Numbers 3
BSA1 This is the account [history, family record] of Aaron [the first high priest] and Moses [the Israelite leader] at the time [day, period] the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] spoke [communicated, gave revelation] with Moses on Mount [mountain, hill] Sinai [the mountain of God’s presence]. word study 2 These [specific, particular] are the names [identities, reputations] of the sons [descendants, heirs] of Aaron [the first high priest]: Nadab [generous, noble] the firstborn [oldest, holding special status], then Abihu [my father is he], Eleazar [God has helped], and Ithamar [coast of the palm tree, island of the palm tree]. word study 3 These [specific, appointed] were Aaron’s [the first high priest, brother of Moses] sons, the [anointed with holy oil, set apart] anointed priests [spiritual leaders, ministers of God], who were [officially, by God’s command] ordained [consecrated, empowered] to serve [minister, perform sacred duties] as priests [spiritual mediators, representatives of God]. word study 4 Nadab and Abihu, however, died [before] in the presence of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] when they offered [presented, brought near] unauthorized [strange, foreign] fire [burning, flame] before the LORD [in His presence, face to face] in the Wilderness [desert, open field] of Sinai [a mountain where God revealed Himself]. And since they had no sons [children, descendants], only Eleazar [God has helped] and Ithamar [coast of the palm tree] served as priests [ministered, performed sacred duties] during the lifetime of their father Aaron [the first high priest]. word study 5 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said [to speak, communicate] to Moses [the Israelite leader, mediator], word study 6 “Bring the tribe [a family or group of families] of Levi [a son of Jacob and Leah, a brother of Reuben, Simeon, and Judah] and present [to approach or come near, to set before] them to Aaron [the brother of Moses and the first high priest] the priest [a person who serves God and leads others in worship] to assist [to serve or minister to, to help with the ministry] him. word study 7 They are to perform duties [attend to and care for] for him and for the whole [entire, all-inclusive] congregation [gathering of people, community] before the Tent [tabernacle, sacred dwelling] of Meeting [appointed time, sacred season], attending to the service [work, ministry, worship] of the tabernacle [portable place of worship, divine dwelling]. word study 8 They shall take care of [keep, watch over] all the furnishings [articles, utensils] of the Tent [tabernacle, sacred dwelling] of Meeting [appointed time, gathering place] and fulfill obligations [attend to the charge, guard the trust] for the Israelites [sons of Israel, descendants of Jacob] by attending to [serving, ministering to] the service [work, worship] of the tabernacle [portable place of worship, dwelling of God]. word study 9 Assign the Levites [wholly given, set apart] to Aaron [the first high priest, brother of Moses] and his sons [descendants, spiritual leaders]; they have been given [set, appointed, entrusted] exclusively [as a gift, without condition] to him from among [out of, on behalf of] the Israelites [God’s chosen people, descendants of Jacob]. word study 10 So you shall appoint [set apart, designate] Aaron [the brother of Moses and first high priest] and his sons [descendants, family] to carry out [execute, fulfill] the duties [responsibilities, office] of the priesthood [spiritual leadership, ministry]; but any outsider [stranger, foreigner] who approaches [comes near, draws close] the tabernacle [sacred tent, place of worship] must be put to death [executed, slain].” word study 11 Again the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] spoke [to communicate, to utter words] to Moses [the Israelite leader, prophet], saying [to command, to declare], word study 12 “Behold [look, see], I [emphatically, as the Lord] have taken [received, accepted] the Levites [descendants of Levi, one of Jacob’s sons] from among [in the midst of, surrounded by] the children [sons, descendants] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants] in place of [instead of, as a substitute for] every [all, each] firstborn [first-born child or animal, holding a special status] Israelite [a descendant of Jacob] from the womb [the place where a fetus grows, the matrix] [that is, from birth]. The Levites [those belonging to the tribe of Levi] belong to Me [are Mine, under My care and ownership], word study 13 for all the firstborn [every initial birth, the premier offspring] are Mine. On the day [a period of 24 hours, a significant point in