AM Bible Study Group; March 10, 2010

Numbers 3:1-51

Theme: This chapter describes the numbering and arrangement of the sons of Levi.

This beginning section of Numbers (chapters 1-10) has to do with the preparation of the people of Israel to march into the promised land. And the first four chapters of this section involve the numbering and arrangement of the different tribes of Israel in their camping and marching. The first two chapters have focused on the numbering and arrangement of the warring tribes. But in the numbering and arrangement of these tribes, the tribe of Levi was excluded. This is because it stood alone as the tribe whose main concern was to minister before God with respect to the tabernacle. And now, in chapters 3 and 4, we see the focus turn to them.

Think of the arrangement of the tribes as we’ve seen them up to this point. At the very center of the camps of Israel was a squared-off section for the tabernacle. God’s worship was center-point to the people of Israel. Around the outer-range of the camps were the armies of the various tribes. They too formed a square; and it was their task to deal with the encounters of the people of Israel with this world. But between them was another square in which were the sons of Levi. They stood as the link between the centrality of God and the dealings with this world.

Two key notes in this chapter are substitution and sanctification: “substitution”, because the sons of Levi were given by God as substitutes who redeemed the firstborn of Israel to God; and “sanctification”, because they were set apart by God to serve in God’s tabernacle on behalf of the people. In that sense, they stand as a picture of Jesus Christ—the one Mediator who stands between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5).

I.THE SONS OF AARON SET-APART FOR THE PRIESTHOOD (vv. 1-4).

A.The chapter begins with a reference to the numbering of the children of Israel that occurred in the previous chapter (v. 1). This shows that there is a continuity between the numbering of the tribes and the numbering of Levi—even though the priestly tribe was numbered separately.

B.The names of the sons of Aaron—who was of the tribe of Levi—are given first (vv. 2-4). They are specifically set aside to minister as priests. The rest of the tribe of Levi were not priests; but only the sons of Aaron. Note that the first two sons—Nadab and Abihu—were said to have died in the wilderness of Sinai; after having offered strange fire to the Lord (Leviticus 10). It’s one of the great tragedies of the story of Aaron. But even though God’s holiness was dreadfully displayed in that event, God’s grace still prevailed; and Aaron’s two remaining sons ministered in their place.

II.THE SONS OF LEVI APPOINTED TO THE SERVICE OF THE SONS OF AARON (vv. 5-13).

A.God now calls the tribe of Levi forward so that they may be presented to Aaron (vv. 1-10). They alone are set aside to minister in the service of the tabernacle. No one else was permitted to serve Aaron with respect to the tabernacle. Note how they are said to be “given” to Aaron for this purpose; and compare this with the words of the Lord Jesus in John 17:6 concerning you and me!

B.Note also how God says that He had taken the Levites from among the children of Israel “instead of the firstborn”. God said that the firstborn of all Israel belonged to Him (Exodus 13:1; also vv. 11-16). Now, the sons of Levi are said to stand as the substitutes of the firstborn. Isn’t it fascinating that the tribe of Levi—the tribe of service to God—stands as the substitute for another? That’s what our Lord Jesus is—our Substitute who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

III.THE FAMILIES OF THE SONS OF LEVI NUMBERED (vv. 14-39).

A.Each of the three sons of Levi are mentioned; and their specific roles are defined (Gershon in verses 21-26; Kohath in verses 27-31; and Merari in verses 33-37). Note that the number taken is of those who are a month old and over. This is because the specific purpose of this census is in order to show the relationship of the tribe of Levi to the firstborn. In the next chapter, the tribe of Levi is numbered again—specifically with respect to those who are old enough to provide service.

B.Note that, in verse 32, the description of the sons of Levi is interrupted by a mention of Eleazer—the son of Aaron—who was in charge of the leaders of the three families of the sons of Levi. This is, most likely, because the description of the role of Kohath had just been given—whose role was to handle the sacred elements within the tabernacle; and this connected the ministry of the sons of Levi directly to the priestly work of the sons of Aaron. Note that, in verse 38, we’re told that the sons of Aaron are positioned at the entry of the tabernacle.

C.The number is given of the total of the tribe of Levi what was numbered, from one month old and up—22,000. You may notice, however, that if you add the numbers of the three families of Levi together as they are given (7,500 for Gershon, 8,600 for Kohath, and 6,200 for Merari), they total 22,300—not 22,000. The explanation for this may be found in the nature of the copying of numbers from the Hebrew text. In some ancient texts, the number of the Kohathites in verse 28 appears as 8,300. The difference in Hebrew between the number 6 and the number 3 is the presence of a single consonant; which may have easily been omitted in copying. When the number of the Kohathites is figured as 8,300, then the total number matches remarkably well with the number of firstborn numbered in the next passage.

IV.THE LEVITES GIVEN TO GOD IN PLACE OF THE FIRST-BORN (vv. 40-51).

A.The firstborn of Israel are then numbered (vv. 40-43); and we’re told that the sons of Levi are taken by God in place of these. Note that the number of the firstborn exceeded the number of the sons of Levi by 275.

B.In the remaining portion of the chapter, God provides for the redemption of those firstborn who where numbered over and above the number of the sons of Levi (vv. 44-51). Five shekels were collected for each of the remaining 275; which gives us the total of 1,365 shekels, found in verse 50, that was then given to Aaron and his sons. God leaves nothing undone; but all that belongs to Him is truly set apart and marked-out as His! As we’ve seen in the previous chapters, note how the last note of this chapter (in verse 51) is obedience!

The Sons of Levi (PDF)