‘Now these are the generations (family histories, records) of Aaron and Moses in the day that Yahweh spoke with Moses in mount Sinai.' This is probably the remnants of a colophon closing off this military record. A colophon was included at the end of an ancient record in this way just as we would p... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER 3 THE PRIESTS AND THE LEVITES. In this chapter more information is given about the priests and Levites, those set apart by Yahweh to watch over His Dwellingplace. Their task was to watch over the holiness of the Sanctuary. THE CONSECRATION OF THE PRIESTS TO YAHWEH (NUMBERS 3:2; NUMBERS 3:1... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DEDICATION OF THE LEVITES TO THE PRIESTS AND TO YAHWEH (NUMBERS 3:5). In the light of the shortage of priests the promotion of someone to act as assistants to them was inevitable. But it should be noted that the Levites had a limited main purpose. It was that of looking after the Dwellingplace... [ Continue Reading ]
POSITIONING AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR TRAVEL OF THE LEVITES (NUMBERS 3:14). i). The Command to Number The Levites Over One Month Old (Numbers 3:14). Numbers 3:14 ‘And Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, “Number the children of Levi by their fathers' houses, by their families, ev... [ Continue Reading ]
II). THE DESCENDANTS OF LEVI (NUMBERS 3:17). For the purpose of the numbering further details were given of who were involved. This brings out who were qualified to be Levites. It was those who were directly descended from Levi or his household. Numbers 3:17 ‘And these were the sons of Levi by th... [ Continue Reading ]
III). THE FAMILY AND PRIVILEGES OF GERSHON. As Gershon was the first-born details concerning his sub-tribe were given first. Information was now given about general descent, status, sacred task and ‘numbers' of those in the sub-tribe over one month old expressed in terms of ‘hundreds' (units of tho... [ Continue Reading ]
IV). THE FAMILY AND PRIVILEGE OF KOHATH (NUMBERS 3:27). Numbers 3:27 ‘And of Kohath was the family (‘clan') of the Amramites, and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families (‘clans') of the Kohathites.' Of the sub-tribe... [ Continue Reading ]
V). THE FAMILY AND PRIVILEGE OF MERARI (NUMBERS 3:33). Numbers 3:33 ‘Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.' The two clans of the Levite sub-tribe of Merari were the Mahlites and the Mushites. Numbers 3:34 ‘And those that were... [ Continue Reading ]
VI). THE POSITIONING OF THE PRIESTS. Numbers 3:38 ‘And those who encamp before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrising, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel, and the stranger who comes... [ Continue Reading ]
VII). THE MAKE-UP OF THE LEVITES AND THEIR SUBSTITUTION FOR THE FIRSTBORN (NUMBERS 3:39). Numbers 3:39 ‘All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of Yahweh, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.' Th... [ Continue Reading ]