time] I struck down [killed, utterly destroyed] every firstborn [the initial son, the primary male child] in the land [the soil, the ground, the country] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa, a place of oppression], I consecrated [set apart, dedicated] to Myself all the firstborn [the initial birth, the primary offspring] in Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people], both man [human beings, males] and beast [animals, living creatures]. They are Mine [belong to Me, are My possession]; I am the LORD [Yehovah, the Eternal God].” word study 14 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] spoke [to communicate, to command] to Moses [the Israelite leader, God’s chosen servant] in the Wilderness [a desert or open field, a place of testing] of Sinai [a mountain where God’s law was given], saying [to declare, to command, to promise], word study 15 “Number the Levites [children of Levi, descendants of Jacob’s son] by their families [households, clans] and clans [tribal groups, families]. You are to count [reckon, take account of] every male [son, boy] a month [lunar cycle, new moon] old or more [and upward, from one month and above].” word study 16 So Moses [the Israelite leader] numbered [to reckon, count with oversight] them according to the word [lip, command] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], as he had been commanded [given orders, appointed to do]. word study 17 These [specific, particular] were the sons [descendants, offspring] of Levi [a son of Jacob and Leah] by name [identity, character]: Gershon [the firstborn], Kohath [the second son], and Merari [the third son, meaning ‘bitter’]. word study 18 These [specific, particular] were the names [identities, reputations] of the sons [descendants, male offspring] of Gershon [a son of Levi, an ancestor of the Levites] by their clans [families, tribes]: Libni [meaning white, a son of Gershon] and Shimei [a common Israelite name, meaning famous, renowned]. word study 19 The sons [descendants, offspring] of Kohath [a man from the tribe of Levi] by their clans [families, tribes] were Amram [exalted people], Izhar [a son of Kohath], Hebron [a place in Palestine, a name of two Israelites], and Uzziel [my strength is God]. word study 20 And the sons [descendants, male offspring] of Merari [a Levite, head of a family] by their clans [families, tribes] were Mahli [meaning sick] and Mushi [a Levite, son of Merari]. These [specific ones] were the clans [families, tribes] of the Levites [descendants of Levi], according to their families [house of their fathers, ancestral lines]. word study 21 From Gershon [a son of Levi, ancestor of the Levites] came the Libnite [descended from Libni, a son of Gershon] clan and the Shimeite [descended from Shimei, a son of Gershon] clan; these [specific families] were the Gershonite [descendants of Gershon, a Levitical family] clans [family groups, tribes]. word study 22 The number [total count, quantity] of all [every single, entire] the males [sons, male descendants] a month [lunar cycle, new moon] old or more [above, upward] was 7,500 [seven thousand and five hundred, a multitude]. word study 23 The [family or clan] Gershonite [descendant of Gershon, a Levite] clans were to camp [pitch their tents, set up their encampment] on the west [toward the sea, in a western direction], behind [after, in the rear of] the tabernacle [a special tent where God met with the Israelites], word study 24 and the leader [prince, chief, or high-ranking official] of the families [house of the father] of the Gershonites [descendants of Gershon, a Levite] was Eliasaph [a Gadite chief] son [descendant] of Lael [an Israelite father]. word study 25 The duties [charge, responsibility] of the Gershonites [sons of Gershon, descendants of Levi] at the Tent [tabernacle, sacred dwelling] of Meeting [appointed time, sacred season] were the tabernacle [portable sanctuary, divine dwelling] and tent [nomad’s home, temporary shelter], its covering [physical protection, weatherboarding], the curtain [screen, veil] for the entrance [doorway, threshold] to the Tent [sacred space, meeting place] of Meeting [worship, gathering], word study 26 the curtains [hangings, large pieces of cloth] of the courtyard [court, a village or small settlement], the curtain [screen, covering] for the entrance [doorway] to the courtyard that surrounds [is by, near] the tabernacle [a special tent where God met with the Israelites] and altar [a place of sacrifice], and the cords [strings, ropes]—all [everything, the entirety] the service [work, ministry] for these items. word study 27 From Kohath [a man of the tribe of Levi] came the clans [families, tribes] of the Amramites [descendants of Amram], the Izharites [people of Izhar], the Hebronites [those from the city of Hebron], and the Uzzielites [descendants of Uzziel]; these [specifically, these ones] were the clans [family groups, tribes] of the Kohathites [people of Kohath, a Levite]. word study 28 The number [total count, quantity] of all [every single, entire] the males [sons, male descendants] a month [lunar cycle, new moon] old or more [and upward, higher] was 8,600 [eight thousand six hundred]. They were responsible [keeping, guarding] for the duties [charge, care] of the sanctuary [Holy Place, sacred area]. word study 29 The clans [families, tribes] of the Kohathites [descendants of Kohath, a Levite] were to camp [pitch, set up their tents, encamp] on the south [southern direction, toward the south wind] side [thigh, area adjacent to] of the tabernacle [the sacred tent, God’s dwelling place], word study 30 and the leader [chief, prince] of the families [clans, tribes] of the Kohathites [descendants of Kohath, a Levite] was Elizaphan [a leader in Israel] son [descendant, offspring] of Uzziel [my strength is God]. word study 31 Their duties [charge, responsibility] were the ark [a sacred chest, the Ark of the Covenant], the table [a place of communion, for sacred purposes], the lampstand [candlestick], the altars [places of sacrifice], the articles [utensils, vessels] of the sanctuary [Holy Place, a set-apart area] used with them, and the curtain [veil, a screen for hiding or protection]—all [everything, the entirety] the service [ministry, work] for these items. word study 32 The chief [leader, prince] of the leaders [princes, high-ranking officials] of the Levites [descendants of Levi] was Eleazar [God has helped] son of Aaron [brother of Moses, first high priest] the priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship]; he oversaw [had the oversight of, was in charge of] those responsible for the duties [care, charge] of the sanctuary [Holy Place, sacred area]. word study 33 From Merari [a Levite, third son of Levi] came the clans [families, tribes] of the Mahlites [descendants of Mahli, a Levite] and Mushites [descendants of Mushi, a Levite]; these [specific ones, they] were the Merarite [of Merari, bitter] clans [family lines, descendants]. word study 34 The number [total count, sum] of all [every single, entire] the males [men, male children, sons] a month [lunar cycle, new moon] old or more [at least one month old, from a month old and upward] was 6,200 [six thousand and two hundred, a multitude]. word study 35 The leader [chief, prince] of the families [clans, tribes] of the Merarites [descendants of Merari, a son of Levi] was Zuriel [my rock is God] son of Abihail [my father is might]; they were to camp [pitch their tents, encamp] on the north [Zaphon, the direction of darkness] side [thigh, area] of the tabernacle [the sacred tent, dwelling place of God]. word study 36 The duties assigned [assigned responsibilities, appointed charge] to the sons [descendants, family members] of Merari [bitter, head of a Levite family] were the tabernacle’s [portable place of worship, sacred tent] frames [boards, flat pieces of wood], crossbars [bars, bolts], posts [pillars, columns], bases [sockets, foundations], and all its equipment [utensils, instruments]—all the service [work, ministry] for these items [everything connected with their use], word study 37 as well as the posts [pillars, columns] of the surrounding [round about, enclosing] courtyard with their bases [sockets, foundations], tent pegs [pins, nails], and ropes [cords, strings]. word study 38 Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp [set up their tents, pitch their dwellings] to the east [toward the sunrise, in the direction of the morning] of the tabernacle [the sacred tent, the place of God’s presence], toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting [the place of assembly, the sacred gathering place]. They were to perform the duties [keep the charge, attend to the responsibilities] of the sanctuary [the holy place, the sacred space] as a service [a ministry, a work of devotion] on behalf of the Israelites [the children of Israel, God’s chosen people]; but any outsider [stranger, foreigner] who approached [came near, drew close to] the sanctuary was to be put to death [executed, slain]. word study 39 The total number [sum, aggregate] of Levites [descendants of Levi, one of Jacob’s 12 sons] that Moses [the Israelite leader, prophet, and lawgiver] and Aaron [the brother of Moses and the first high priest of the Israelites] counted [numbered, reckoned, to visit or oversee] by their clans [families, tribes] at the LORD’s [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] command [precept, instruction], including [comprising, consisting of] all [every, entire] the males [men, male children] a month [lunar cycle, new moon] old or more [above, upward], was [two and twenty thousand, a large number, two, twenty, thousand] 22,000. word study 40 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said to Moses, “Number [to reckon, to oversee] every firstborn [the firstborn child or animal, often holding a special status] male [referring to men or male animals] of the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob] a month [the new moon and the lunar cycle] old or more, and list [to lift, to raise] their names [fame, renown, reputation]. word study 41 You are to take the Levites [as substitutes, in place of others] for Me—I am the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God]—in place of all the firstborn [the first in order of birth, holding special status] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people], and the livestock [animals, especially large quadruped mammals] of the Levites [the tribe of Levi, set apart for God’s service] in place of all the firstborn [the first in order of birth, holding special status] of the livestock [the animals, the herds] of the Israelites [the people of Israel, God’s chosen nation].” word study 42 So Moses [the Israelite leader, as instructed by God] numbered [to reckon, to visit or oversee] all [every single one, the entirety] the firstborn [the first in birth, holding a special status] of the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob, the people of God], as [in accordance with, just as] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] had commanded [given orders, appointed] him. word study 43 The total [complete, entire] number of the firstborn [preeminent, having special status] males [sons, male descendants] a month [lunar cycle, new moon] old or more, listed by name [identified, reckoned], was 22,273 [twenty-two thousand two hundred seventy-three, a large company]. word study 44 Again the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] spoke [to communicate, to command] to Moses [the Israelite leader, God’s chosen servant], saying [to command, to declare, to utter words], word study 45 “Take the Levites [instead of, as substitutes for] in place of all the firstborn [the first in birth, the premier ones] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people], and the livestock [cattle, animals] of the Levites [the descendants of Levi, the priestly tribe] in place of [underneath, as an exchange for] their livestock [animals, cattle]. The Levites [the priestly tribe, the ministers of God] belong to Me [are Mine, are dedicated to Me]; I am the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God]. word study 46 To redeem [ransom, buy back] the 273 [two hundred and seventy-three] firstborn [first-born, having special status] Israelites [descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] who outnumber [are more than, exceed] the Levites [descendants of Levi, set apart for God’s service], word study 47 you are to collect [take, receive, gather] five [a specific quantity, exactly] shekels [a unit of weight or money, like a coin] for each one, according to the sanctuary [Holy Place, set-apart area] shekel [a standard measure, twenty gerahs] of twenty [a specific number, two sets of ten] gerahs [small weights or coins, used in ancient Israel]. word study 48 Give [hand over, entrust] the money [silver, payment] to Aaron [the first high priest] and his sons [descendants, heirs] as the redemption price [ransom, to redeem] for the excess [what remains, surplus] among the Israelites [God’s chosen people].” word study 49 So Moses [the Israelite leader] collected [took, gathered] the redemption [ransom, payment for freedom] money [silver, payment] from those [extra Israelites] in excess [surplus, more than enough] of the number [total count] redeemed [ransomed, freed] by the Levites [descendants of Levi]. word study 50 He collected [received, took in] the money [silver, payment] from the firstborn [initial, premier] of the Israelites [descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people]: 1,365 shekels [a thousand three hundred and sixty-five, a specific weight], according to the sanctuary [holy place, set-apart area] shekel [unit of weight or currency, standard of measurement]. word study 51 And Moses [the Israelite leader] gave the redemption money [silver, ransom] to Aaron [the first high priest] and his sons in obedience to the word [command, instruction] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], just as the LORD [the supreme authority] had commanded [given orders, appointed] him. word study