Chapter Three

A census of the Levites. — The distribution of Levite families according to their duties at the tabernacle. — A census of the Hebrew firstborn.

Numbers 3:11. And the Lord said to Moses, saying: Numbers 3:12. Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel in place of all the firstborn who open the womb among the sons of Israel [they shall be in their place]; the Levites shall be mine, Numbers 3:13. for all the firstborn are mine; on the day when I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for myself all the firstborn in Israel, from human beings to animals; they shall be mine. I am the Lord. (Compare Num 3:40-45). In gratitude to the Lord for deliverance from the slavery of Egypt, the Hebrews were to dedicate to Him their firstborn (Exod 13:1). Now the firstborn are returned to the families of Israel; in place of the firstborn, the tribe of Levi is set apart for service to God at the tabernacle. For the numerical excess of firstborn compared with the Levites (verse 46), a ransom is paid to the tabernacle (Num 3:47-51; compare Num 18:15).

Numbers 3:39. All the Levites whom Moses and Aaron registered according to the command of the Lord, by their families, all the males from one month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand. Among the family of Gershon — 7,500 men. Kohath — 8,600 men. Merari — 6,200 men. Total — 22,300 men.