Numbers
Summary
Numbers Chapter 3 identifies the specific roles and responsibilities of the Levites, who were chosen by God to replace the firstborn sons of all Israel in His service. Aaron and his sons were appointed as the priests, while the three families of the Levites: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari: were tasked with the transport and maintenance of the Tabernacle and its sacred furniture. By choosing the Levites, God established a dedicated body of servants to ensure that the holy and the common remained distinct, protecting the community as they lived in His presence.
This is the record of the family of Aaron and Moses at the time the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.
The names of Aaron's sons were: Nadab (the firstborn), Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
These were the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests who were ordained to serve in the sanctuary.
But Nadab and Abihu died in the LORD's presence when they offered unauthorised fire in the Sinai wilderness. Since they had no children, only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during their father Aaron's lifetime.
The LORD said to Moses:
"Bring the tribe of Levi forward and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him."
They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the Tent of Meeting, doing the work of the Tabernacle.
They must look after all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting and fulfill the obligations of the Israelites by doing the service of the Tabernacle.
Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they have been assigned exclusively to him from among the Israelites.
Appoint Aaron and his sons to perform the duties of the priesthood. Anyone else who approaches the sanctuary must be put to death.
The LORD also said to Moses:
"Look, I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of every firstborn son. The Levites are mine,
for every firstborn belongs to me. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, both human and animal. They are mine. I am the LORD."
The LORD spoke further to Moses in the Sinai wilderness:
"Take a census of the Levites by their clans and families. Count every male who is one month old or older."
Moses counted them according to the LORD's word, as he had been commanded.
The names of the sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
The families of Gershon were Libni and Shimei.
The families of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
The families of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the families of the Levites, grouped by their ancestral sub-divisions.
The families of Libni and Shimei belonged to Gershon; these were the Gershonite families.
The number of all the males one month old or older was 7,500.
The Gershonites were to camp on the west side, behind the Tabernacle.
Their leader was Eliasaph son of Lael.
Their duties at the Tent of Meeting involved caring for the Tabernacle itself, its inner and outer coverings, and the screen for the entrance.
They were also responsible for the curtains of the courtyard, the screen for the courtyard entrance, and the ropes used for the Tabernacle and the altar.
The families of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel belonged to Kohath; these were the Kohathite families.
The number of all the males one month old or older was 8,600. They were responsible for the sanctuary.
The Kohathites were to camp on the south side of the Tabernacle.
Their leader was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.
Their duties involved caring for the Ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the sacred utensils, and the inner curtain.
Eleazar son of Aaron the priest was the chief leader over the Levites, supervising those in charge of the sanctuary.
The families of Mahli and Mushi belonged to Merari; these were the Merarite families.
The number of all the males one month old or older was 6,200.
Their leader was Zuriel son of Abihail. They were to camp on the north side of the Tabernacle.
Their duties involved caring for the Tabernacle's frames, crossbars, posts, bases, and all its equipment.
They were also responsible for the posts of the surrounding courtyard, along with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes.
Moses, Aaron, and his sons were to camp on the east side, in front of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise. They were responsible for the sanctuary on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.
The total number of Levites counted by Moses and Aaron at the LORD's command was 22,000.
The LORD then said to Moses, "Count every firstborn male in Israel who is a month old or older, and list their names."
"Take the Levites for me, I am the LORD, instead of all the firstborn Israelites, and take the Levites' livestock instead of the firstborn of the Israelites' livestock."
So Moses counted all the firstborn males of the Israelites, as the LORD commanded.
The total number of firstborn males one month old or older was 22,273.
The LORD said to Moses:
"Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn sons of the Israelites, and the Levites' livestock instead of their livestock. The Levites belong to me. I am the LORD."
To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of Levites,
collect five shekels for each person, according to the standard sanctuary weight (twenty gerahs per shekel).
Give that money to Aaron and his sons as the price for redeeming the extra people.
So Moses collected the redemption money from those who were not redeemed by the Levites.
He collected 1,365 shekels from the firstborn Israelites, using the standard sanctuary weight.
Moses gave the money to Aaron and his sons, just as the LORD had commanded.