DBG - February 15 - Numbers 3-4

In this chapter we have an overview of the Levites and their family divisions.

vs. 1-4 – We here review the family of Aaron which will assume the duties of the High Priesthood.  Nadab and Abihu died in Leviticus chapter 10.  Eleazar and Ithamar became the heads of two branches.  The family of Eleazar held the High Priesthood until Eli, who was a descendant of Ithamar, assumed the role in the closing days of the Judges and in I Samuel.  Solomon ends the line of Ithamar in the High Priesthood in I Kings 2:27.

vs. 5-10 – The Levites were placed under the direction of Aaron and his family.

vs. 11-13 – God had claimed possession of the first-born males of Israel.  The Levites were taken in their place.

vs. 14-20 – The tribe of Levi was divided into three clans based on their family: Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites.  Each division had its own particular responsibilities.

vs. 21-26 – The Gershonites had 7,500 men, camped west of the Tabernacle, and had Eliasaph at their head.  They were responsible for taking care of the Tabernacle tent and fence.

vs. 27-31 – The Kohathites had 8,600 men, camped south of the Tabernacle, and had Elizaphan at their head.  They were responsible for caring for the furniture and implements of the Tabernacle.

vs. 32 – Eleazar is mentioned as over all of the Levites.  The timing seems odd since there is still one more branch to discuss.  This seems to indicate that he took special oversight of the Kohathites.

vs. 33-36 – The Merarites had 6,200 men, camped north of the Tabernacle, and had Zuriel at their head.  They were responsible for caring for the Tabernacle structure and fence posts. 

vs. 37-38 – Moses and Aaron’s family (the actual priesthood) camped on the east of the Tabernacle and were in charge of the operations of the Tabernacle.

vs. 39 – The total of the Levite men is given here as 22,000, but adding up the given numbers for the three clans is 22,300.  This could simply be a case of rounding, but that is not something we have really encountered before.  The missing 300 are best explained as being part of the firstborn mentioned in the next section of this chapter.  They did not have to “redeem” themselves from their labor.

vs. 40-43 – We go back to what is mentioned in vs. 11-13 where God said He would take the Levites in the place of the firstborn of Israel.  A census is taken and there are 22,273 firstborn males.

vs. 44-51 – A firstborn male that was not a Levite was considered redeemed if his number could be matched to a Levite.  Thus of 22,273 firstborn males, all but 273 were redeemed because there was 22,000 Levites.  These 273 were to make a five-shekel (almost 2 ounces of silver, roughly $150) payment to redeem themselves.  273 x 5 = 1365, which is the amount of silver collected in vs. 50.

In this chapter we have more details on the duties of the Levites.

vs. 1-20 – These are the responsibilities of the Kohathite Levites.  They served from ages 30-50.  When moving the Tabernacle, Aaron and the priests would prepare by ordering and covering its furniture and implements.  The Kohathites would then carry these but were not allowed to look at them.

vs. 21-28 – These are the responsibilities of the Gershonite Levites.  They served from ages 30-50.  When the Tabernacle was moved, they were responsible for carrying the Tabernacle coverings and fence curtains.  Ithamar was placed in charge of them.

vs. 29-33 - These are the responsibilities of the Merarite Levites.  They served from ages 30-50.  When the Tabernacle was moved, they were responsible for carrying the Tabernacle structure and fence posts.

vs. 34-37 – There were 2,750 Kohathite men ages 30-50 that were able to serve in the Tabernacle.

vs. 38-41 – There were 2,630 Gershonite men ages 30-50 that were able to serve in the Tabernacle.

vs. 42-45 – There were 3,200 Merarite men ages 30-50 that were able to serve in the Tabernacle.

vs. 46-48 - There 8,580 total Levite men ages 30-50 that were able to serve in the Tabernacle.

The Levites were the chosen tribe of the chosen people, consecrated to serve the Lord.  They would have not land grants in the Promised Land.  Instead they would be spread out  throughout all the tribes, settled in their own cities.  Before that can happen, they are responsible for moving the Tabernacle as the camp progressed toward the Promised Land.  Such tremendous responsibility was laid on them to help lead the nation to properly worship the Lord.  Christians are called to a similar role as a “royal priesthood” (I Peter 2:5-9), serving our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, and working to bring others to worship our matchless God.

As you can rightly understand, there are no hymns based on these two chapters that I can find.  When thinking about the Levites’ service to God, I was drawn to hymns of consecration to the Lord.  “In Full and Glad Surrender” was written by Frances Ridley Havergal in 1869. 

In full and glad surrender
I give myself to thee,
thine utterly and only,
and evermore to be.

O Son of God, who lov'st me,
I will be thine alone;
and all I have and am, Lord,
shall henceforth be thine own!

Reign over me, Lord Jesus,
O make my heart thy throne;
it shall be thine, dear Saviour,
it shall be thine alone.

O come and reign, Lord Jesus,
rule over ev'rything!
and keep me always loyal
and true to thee, my King.