Numbers 3

Numbers 3:1

GEnerations] Families, and kindreds; not simply the children; for the descendents or posteritie of Moses are not here set downe, but of Aaron.

Aaron and Moses] Aaron was the elder brother of Moses; both of them of the Tribe of Levi; though Moses were the Civill Magistrate, Exodus 18:21-22. Aaron was the Priest, whose sonnes, and not the sonnes of Moses are here set downe; because the Priesthood wen by naturall descent from Aaron, and so did not the government descend upon the sonnes of Moses; therefore Gerson mentioned vers. 17. was not Gerson, or Gershom the sonne of Moses mentioned, Chap. 2. vers. 22. but one ancienter then Moses; for he was his great uncle, as appeareth by comparison of Exo 6:16, &c. & Numbers 3:17,&c.

Numbers 3:3

consecrated] Heb. whose hands he filled. The reason of the phrase, see Annot. on Exodus 28:41.

Numbers 3:4

before the Lord] This is, when they came before the Lord to offer strange fire, by fire from the Lord they were destroyed, Levit. 10. 1, 2.

sight of Aaron] While their father lived.

Numbers 3:6

present them] Offer them by Aaron, for the use of the Tabernacle.

minister unto him] By doing service, and giving assistance in the holy ministration.

Numbers 3:7

his charge] That is, Aarons; in executing his commandement, and a carefull over-sight of the things of the Tabernacle, principally committed to Aarons trust.

whole Congregation] In a watchfull care over them, to keepe them in order.

Numbers 3:9

and to his sonnes] Aarons sonnes the Priests served in the Sanctuary, in praying for the people, and offering incense, and sacrifice; the rest of the Tribe of Levi served for inferiour officers unto them.

wholly given] Given given, according to the Hebrew which doubleth the word, to signifie an universalitie in the persons; as wholly given without exception of any one; and an intirenesse and intentivenesse in the service, so as that they are given wholly, and onely to attend the service of the Sanctuary, according to the command of Aaron, and his sonnes the Priests.

Numbers 3:10

stranger] The Levite in respect of the Priests peculiar office was a stranger; and the other Israelites were strangers in respect of the office of the Levites; and the usurper of either was punished with death, vers. 38. being convicted of his fault before, and judicially condemned. See Annot. on Chap. 1. vers. 51.

Numbers 3:12

in stead] The first-borne were Gods, not onely by a generall right of Creation, but by a particular right of Redemption from the destroying Angel, Exodus 12:23. who in man-kinde were in especiall manner to serve him; in other creatures the first-borne were to be sacrificed unto him, if they were cleane beasts; and if they were not, they were to be ransomed at a price for the maintenance of the Tabernacle; but from henceforth, for the first-borne, I have chosen the Levites to my service in their stead; and he chose rather to be served by one Tribe, then by a number taken out of many Tribes, for prevention of Idolatrie, & division in Religion; and by the Tribe of Levi rather then any other, for their zeale of his glory in revenging the indignitie done unto him, in worshipping the golden Calfe, Exod. 32. vers. 26, 28.

Numbers 3:15

from a moneth] They were numbred in their childhood, because they were chosen for the first-born; but not untill they were a moneth old, for then were they first purged from the impuritie of their birth, Leviticus 12:4. and so the sitter to be dedicated to the Sanctuary; but they began not their service untill they were twentie five yeares old, Numbers 8:24. and from thirtie to fiftie, they were to beare the burdens of the Tabernacle, Numbers 4:3. but in Davids time, and afterward they were to begin their service of the Tabernacle at twentie yeares old, 1 Chron. 23. 24. Ezra 3:8. but then either they were trained up untill twentie five, and then first trusted with any charge; or the searcitie of the ancient men, or forwardnesse of the younger, might bring them the sooner to that service.

Numbers 3:25

in the Tabernacle] They were not (when they watched) in the Tabernacle, but had their stations in convenient places about the Tabernacle, for the safegard of it, and the things that were in it; for the Levites might not enter into it at all, but the Priests only who there performed their ministery by course.

Numbers 3:31

their charge] The chiefe things in the Sanctuary were committed to the Cohathites; perhaps because Moses and Aaron were of that Family, from whence all the Priests consequently were descended.

Numbers 3:32

chiefe over the chiefe] That is, next unto the Highpriest, he shall have the preeminence and over-sight of the Princes, or chiefe of all the Families of the Levites.

Numbers 3:36

boards] The woodden worke and the rest of the instruments were committed to the sonnes of Merari; and because they were heavie, they had foure Waggons and Oxen allowed for removall of them, Numbers 7:8.

Numbers 3:37

pinnes] Which fastned in the ground, served to stretch and stay the cords, strengthen the pillars, and to keep the curtains from waving to and fro with the wind.

cords] There were two sorts of cords, for severall uses; the one sort was carryed by the Gershonites, vers. 26. the other by the Merarites in this place.

Numbers 3:38

Of the children of Israel] That none of them should enter into the Tabernacle, without Gods appointment.

Numbers 3:39

twentie and two thousand] The particulars forementioned are more by three hundred then this totall summe; out of which Aaron the Priest, and the first born of the Levites, born since their coming out of Egypt, are thought to be deducted, as being Gods own portion in a more speciall manner then the rest; or if in so great a number it be like that there were more then 300 first born, it may be some of them might beomitted, because they were for remarkable blemishes not to be permitted to serve with others at the Sanctuary; and some, for some other reasons, might be left out; or the lesser number might be omitted as not considerable in respect of the greater, as Gen. Chap. 15. vers. 13. but 400 yeares are mentioned which in exact account were 405.

Numbers 3:41

cattell of the Levites] Not that they were to be offered up in sacrifice; for they were the Lords portion, though they were reserved, and served onely for the Levites provision. Leviticus 27:30.

Numbers 3:43

twentie and two thousand two hundred seventie three] Unlesse they abounded in females (who had nothing to doe in the service of the Sanctuary, this was no very great increase for such a number, as is reckoned, Chap. 1. vers. 46. yet it is more then the Levites (who were taken in stead of the first born) by two hundred seventie three, for the redemption of which a price is set down, vers. 46, 47. the totall whereof amounted to 1365. shekels, which were to be given to Aaron and his sonnes, vers. 48. and to be proportioned (for the payment) to the Israelites, either by lot, or some other rule, which might be received, and approved by the Priests and people.

Numbers 3:45

shekel of the Sanctuary] See Annot. on Exodus 30:13. twenty Gerahs] See Annot. on Leviticus 27:25.