem Berge Sinai mit Mose redete. 2Und dies sind die Namen der Söhne Aarons: der Erstgeborene Nadab, und Abihu, Eleasar und Ithamar. 3Das sind die Namen der Söhne Aarons, der gesalbten Priester, die geweiht worden waren, um den Priesterdienst auszuüben. 4Und Nadab und Abihu starben vor Jehova, als sie in der Wüste Sinai fremdes Feuer vor Jehova darbrachten; und sie hatten keine Söhne. Und Eleasar und Ithamar übten den Priesterdienst vor ihrem Vater Aaron aus. 5Und Jehova redete zu Mose und sprach: 6Laß den Stamm Levi herzunahen und stelle ihn vor Aaron, den Priester, daß sie ihm dienen; 7und sie sollen seiner Hut warten und der Hut der ganzen Gemeinde vor dem Zelte der Zusammenkunft, um den Dienst der Wohnung zu verrichten; 8und sie sollen warten aller Geräte des Zeltes der Zusammenkunft und der Hut der Kinder Israel, um den Dienst der Wohnung zu verrichten. 9Und du sollst die Leviten dem Aaron und seinen Söhnen geben; ganz zu eigen sind sie ihm gegeben von seiten der Kinder Israel. 10Und Aaron und seine Söhne sollst du bestellen, daß sie ihres Priestertums warten. Der Fremde aber, der herzunaht, soll getötet werden. 11Und Jehova redete zu Mose und sprach: 12Und ich, siehe, ich habe die Leviten aus der Mitte der Kinder Israel genommen, anstatt aller Erstgeburt, welche die Mutter bricht unter den Kindern Israel; und die Leviten sollen mir gehören. 13Denn mein ist alle Erstgeburt: an dem Tage, da ich alle Erstgeburt im Lande Ägypten schlug, habe ich mir alle Erstgeburt in Israel geheiligt vom Menschen bis zum Vieh; mir sollen sie gehören, mir, Jehova. 14Und Jehova redete zu Mose in der Wüste Sinai und sprach: 15Mustere die Söhne Levis nach ihren Vaterhäusern, nach ihren Familien; alle Männlichen von einem Monat und darüber sollst du sie mustern. 16Und Mose musterte sie nach dem Befehl Jehovas, so wie ihm geboten war. 17Und dies waren die Söhne Levis nach ihren Namen: Gerson und Kehath und Merari. 18Und dies sind die Namen der Söhne Gersons nach ihren Familien: Libni und Simei. 19Und die Söhne Kehaths nach ihren Familien: Amram und Jizhar, Hebron und Ussiel. 20Und die Söhne Meraris nach ihren Familien: Machli und Muschi. Das sind die Familien Levis nach ihren Vaterhäusern. 21Von Gerson die Familie der Libniter und die Familie der Simeiter; das sind die Familien der Gersoniter. 22Ihre Gemusterten nach der Zahl aller Männlichen von einem Monat und darüber, ihre Gemusterten: 7500. 23Die Familien der Gersoniter lagerten hinter der Wohnung gegen Westen. 24Und der Fürst des Vaterhauses der Gersoniter war Eljasaph, der Sohn Laels. 25Und die Hut der Söhne Gersons am Zelte der Zusammenkunft war: die Wohnung und das Zelt, seine Decke, und der Vorhang vom Eingang des Zeltes der Zusammenkunft, 26und die Umhänge des Vorhofs und der Vorhang vom Eingang des Vorhofs, der rings um die Wohnung und um den Altar ist, und seine Seile zu all seinem Dienst. 27Und von Kehath die Familie der Amramiter und die Familie der Jizhariter und die Familie der Hebroniter und die Familie der Ussieliter; das sind die Familien der Kehathiter. 28Nach der Zahl aller Männlichen von einem Monat und darüber, 8600, welche der Hut des Heiligtums warteten. 29Die Familien der Söhne Kehaths lagerten an der Seite der Wohnung gegen Süden. 30Und der Fürst des Vaterhauses der Familien der Kehathiter war Elizaphan, der Sohn Ussiels. 31Und ihre Hut war: die Lade und der Tisch und der Leuchter und die Altäre, und die Geräte des Heiligtums, mit welchen man den Dienst verrichtet, und der Vorhang, und dessen ganzer Dienst. 32Und der Fürst der Fürsten Levis war Eleasar, der Sohn Aarons, des Priesters; er war Aufseher über die, welche der Hut des Heiligtums warteten. 33Von Merari die Familie der Machliter und die Familie der Muschiter: das sind die Familien Meraris. 34Und ihre Gemusterten nach der Zahl aller Männlichen von einem Monat und darüber: 6200. 35Und der Fürst des Vaterhauses der Familien Meraris war Zuriel, der Sohn Abichails. Sie lagerten an der Seite der Wohnung gegen Norden. 