Números 3

Números 3

Henry writes "There was much work belonging to the priests' office, and there were now only Aaron and his two sons to do it; God appoints the Levites to attend them. Those whom God finds work for, He will find help for. The Levites were taken instead of the first-born. When He that made us, saves us, as the first-born of Israel were saved, we are laid under further obligations to serve him faithfully. God's right to us by redemption, confirms the right He has to us by creation. NET NOTE on perform (shamar) - The Hebrew text uses the perfect tense of שָׁמַר(shamar) with a vav (ו) consecutive to continue the instruction of the preceding verse. It may be translated “and they shall keep” or “they must/are to keep,” but in this context it refers to their appointed duties. The verb is followed by its cognate accusative—“they are to keep his keeping,” or as it is often translated, “his charge.” This would mean whatever Aaron needed them to do. But the noun is also used for the people in the next phrase, and so “charge” cannot be the meaning here. The verse is explaining that the Levites will have duties to perform to meet the needs of Aaron and the congregation. Numbers 3:8 "They shall also keep all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, along with the duties of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. BGT Numbers 3:8 καὶ φυλάξουσιν πάντα τὰ σκεύη τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου καὶ τὰς φυλακὰς τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ κατὰ πάντα τὰ ἔργα τῆς σκηνῆς NET Numbers 3:8 And they are responsible for all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and for the needs of the Israelites, as they serve in the tabernacle. NLT Numbers 3:8 They will also maintain all the furnishings of the sacred tent, serving in the Tabernacle on behalf of all the Israelites. ESV Numbers 3:8 They shall guard all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and keep guard over the people of Israel as they minister at the tabernacle. NIV Numbers 3:8 They are to take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. Nu 4:15,28,33 10:17,21 1Ch 26:20-28 Ezra 8:24-30 Isa 52:11 Numbers 3 Resources - Multiples Sermons and Commentaries They shall also keep all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, along with the duties of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle - The phrase shall keep is the verb shamar which means to watch over (Lxx = phulasso = to guard), to keep watch, preserve, to guard, to be careful,, to watch carefully over, to be on one’s guard. What's the point? They would ensure the ceremonial purity of the sacrificial implements and curtains of the tabernacle furnishings that only they were allowed to touch. Thompson - The job of the Levites was to “serve” Aaron and perform duties for him and for the whole congregation in regard to tabernacle matters (verses 6-7). According to verse 8, their job was to take care of all of the furnishings of the “tent of meeting” and to do all the service of the tabernacle. They would be responsible to see to it that God’s Word was followed in regard to all Temple matters, including various sacrifices and cleanliness matters. NET Note on to do service - It would convey “to serve the service of the tabernacle,” but more simply it may be rendered as “serving.” Their spiritual and practical service is to serve. The Levites had the duty of taking care of all the tabernacle and its furnishings, especially in times when it was to be moved. But they were also appointed to be gate-keepers (2 Kgs 22:4; 1 Chr 9:19) in order to safeguard the purity of the place and the activities that went on there. Their offices seem to have then become hereditary in time (1 Sam 1:3); they even took on more priestly functions, such as pronouncing the benediction (Deut 10:8). Numbers 3:9 "You shall thus give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons; they are wholly given to him from among the sons of Israel. BGT Numbers 3:9 καὶ δώσεις τοὺς Λευίτας Ααρων καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτοῦ τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν δόμα δεδομένοι οὗτοί μοί εἰσιν ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ NET Numbers 3:9 You are to assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they will be assigned exclusively to him out of all the Israelites. NLT Numbers 3:9 Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They have been given from among all the people of Israel to serve as their assistants. ESV Numbers 3:9 And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are wholly given to him from among the people of Israel. NIV Numbers 3:9 Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him. KJV Numbers 3:9 And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel. YLT Numbers 3:9 and thou hast given the Levites to Aaron and to his sons; they are surely given to him out of the sons of Israel. LXE Numbers 3:9 And thou shalt give the Levites to Aaron, and to his sons the priests; they are given for a gift to me of the children of Israel. Nu 8:19 18:6,7 Eph 4:8,11 Numbers 3 Resources - Multiples Sermons and Commentaries LEVITES A GIFT OF GOD TO AARONIC PRIESTHOOD You shall thus give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons; they are wholly given (literally "given, given") to him from among the sons of Israel - Note the repetition of give...wholly given (actually "given, given") for emphasis. The point is that the Levites are wholly given to the service of the Tabernacle under the direction of Aaron and his sons. NET NOTE on shall give - The verb וְנָתַתָּה (vénatattah) is normally “give.” Here, though, the context refers to the assignment of the Levites to the priests for their duties. Numbers 3:10 "So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons that they may keep their priesthood, but the layman who comes near shall be put to death." BGT Numbers 3:10 καὶ Ααρων καὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ καταστήσεις ἐπὶ τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου καὶ φυλάξουσιν τὴν ἱερατείαν αὐτῶν καὶ πάντα τὰ κατὰ τὸν βωμὸν καὶ ἔσω τοῦ καταπετάσματος καὶ ὁ ἀλλογενὴς ὁ ἁπτόμενος ἀποθανεῖται NET Numbers 3:10 So you are to appoint Aaron and his sons, and they will be responsible for their priesthood; but the unauthorized person who comes near must be put to death." NLT Numbers 3:10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood. But any unauthorized person who goes too near the sanctuary must be put to death." ESV Numbers 3:10 And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood. But if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death." NIV Numbers 