Numbers 3-4

Numbers_3-4
2/15/09

Numbers_3-4: The Priests and the Levites

I. Aaron and his sons.
A. They were part of the tribe of Levi, but Aaron and his sons were specially set aside and chosen by God to be priests.

Exodus 28:1 (NKJV) (God speaks to Moses and says)
1 “Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron and Aaron’s sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

B. Numbers 3:1-4

Numbers 3:1-4 (NKJV)
1 Now these are the records of Aaron and Moses when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.
2 And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he consecrated to minister as priests.
4 Nadab and Abihu had died before the Lord when they offered profane fire before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests in the presence of Aaron their father.

1. In introducing this section we read these are the records (Genealogies) Aaron and Moses...
a. Usually we find Moses' name mentioned before Aaron's but here in connection with the word translated "records" (toledoth) we find Aarons name first.
(1) While he was the older of the two the point being made for us is that the focus of this section of the record is the relationship of the Aaronic priesthood to the Levites.
2. Aaron was the High Priest, and his sons were priests under him, two of his four sons (Nadab and Abihu) were killed by God when they offered strange fire before the Lord, this left the other two sons Eleazer and Ithamar to serve with their father as priests .
a. Since only Aaron and his direct descendents could serve as priests (thus the Aaronic priesthood) it would be impossible for Aaron and his two sons to keep up with all the religious duties themselves .
b. So the entire tribe of Levi was chosen to assist with the religious needs of the nation but their responsibilities stopped short of the duties assigned solely to the priests.
c. Since Aaron was a Levite, we see that all priests are Levites, but not all Levites are priests.
3. A lesson for us in this is that it is God who assigns our place in the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:12-19 (NKJV)
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

a. But whatever that place is, it is a needful part of the whole, and essential to the work and service God has assigned to build and sustain the body of Christ, and to accomplish the delivery of the Gospel .
II. The Levites were given to Aaron

Numbers 3:5-10 (NKJV)
5 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
6 “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him.
7 And they shall attend to his needs and the needs of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of meeting, to do the work of the tabernacle.
8 Also they shall attend to all the furnishings of the tabernacle of meeting, and to the needs of the children of Israel, to do the work of the tabernacle.
9 And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are given entirely to him from among the children of Israel.
10 So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall attend to their priesthood; but the outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”

A. They were given to Aaron the priest to serve him and attend to his needs, as well as to those of the whole nation to do the work of the tabernacle.
1. They could not serve as priests, offering sacrifices or other function in within the tabernacle, instead they helped in the transport of the furnishing and structure, as well as other labor associated with the tabernacle.
III. The Levites were a possession to God.

Numbers 3:11-13 (NKJV)
11 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
12 “Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be Mine,
13 because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the Lord.”

A. Though they were given to Aaron to serve his needs, God says they belonged to Him.
1. They were chosen in lieu of the first born and represent the firstfruits of the people.
a. The Lord had spared the first born of all Israel during the tenth plague in Egypt when all the first born of the Egyptian were killed, and as a result God had decreed that all the first born belonged to Him
IV. Numbering the tribe of Levi
A. The command to number the Levites.

Numbers 3:14-20 (NKJV)
14 Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying:
15 “Number the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families; you shall number every male from a month old and above.”
16 So Moses numbered them according to the word of the Lord, as he was commanded.
17 These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
18 And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei.
19 And the sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
20 And the sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their fathers’ houses.

1. All the males of the Levites from the age of 1 month and up ward were to be numbered and categorized by the families and grouped by their affiliation to the three sons of Levis - Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
B. The family of Gershon

Numbers 3:21-26 (NKJV)
21 From Gershon came the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimites; these were the families of the Gershonites.
22 Those who were numbered, according to the number of all the males from a month old and above—of those who were numbered there were seven thousand five hundred.
23 The families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle westward.
24 And the leader of the father’s house of the Gershonites was Eliasaph the son of Lael.
25 The duties of the children of Gershon in the tabernacle of meeting included the tabernacle, the tent with its covering, the screen for the door of the tabernacle of meeting,
26 the screen for the door of the court, the hangings of the court which are around the tabernacle and the altar, and their cords, according to all the work relating to them.

1. The Gershonites numbered 7500 males and they were to camp behind the tabernacle on the west side between the three tribes camped under the banner of Ephraim and the tabernacle itself
a. Their duties or responsibilities were to take care of the skins that covered the tabernacle, and the curtains including those that surrounded the outer courtyard.
C. The family of Kohath

Numbers 3:27-32 (NKJV)
27 From Kohath came the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites; these were the families of the Kohathites.
28 According to the number of all the males, from a month old and above, there were eight thousand six hundred keeping charge of the sanctuary.
29 The families of the children of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle.
30 And the leader of the fathers’ house of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.
31 Their duty included the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, the screen, and all the work relating to them.
32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the leaders of the Levites, with oversight of those who kept charge of the sanctuary.

