These — Which follow in this chapter. The generations — The kindred or family. Moses his family and children are here included under the general name of the Amramites, Numbers 3:27, which includes all the children and grand — children of Amram, the persons only of Aaron and Moses being excepted. And... [ Continue Reading ]
In the sight of Aaron — Under his inspection and direction, and as their father's servants or ministers in the priest's office.... [ Continue Reading ]
Present them — Offer them to the Lord for his special service. This was promised to them before, and now actually conferred.... [ Continue Reading ]
His charge — That is, Aaron's, or those things which are committed principally to Aaron's care and oversight. Of the congregation — That is, of all the sacrifices and services which are due to the Lord from all the people, because the people might not perform them, in their own persons, therefore th... [ Continue Reading ]
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 ]
Given to him — To attend upon him and observe his orders, and ease him of his burden.... [ Continue Reading ]
The stranger — That is, every one who is of another family than Aaron's; yea, though he be a Levite. That cometh nigh — To execute any part of the priest's office.... [ Continue Reading ]
The first — born — Who were God's property, 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 idolatrous worship of the calf, or be... [ Continue Reading ]
From a month old — Because at that time the first — born, in whose stead the Levites came, were offered to God. And from that time the Levites were consecrated to God, and were, as soon as capable, instructed in their work. Elsewhere they are numbered from twenty — five years old, when they were ent... [ Continue Reading ]
The tabernacle — Not the boards, which belonged to Merari, Numbers 3:36, but the ten curtains. The tent — The curtains of goats hair. The coverings — That is, the coverings of rams — skins and badgers — skins.... [ Continue Reading ]
The cords — By which the tabernacle was fastened to the pins, and stretched out, Exodus 35:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
Of Kohath — 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, and in the land of Canaan they had twenty three cities, which were almost as many as both their b... [ Continue Reading ]
Keeping — That is, appointed for that work, as soon as they were capable of it. Of the sanctuary — That is, of the holy things contained in or belonging to the sanctuary.... [ Continue Reading ]
The hanging — Which covered the most holy place, for all other hangings belonged to the Gershonites. The service — That is, all the other furniture belonging to it.... [ Continue Reading ]
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, and he had a superiority over all the rest of the priests and Levites. The chief of the Levites... [ Continue Reading ]
For the charge — Either in their stead, that charge which they were obliged to keep, if God had not committed it to those: or for their benefit; for their preservation, as the word may be rendered.... [ Continue Reading ]
Two and twenty thousand — If the particular numbers mentioned Numbers 3:22, Numbers 3:28, Numbers 3:34, be put together, they make 22,300. But the odd 300 are omitted here, either according to the use of the holy scripture, where in so great numbers small sums are commonly neglected, or, because the... [ Continue Reading ]
Instead of the first — born — Such as are now alive of them, but those which should be born of them hereafter are otherwise disposed. 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 they together with the Le... [ Continue Reading ]
For those that are to be redeemed — 'Tis probable, in the exchange they began with the eldest of the first — born, and so downwards, so that those were to be redeemed, who were the two hundred, seventy three youngest of them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Five shekels — Which was the price paid for the redemption of a first — born a month old.... [ Continue Reading ]