กันดารวิถี 3:5 วิจารณ์

This chapter and the next are concerning the tribe of Levi, which was to be mustered and marshalled by itself, and not in common with the other tribes, intimating the particular honour put upon them and the particular duty and service required from them. The Levites are in this chapter considered, I. As attendants on, and assistants to, the priests in the temple-service. And so we have an account, 1. Of the priests themselves (Num 3:1-4) and their work (Num 3:10). 2. Of the gift of the Levites to them (Num 3:5-9), in order to which they are mustered (Num 3:14-16), and the sum of them taken (Num 3:39). Each particular family of them is mustered, has its place assigned and its charge, the Gershonites (Num 3:17-26), the Kohathites (Num 3:27-32), the Merarites (Num 3:33-39). II. As equivalents for the first-born (Num 3:11-13). 1. The first-born are numbered, and the Levites taken instead of them, as far as the number of the Levites went (Num 3:40-45). 2. What first-born there were more than the Levites were redeemed (Num 3:46, etc.).

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 3 In this chapter an account is given of the genealogy of the priests and Levites, and of the gift of the Levites to the priests, of the numbering of them, and the service they were to perform; and first of the priests, the sons of Aaron, Num 3:1; and then of the Levites, as given unto them, to wait upon them, and assist them, Num 3:5; and these were taken instead of the firstborn, Num 3:11; and ordered to be numbered, which was done accordingly by their families, Num 3:14; and the sum of each is given, and the particular work assigned to them; of the Gershonites, Num 3:21; of the Kohathites, Num 3:27; of the Merarites, Num 3:33; the sum total of them is given, Num 3:39; then the firstborn of the children of Israel, from a month old are ordered to be numbered, and were, Num 3:40; and these appearing to be more in number than the Levites, by two hundred seventy three a direction is given that the two hundred seventy three should be redeemed at the rate of five, shekels apiece, and the money paid to Aaron and his sons, Num 3:44; which was accordingly done, Num 3:49.

And the Lord spake unto Moses,.... After he had given him the order for the numbering the children of Israel, and for the manner of their encampment and journeying: saying; as follows.

Further, the priests are described as being more eminent than the Levites; for this same Scripture tells us that “the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Bring the tribe of Levi and make them stand in the sight of Aaron the priest, to minister to him.’ ” Do you see how here too he both speaks of the priests as superior to the Levites and once more makes the Levites appear as more eminent than the children of Israel?

The war with Og, king of Bashan, Deu 3:1, Deu 3:2. He is defeated, Deu 3:3. Sixty fortified cities with many unwalled towns taken, Deu 3:4, Deu 3:5. The utter destruction of the people, Deu 3:6. The spoils, Deu 3:7; and extent of the land taken, Deu 3:8-10. Account of Og's iron bedstead, Deu 3:11. The land given to the Reubenites, Gadites, and half tribe of Manasseh, Deu 3:12, Deu 3:13. Jair takes the country of Argob, Deu 3:14. Gilead is given unto Machir, Deu 3:15. And the rest of the land possessed by the Reubenites and Gadites, Deu 3:16, Deu 3:17. The directions given to those tribes, Deu 3:18-20. The counsel given to Joshua, Deu 3:21, Deu 3:22. Moses's prayer to God for permission to go into the promised land, Deu 3:23-25; and God's refusal, Deu 3:26. He is commanded to go up to Mount Pisgah to see it, Deu 3:27; and to encourage Joshua, Deu 3:28. They continue in the valley opposite to Beth-peor, Deu 3:29.

THE LEVITES' SERVICE. (Num. 3:1-51) These . . . are the generations of Aaron and Moses, &c.--This chapter contains an account of their families; and although that of Moses is not detailed like his brother's, his children are included under the general designation of the Amramites (Num 3:27), a term which comprehends all the descendants of their common father Amram. The reason why the family of Moses was so undistinguished in this record is that they were in the private ranks of the Levites, the dignity of the priesthood being conferred exclusively on the posterity of Aaron; and hence, as the sacerdotal order is the subject of this chapter, Aaron, contrary to the usual style of the sacred history, is mentioned before Moses. in the day that the Lord spake with Moses in mount Sinai--This is added, because at the date of the following record the family of Aaron was unbroken.

Bring the tribe of Levi near--The Hebrew word "bring near" is a sacrificial term, denoting the presentation of an offering to God; and the use of the word, therefore, in connection with the Levites, signifies that they were devoted as an offering to the sanctuary, no longer to be employed in any common offices. They were subordinate to the priests, who alone enjoyed the privilege of entering the holy place; but they were employed in discharging many of the humbler duties which belonged to the sanctuary, as well as in various offices of great utility and importance to the religion and morals of the people.

The Levites are placed before Aaron the priest, to be his servants. Num 3:6 "Bring near:" as in Exo 28:1. The expression לפני עמד is frequently met with in connection with the position of a servant, as standing before his master to receive his commands. Num 3:7-8 They were to keep the charge of Aaron and the whole congregation before the tabernacle, to attend to the service of the dwelling, i.e., to observe what Aaron (the priest) and the whole congregation were bound to perform in relation to the service at the dwelling-place of Jehovah. "To keep the charge:" see Num 1:53 and Gen 26:5. In Num 3:8 this is more fully explained: they were to keep the vessels of the tabernacle, and to attend to all that was binding upon the children of Israel in relation to them, i.e., to take the oversight of the furniture, to keep it safe and clean. Num 3:9 Moses was also to give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. "They are wholly given to him out of the children of Israel:" the repetition of נתוּנם here and in Num 8:16 is emphatic, and expressive of complete surrender (Ewald, 313). The Levites, however, as nethunim, must be distinguished from the nethinim of non-Israelitish descent, who were given to the Levites at a later period as temple slaves, to perform the lowest duties connected with the sanctuary (see at Jos 9:27). Num 3:10 Aaron and his sons were to be appointed by Moses to take charge of the priesthood; as no stranger, no one who was not a son of Aaron, could approach the sanctuary without being put to death (cf. Num 1:53 and Lev 22:10).