1. The Kohathites numbered 8600 males and camped to the south of the tabernacle, between the tabernacle and those who camped with the tribe of Reuben.
a. Their duties and responsibilities were the furniture of the tabernacle, such things as the ark, the table of show bread, the lamp stand etc. and they did so under the direction of Eleazer the priest, Aaron’s son.
D. The family of Merari

Numbers 3:33-37 (NKJV)
33 From Merari came the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites; these were the families of Merari.
34 And those who were numbered, according to the number of all the males from a month old and above, were six thousand two hundred.
35 The leader of the fathers’ house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. These were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.
36 And the appointed duty of the children of Merari included the boards of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, its utensils, all the work relating to them,
37 and the pillars of the court all around, with their sockets, their pegs, and their cords.

1. The males of the family of Merari totaled 6200 males and they camped to the north between the tabernacle and the tribes who camped under the banner of Dan.
a. They had responsibility for the structural aspect of the tabernacle, the pillars and boards and such.
E. The camp of the priests

Numbers 3:38-39 (NKJV)
38 Moreover those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tabernacle of meeting, were Moses, Aaron, and his sons, keeping charge of the sanctuary, to meet the needs of the children of Israel; but the outsider who came near was to be put to death.
39 All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the Lord, by their families, all the males from a month old and above, were twenty-two thousand.

1. The families of Moses and Aaron were to camp on the East side of the tabernacle, the entrance to the tabernacle was always set to the east, and so they would be between the tabernacle and the tribes that were encamped with Judah.
2. The total number of Levite males we are told in v-39 was 22,000 which doesn't match the totals of the numbers given to us in vv- 22, 28, and 34 which add up to 22,300.
a. The most likely problems are that the number in verse 28 was corrupted and was actually 8300 not 8600, which is the change of one small mark in Hebrew.
b. Or there were 300 males that were not abloe to serve and therefore to redeem the firstborn of Israel.
V. The exchange of the Levites for the first born of Israel.

Numbers 3:40-51 (NKJV)
40 Then the Lord said to Moses: “Number all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and above, and take the number of their names.
41 And you shall take the Levites for Me—I am the Lord—instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the children of Israel.”
42 So Moses numbered all the firstborn among the children of Israel, as the Lord commanded him.
43 And all the firstborn males, according to the number of names from a month old and above, of those who were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three.
44 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
45 “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. The Levites shall be Mine: I am the Lord.
46 And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who are more than the number of the Levites,
47 you shall take five shekels for each one individually; you shall take them in the currency of the shekel of the sanctuary, the shekel of twenty gerahs.
48 And you shall give the money, with which the excess number of them is redeemed, to Aaron and his sons.”
49 So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those who were redeemed by the Levites.
50 From the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.
51 And Moses gave their redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.

A. So all the firstborn of Israel from a month old and up were to be numbered, the firstborn were considered the best or the most favorable, and always belonged to God; but instead of giving the firstborn to God, the tribe of Levi was given to God in their place.
1. However there were 22,273 firstborn sons of Israel and only 22,000 firstborn sons of Levites so a redemption price of five shekels for each of the extra 273 men was collected and give to the priests to be used for tabernacle needs .
2. The number of firstborns is a low number in ration to the totals of the tribes and probably relates to the firstborn sons from the time of the exodus until the present time a period roughly thirteen months.
VI. The duty of the Kohathites
A. Those fit for service.

Numbers 4:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
2 “Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the children of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ house,
3 from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting.

1. Another census is taken of the males between the ages of 30 and 50 these were the ones that would actually do the work
B. The packing of the furniture and utensils of the tabernacle.

Numbers 4:4-14 (NKJV)
4 “This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of meeting, relating to the most holy things:
5 When the camp prepares to journey, Aaron and his sons shall come, and they shall take down the covering veil and cover the ark of the Testimony with it.
6 Then they shall put on it a covering of badger skins, and spread over that a cloth entirely of blue; and they shall insert its poles.
7 “On the table of showbread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the pans, the bowls, and the pitchers for pouring; and the showbread shall be on it.
8 They shall spread over them a scarlet cloth, and cover the same with a covering of badger skins; and they shall insert its poles.
9 And they shall take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand of the light, with its lamps, its wick-trimmers, its trays, and all its oil vessels, with which they service it.
10 Then they shall put it with all its utensils in a covering of badger skins, and put it on a carrying beam.
11 “Over the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of badger skins; and they shall insert its poles.
12 Then they shall take all the utensils of service with which they minister in the sanctuary, put them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering of badger skins, and put them on a carrying beam.
13 Also they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it.
14 They shall put on it all its implements with which they minister there—the firepans, the forks, the shovels, the basins, and all the utensils of the altar—and they shall spread on it a covering of badger skins, and insert its poles.