3:10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary must be put to death." KJV Numbers 3:10 And thou shalt appoint <06485> (08799) Aaron <0175> and his sons <01121>, and they shall wait on <08104> (08804) their priest's office <03550>: and the stranger <02114> (08801) that cometh nigh <07131> shall be put to death <04191> (08714). YLT Numbers 3:10 'And Aaron and his sons thou dost appoint, and they have kept their priesthood, and the stranger who cometh near is put to death.' LXE Numbers 3:10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons over the tabernacle of witness; and they shall keep their charge of priesthood, and all things belonging to the altar, and within the veil; and the stranger that touches them shall die. ASV Numbers 3:10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. they shall: Nu 18:7 1Ch 6:32 Eze 44:8 Ac 6:3,4 Ro 12:7 1Ti 4:15,16 and the stranger): Nu 3:38 1:51 16:35,40 18:3 1Sa 6:19 2Sa 6:7 2Ch 26:16-21 Eph 2:19 Heb 8:4 10:19-22 Numbers 3 Resources - Multiples Sermons and Commentaries WARNING ABOUT DRAWING NEAR So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons that they may keep their priesthood, but the layman who comes near shall be put to death - Levites were to be the executioners of any unauthorized person (non-Levite, not a priest) who drew near to the Tabernacle. "The presence of God was symbolized by the ark of the covenant within the holy of holies. This area was protected by the priests on one level and by the Levites on the next. The Levites functioned as a lightning rod for the fiery wrath of God against potential encroachment of the holy place. Improper service by priests or their assistants was punishable by death." (HCSB note) Allen - If the sons of Aaron were put to death at the commencement of their duties, how dare an unauthorized person even think to trespass (see Nu 3:38; Nu 18:7)! Wenham suggests that the Levites are those who are authorized to carry out the death penalty, to keep the wrath of God against untoward offenders of his majesty and holiness from breaking out against the entire camp. (see Phinehas in Nu 25:7-8+). NET Note - The LXX (see "LXE" - English translation of LXX above) includes the following words here: “and all things pertaining to the altar and within the veil.” Cf. Num 18:7. Layman (stranger, estrange, adulteress, outsider) (02114)(zur) is a verb which means to be a stranger. Things described as strange (in this sense the verb seems to be used as an adjective) - strange fire in Lev 10:1), gods (Dt 32:16, Ps 44:20), waters (2Ki 19:24 = water in foreign lands), children ("illegitimate" - NAS, "alien" - ESV) Zur frequently refers to a layman (anyone not a priest. Lxx = allotrios = belonging to another, strange, foreign) could not eat the meat apportioned to the priests (Ex 29:33, KJV = "stranger", cp Ex 30:33 , Lev 22:10, 12, 13, Nu 1:51, 3:10, 3:38, 16:40). NAS translates zur as outsider (Lxx = allogenes) in Nu 18:4,7. In (Ex 30:9) the priests were not to offer incense that was "strange" (zur; Lxx = heteros = another of a different kind) incense. NET Note - The word is זָר (zar), usually rendered “stranger, foreigner, pagan.” But in this context it simply refers to anyone who is not a Levite or a priest, an unauthorized person or intruder in the tabernacle. That person would be put to death. Appoint is actually the same word translated "numbered" (paqad) conveys the root idea of something that is attended to or set in order "Most often, the word means accounting and refers to a time of accounting when God attended to people's actions, usually to call them to account for their sins (Num. 16:29; Jer. 48:44)." (Baker) Numbers 3:11 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, Numbers 3 Resources - Multiples Sermons and Commentaries Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying - 4x in Numbers 3 - Nu 3:5, 11, 14, 44. Numbers 3:12 "Now, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of every firstborn, the first issue of the womb among the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall be Mine. Nu 3:41,45 8:16,18 18:6 Numbers 3 Resources - Multiples Sermons and Commentaries LEVITES WERE LIVING SUBSTITUTIONARY SACRIFICES! Now, behold (hinneh) - This word calling attention to the fact that is being declared, in this context underscoring the fact that the LORD Himself choose the Levites to serve as a substitute for the firstborn and they belong to Him. I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of (in place of) every firstborn, the first issue of the womb among the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall be Mine - As explained in the next verse, when God destroyed the firstborn males in Egypt, He set aside (sanctified) the firstborn males of Israel to belong to Him because He delivered them from destruction (Ex 13:11-16+) . Thereafter every firstborn male born was dedicated to God. "That meant the cattle were sacrificed and the boys should have served God in the sanctuary (Ex. 11:4–13:15+). But after the golden calf incident, the Levites took the place of the firstborn boys (Ex. 32:25–29+)." (ESV note) Note the words instead of (in place of) are a clear example of substitution and point to the substitutionary death of Christ. (cf. Ge 22:13: “offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son”; cf. also Mk 10:45 = "Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many [as a substitute payment].””). ESV Study Bible - The Levites as a holy substitute prefigure Christ as priest, representative, and substitute (Heb. 7:23–28+). HCSB Note - The firstborn males of the Israelite families were to be presented to God through the agency of the priests (Ex 13:2,11-16; 22:29-30; 34:19-20). The firstborn were God's sole possession based on the redemption-of-the-firstborn principle. "Redemption" finds a parallel in the Babylonian term padu, a form of monetary payment to transfer property from one party to another. An indentured servant could gain his freedom through monetary or property transfer, performance of a period of servitude, or a general cancellation of the debt by the owner. Norman Geisler - NUMBERS 3:12—If God commanded that firstborn sons from all the tribes be given Him, why was the tribe of Levi given instead? PROBLEM: God had commanded Moses that “all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem” (Ex. 13:13; cf. 22:29). However, this was never done. Instead, one whole tribe was set apart to God for the work of the priesthood (Num. 3:12). SOLUTION: The reason for the substitution is given in Numbers 3:12. The Lord declared: “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.” Since they belonged to Him, God had the right to make the substitution. (When Critics Ask) G Campbell