Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

Numbers 3

Numbers 3:1

NUMBERS CHAPTER 3 The genealogy of Moses, Aaron, and his sons, Nadab and Abihu, NUMBERS 3:1. The Levites are joined with them in the administration of the tabernacle, NUMBERS 3:5, instead of all the first-born, NUMBERS 3:11. The three families of the Levites numbered, NUMBERS 3:14. The first-born nu... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 3:4

In the time of Aaron's life, as this phrase is taken, NUMBERS 3:4; see also PSALMS 72:5,17; and under their father's inspection and direction, and as their father's servants or ministers in the priest's office; for servants are oft described by this phrase of _being_, or _standing_, or _serving in t... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 3:6

PRESENT THEM; offer them to the lord for his special service. This was promised to them before, and now actually conferred upon them.... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 3:7

HIS CHARGE, i.e. Aaron's charge, or those things which are committed principally to Aaron's care and oversight, and under him and his direction to the Levites. OF THE WHOLE CONGREGATION, i.e. of all the sacrifices and services which are due to the Lord from all the people, and because all the people... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 3:8

THE CHARGE OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL; those things which all the children of Israel are in their several places and stations obliged to take care of, though not in their persons, yet by others in their stead.... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 3:9

GIVEN UNTO HIM, to attend upon him and observe his orders, and ease him of part of his burden in things hereafter mentioned.... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 3:10

THEY SHALL WAIT, in their own persons, not by the Levites. THE STRANGER, i.e. every one who is of another family than Aaron s, yea, though he be a Levite. See NUMBERS 1:53, NUMBERS 16:40. THAT COMETH NIGH, to wit, to execute any part of the priest's office.... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 3:12

INSTEAD OF ALL THE FIRST-BORN, who were God's propriety by right of redemption, EXODUS 13:12, and to whom the administration of holy things was formerly committed, which now was taken away from them, either because they had forfeited this privilege by joining with the rest of their brethren in the i... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 3:15

FROM A MONTH OLD, because at that time the first-born, in whose stead the Levites came, NUMBERS 8:16, were offered to God, LUKE 2:22, and to be redeemed, NUMBERS 18:16. And from that time the Levites were consecrated to God, and were as soon as they were capable, to be instructed in their work. Else... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 3:25

THE TABERNACLE; not the boards, which belonged to Merari, NUMBERS 3:36, but the ten curtains mentioned EXODUS 26:1. THE TENT, to wit, the curtains of goats hair. THE COVERING THEREOF, i.e. the coverings of rams skins and badgers skins. See NUMBERS 4:25.... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 3:27

This family had many privileges above the others; of that were Moses and Aaron, and all the priests; they had the chief place about the tabernacle, and the care of the most holy things here below, NUMBERS 3:31; and in the land of Canaan they had twenty-three cities, which were almost as many as both... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 3:28

KEEPING, or _keepers_, &c., i.e. appointed for that work, as soon as they were capable of it. OF THE SANCTUARY, i.e. of those holy things contained in or nearly belonging to the sanctuary, expressed NUMBERS 3:31.... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 3:31

THE HANGING, which covered the most holy place, for all other hangings belonged to the Gershonites. ALL THE SERVICE THEREOF, i.e. all the other furniture belonging to it, of which see NUMBERS 4:7,9,14.... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 3:32

ELEAZAR SHALL BE CHIEF, next under the high priest; whence he is called the second priest, 2 KINGS 25:18; and in case of the high priest's absence by sickness or other necessary occasions, he was to perform his work, 1 KINGS 4:4; and he had a superiority over all the rest of the priests and Levites.... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 3:38

FOR THE CHARGE OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL; either in their stead. that charge which they were obliged to keep either by themselves. or by others appointed by them, if God had not committed it to those; or for their good, and service, and benefit; for their preservation, as the word may be rendered.... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 3:39

OBJECT. But if the particular numbers, mentioned NUMBERS 3:22,28,34, be put together, they make exactly 22,300. ANSW. The odd 300 are omitted here, either according to the use of the Holy Scripture, which in so great numbers small sums are commonly neglected, or because they were the first-born of t... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 3:41

INSTEAD OF ALL THE FIRST-BORN, to wit, such are now alive of them, but those which should be born of them hereafter are otherwise disposed. THE CATTLE OF THE LEVITES; not that they were to be taken from the Levites, or to be sacrificed to God, any more than the Levites themselves were, but that they... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 3:47

FIVE SHEKELS APIECE was the price to be paid for the redemption of a first-born a month old, NUMBERS 18:15,16; but this money, though paid for these 273 persons, was probably paid out of the common stock of all, except lots were cast who should pay, which is not probable in so small a concern accomp... [ Continue Reading ]

Continues after advertising