Commentari biblici

The sons of Aaron and the Levitical families

The contents of the chapter are as follows: Numbers 3:1-4. The ‘generations’ of Aaron, Numbers 3:5-10. The appointment of the Levites to be servants of the priests. Numbers 3:11-13. The Levites are a substitute for the first-born which God consecrated to Himself at the Exodus vv14-20. A summary of the Levitical families and their subdivisions. Numbers 3:21-39. The several duties of the three Levitical families on the march, Numbers 3:40-51. The substitution of the Levites for the first-born, the surplus of the first-born being redeemed by money.

1. these are the generations] A formula occurring several times in P ; Genesis 5:1; Genesis 6:9; Genesis 10:1; Genesis 11:10; Genesis 11:27; Genesis 25:12; Genesis 25:19; Genesis 36:1; Genesis 36:9; Genesis 37:2. It marks a fresh start in the history. ‘Generations,’ lit. origins, means ‘an account of a man and his genealogical descendants.’

Aaron and Moses] The two most important representatives of the tribe of Levi. Moses is usually mentioned first, but here Aaron has the precedence because the passage deals with his descendants only.

in the day, &c.] The words are attached very loosely to the context, and describe the point of time at which the new development—the organization of the tribe of Levi—begins.

1–4. The generations of Aaron.

3. the priests which were anointed] Many passages of P speak of the High Priest alone as being anointed to his office; cf. Exodus 29:7; Exodus 29:29, Leviticus 8:12. The anointing of all priests was a later development; cf. Exodus 28:41; Exodus 30:30; Exodus 40:15.

4. The incident here referred to is related in Leviticus 10:1-7. The meaning of ‘strange fire’ is uncertain. Either the incense which they burnt was not made in accordance with the divine prescription (given in Exodus 30:34-38). or the fire was not taken from the proper place—the altar of burnt-offering. ‘Strange’ means ‘not in accordance with the regular ritual’; see n. on Numbers 1:51.

they had no children] The point of this lies in the fact that after the exile all the priestly families called themselves ‘sons of Aaron,’ and traced their descent through Eleazar or Ithamar (see p. xvi).

5–10. The appointment of the Levites as an inferior, though sacred, body of priests’ servants.

6. minister unto him] i.e. unto all the priests, whom Aaron represented.

7. keep his charge] i.e. perform the duties of their service to him and to the priests.

the charge of the whole congregation] comprised the ritual functions in connexion with the offering of animals sacrificed by and in behalf of the laity of Israel.

9. wholly given unto him] i.e. to Aaron. In Numbers 8:16-19, it is explained that they are first given to Jehovah, and by Him given to the priests; cf. Numbers 18:6. In the present passage LXX. and Sam. read unto me, which is possibly correct. The Heb. rendered ‘wholly given’ is nethûnîm nethûnîm. i.e. ‘given, given.’ In the time of Ezra there was a class of temple slaves inferior to the Levites, and mostly foreigners, who were known as the Nethînîm, meaning ‘the given.’ It seems probable that at a later time these slaves rose in status and importance, and became identified with the Levites. And the passages which speak of the Levites as ‘given’ are an attempt to supply an origin for the name. See art. ‘Nethinim’ in Hastings’ DB. iii. 519. Ryle, Common Ezra and Neh., p. 28.

on the behalf of] Lit. as marg. ‘from.’ The Israelites handed over to the priests a whole tribe from among their number.