36Und die Hut der Söhne Meraris war: die Bretter der Wohnung, und ihre Riegel und ihre Säulen und ihre Füße und alle ihre Geräte und ihr ganzer Dienst, 37und die Säulen des Vorhofs ringsum und ihre Füße und ihre Pflöcke und ihre Seile. 38Und die vor der Wohnung gegen Osten, vor dem Zelte der Zusammenkunft gegen Sonnenaufgang Lagernden waren Mose und Aaron und seine Söhne, welche der Hut des Heiligtums warteten, betreffs desjenigen, was den Kindern Israel oblag. Der Fremde aber, der herzunaht, soll getötet werden. 39Aller gemusterten Leviten, welche Mose und Aaron nach dem Befehl Jehovas nach ihren Familien musterten, aller Männlichen von einem Monat und darüber, waren 22000. 40Und Jehova sprach zu Mose: Mustere alle männlichen Erstgeborenen der Kinder Israel, von einem Monat und darüber, und nimm die Zahl ihrer Namen auf. 41Und du sollst die Leviten für mich, Jehova nehmen, anstatt aller Erstgeborenen unter den Kindern Israel, und das Vieh der Leviten anstatt alles Erstgeborenen unter dem Vieh der Kinder Israel. 42Und Mose musterte, so wie Jehova ihm geboten hatte, alle Erstgeborenen unter den Kindern Israel. 43Und es waren aller männlichen Erstgeborenen, nach der Zahl der Namen, von einem Monat und darüber, nach ihren Gemusterten, 22273. 44Und Jehova redete zu Mose und sprach: 45Nimm die Leviten anstatt aller Erstgeborenen unter den Kindern Israel und das Vieh der Leviten anstatt ihres Viehes; und mir, sollen die Leviten gehören, mir, Jehova. 46Und was die Lösung der 273 betrifft, welche von den Erstgeborenen der Kinder Israel überzählig sind über die Leviten, 47so sollst du je fünf Sekel auf den Kopf nehmen; nach dem Sekel des Heiligtums sollst du sie nehmen, zwanzig Gera der Sekel. 48Und das Geld sollst du als Lösung der Überzähligen unter ihnen Aaron und seinen Söhnen geben. 49Und Mose nahm das Lösegeld von denen, welche überzählig waren über die durch die Leviten Gelösten; 50von den Erstgeborenen der Kinder Israel nahm er das Geld, 1365 Sekel, nach dem Sekel des Heiligtums. 51Und Mose gab das Geld der Lösung Aaron und seinen Söhnen, nach dem Befehl Jehovas, so wie Jehova dem Mose geboten hatte.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE LEVITES' SERVICE. (Num. 3:1-51)
These . . . are the generations of Aaron and Moses, &c.--This chapter contains an account of their families; and although that of Moses is not detailed like his brother's, his children are included under the general designation of the Amramites (
Num 3:27), a term which comprehends all the descendants of their common father Amram. The reason why the family of Moses was so undistinguished in this record is that they were in the private ranks of the Levites, the dignity of the priesthood being conferred exclusively on the posterity of Aaron; and hence, as the sacerdotal order is the subject of this chapter, Aaron, contrary to the usual style of the sacred history, is mentioned before Moses.
in the day that the Lord spake with Moses in mount Sinai--This is added, because at the date of the following record the family of Aaron was unbroken.
2 And these are the names of the sons of Aaron--All the sons of Aaron, four in number, were consecrated to minister in the priest's office. The two oldest enjoyed but a brief term of office (
Lev 10:1-
Lev 10:2;
Num 3:4;
Num 26:61); but Eleazar and Ithamar, the other two, were dutiful, and performed the sacred service during the lifetime of their father, as his assistants, and under his superintendence.
5 Bring the tribe of Levi near--The Hebrew word "bring near" is a sacrificial term, denoting the presentation of an offering to God; and the use of the word, therefore, in connection with the Levites, signifies that they were devoted as an offering to the sanctuary, no longer to be employed in any common offices. They were subordinate to the priests, who alone enjoyed the privilege of entering the holy place; but they were employed in discharging many of the humbler duties which belonged to the sanctuary, as well as in various offices of great utility and importance to the religion and morals of the people.