1. When the camp prepared to journey (headed towards the promised land) it would have to be carried long distances and thus it had to be prepared for safe travel.
a. Since the furniture it self was holy it had to be packed up and prepared by the priests before it could be given to the Kohathites to carry.
b. Detailed instruction of how to pack things up were given.
C. The moving of the furniture and utensils.

Numbers 4:15-20 (NKJV)
15 And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is set to go, then the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them; but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. “These are the things in the tabernacle of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry.
16 “The appointed duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest is the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the daily grain offering, the anointing oil, the oversight of all the tabernacle, of all that is in it, with the sanctuary and its furnishings.”
17 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:
18 “Do not cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites;
19 but do this in regard to them, that they may live and not die when they approach the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint each of them to his service and his task.
20 But they shall not go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, lest they die.” Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

1. When they were set to go the furniture of the tabernacle was made with poles to carry them and the Kohathites were not to touch the furniture lest they die, but carried the furniture by the poles.
2. Eleazer the priest supervised the work of the Kohathites.
VII. The duty of the Gershonites.
A. Those fit for service

Num 21-23
21Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
22Also take a census of the sons of ?x?Gershon, by their fathers' house, by their families.
23 From thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, you shall number them, all who enter to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting.

B. Duties of the Gershonites

Numbers 4:24-28 (NKJV)
24 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and carrying:
25 They shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the tabernacle of meeting with its covering, the covering of badger skins that is on it, the screen for the door of the tabernacle of meeting,
26 the screen for the door of the gate of the court, the hangings of the court which are around the tabernacle and altar, and their cords, all the furnishings for their service and all that is made for these things: so shall they serve.
27 “Aaron and his sons shall assign all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, all their tasks and all their service. And you shall appoint to them all their tasks as their duty.
28 This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of meeting. And their duties shall be under the authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

1. There duties were over the coverings and the artistically woven curtains that made up the walls and roof of the tent.
a. And they were under the supervision of Aarons son Ithamar.
VIII. The duty of the family of Merari.
A. Those fit for service.

Numbers 4:29-30 (NKJV)
29 “As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families and by their fathers’ house.
30 From thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, you shall number them, everyone who enters the service to do the work of the tabernacle of meeting.

B. There duties

Numbers 4:31-33 (NKJV)
31 And this is what they must carry as all their service for the tabernacle of meeting: the boards of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets,
32 and the pillars around the court with their sockets, pegs, and cords, with all their furnishings and all their service; and you shall assign to each man by name the items he must carry.
33 This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, as all their service for the tabernacle of meeting, under the authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.”

1. So the Gershonites were to pack and carry the boards and pillars the structural part of the tabernacle, these items were overlaid with precious metals and probably weighed around 19,000 pounds .
a. Each man was assigned by name what he was to carry, it was not pick up what ever you want to carry, no doubt this was for accountability and order as things were set back up.

Dependability in service is so important...

IX. Summary of the census of the Levites,

Numbers 4:34-48 (NKJV)
34 And Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families and by their fathers’ house,
35 from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tabernacle of meeting;
36 and those who were numbered by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty.
37 These were the ones who were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all who might serve in the tabernacle of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses.
38 And those who were numbered of the sons of Gershon, by their families and by their fathers’ house,
39 from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tabernacle of meeting—
40 those who were numbered by their families, by their fathers’ house, were two thousand six hundred and thirty.
41 These are the ones who were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all who might serve in the tabernacle of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the Lord.
42 Those of the families of the sons of Merari who were numbered, by their families, by their fathers’ house,
43 from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tabernacle of meeting—
44 those who were numbered by their families were three thousand two hundred.
45 These are the ones who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.
46 All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel numbered, by their families and by their fathers’ houses,
47 from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, everyone who came to do the work of service and the work of bearing burdens in the tabernacle of meeting—
48 those who were numbered were eight thousand five hundred and eighty.

A. The total number of Levites involved in this work was 8580 (30-50 years old).
1. Kohathites 2750
2. Gershonites 2630
3. Merarites 3200
B. Each one had a specific part to play and yet they were dependent on each other for to do that work.
1. A lot of trouble occurs in the service of the Lord when people desire a different calling that God has given them.
a. Or by exalting one thing over the other.
C. When we all do our part, the church is built up, made or kept strong and healthy, and the gospel is advanced.
1. Far too often the church is weakened by those who interpose themselves into things and situations that were not for them to get involved in...
a. We spend more time dealing with internal murmurings and troubles than one would think possible and it detracts from what we could be doing to advance the gospel.


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