9 they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel, &c.--The priests hold the place of God, and the Levites are the servants of God in the obedience they render to the priests.
11 I have taken the Levites, &c.--The consecration of this tribe did not originate in the legislative wisdom of Moses, but in the special appointment of God, who chose them as substitutes for the first-born. By an appointment made in memory of the last solemn judgment on Egypt (from which the Israelitish households were miraculously exempt) all the first-born were consecrated to God (
Exod 13:12;
Exod 22:29), who thus, under peculiar circumstances, seemed to adopt the patriarchal usage of appointing the oldest to act as the priest of the family. But the privilege of redemption that was allowed the first-born opened the way for a change; and accordingly, on the full organization of the Mosaic economy, the administration of sacred things formerly committed to the first-born was transferred from them to the Levites, who received that honor partly as a tribute to Moses and Aaron, partly because this tribe had distinguished themselves by their zeal in the affair of the golden calf (
Exod 32:29), and also because, being the smallest of the tribes, they could ill find suitable employment and support in the work. (See on
Deut 33:8). The designation of a special class for the sacred offices of religion was a wise arrangement; for, on their settlement in Canaan, the people would be so occupied that they might not be at leisure to wait on the service of the sanctuary, and sacred things might, from various causes, fall into neglect. But the appointment of an entire tribe to the divine service ensured the regular performance of the rites of religion. The subsequent portion of the chapter relates to the formal substitution of this tribe.
I am the Lord--that is, I decree it to be so; and being possessed of sovereign authority, I expect full obedience.
14 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 [
Num 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 [
Num 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.
32 chief--rather, "chiefs" of the Levites. Three persons are mentioned as chiefs of these respective divisions [
Num 3:24,
Num 3:30,
Num 3:35]. And Eleazar presided over them; whence he is called "the second priest" (
2Kgs 25:18); and in the case of the high priest's absence from illness or other necessary occasions, he performed the duties (
1Kgs 4:4).
38 those that encamp, &c.--That being the entrance side, it was the post of honor, and consequently reserved to Moses and the priestly family. But the sons of Moses had no station here.
39 twenty and two thousand--The result of this census, though made on conditions most advantageous to Levi, proved it to be by far the smallest in Israel. The separate numbers stated in
Num 3:22,
Num 3:28,
Num 3:34, when added together, amount to twenty-two thousand three hundred. The omission of the three hundred is variously accounted for--by some, because they might be first-born who were already devoted to God and could not be counted as substitutes; and by others, because in Scripture style, the sum is reckoned in round numbers. The most probable conjecture is, that as Hebrew letters are employed for figures, one letter was, in the course of transcription, taken for another of like form but smaller value.
40 Number all the first-born of the males of the children of Israel, &c.--The principle on which the enumeration of the Levites had been made was now to be applied to the other tribes. The number of their male children, from a month old and upward, was to be reckoned, in order that a comparison might be instituted with that of the Levites, for the formal adoption of the latter as substitutes for the first-born. The Levites, amounting to twenty-two thousand, were given in exchange for an equal number of the first-born from the other tribes, leaving an excess of two hundred seventy-three; and as there were no substitutes for these, they were redeemed at the rate of five shekels for each (
Num 18:15-
Num 18:16). Every Israelite would naturally wish that his son might be redeemed by a Levite without the payment of this tax, and yet some would have to incur the expense, for there were not Levites enough to make an equal exchange. Jewish writers say the matter was determined by lot, in this manner: Moses put into an urn twenty-two thousand pieces of parchment, on each of which he wrote "a son of Levi," and two hundred seventy-three more, containing the words, "five shekels." These being shaken, he ordered each of the first-born to put in his hand and take out a slip. If it contained the first inscription, the boy was redeemed by a Levite; if the latter, the parent had to pay. The ransom-money, which, reckoning the shekel at half a crown, would amount to 12s. 6d. each, was appropriated to the use of the sanctuary. The excess of the general over the Levitical first-born is so small, that the only way of accounting for it is, by supposing those first-born only were counted as were males remaining in their parents' household, or that those first-born only were numbered which had been born since the departure from Egypt, when God claimed all the first-born as his special property.
41 the cattle of the Levites--These, which they kept to graze on the glebes and meadows in the suburbs of their cities, to supply their families with dairy produce and animal food, were also taken as an equivalent for all the firstlings of the cattle which the Israelites at that time possessed. In consequence of this exchange the firstlings were not brought then, as afterwards, to the altar and the priests.