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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 (Nu 3:1-4) and their work, Nu 3:10. 2. Of the gift of the Levites to them (Nu 3:5-9), in order to which they are mustered (Nu 3:14-16), and the sum of them taken, Nu 3:39. Each particular family of them is mustered, has its place assigned and its charge, the Gershonites (Nu 3:17-26), the Kohathites (Nu 3:27-32), the Merarites, Nu 3:33-39. II. As equivalents for the first-born, Nu 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, Nu 3:40-45. 2. What first-born there were more than the Levites were redeemed, Nu 3:46-51, etc.
1-51
The Separation of the Levites (1490 BC)
简体中文
利未人的分别（公元前1490年）
¹ 耶和华在西奈山与摩西说话的日子，亚伦和摩西的后代如下。 ² 亚伦儿子的名字记在下面：长子拿答，还有亚比户、以利亚撒、以他玛。 ³ 这些是亚伦儿子的名字，就是受膏的祭司，是他分别为圣献上、使他供祭司职分的。 ⁴ 拿答、亚比户在西奈的旷野向耶和华献凡火的时候，就死在耶和华面前；他们也没有留下儿子；以利亚撒、以他玛在他们的父亲亚伦面前供祭司的职分。 ⁵ 耶和华晓谕摩西说： ⁶ "你使利未支派近前来，使他们站在祭司亚伦面前服事他。 ⁷ 他们要替他和全会众在会幕前守所当守的，办理帐幕的事。 ⁸ 他们要看守会幕的一切器具，并替以色列人守所当守的，办理帐幕的事。 ⁹ 你要将利未人给亚伦和他的儿子；他们是从以色列人中完全赐给他的。 ¹⁰ 你要派亚伦和他的儿子，他们要供祭司的职分；近前来的外人必被治死。" ¹¹ 耶和华晓谕摩西说： ¹² "我从以色列人中拣选了利未人，代替以色列人一切头生的；所以利未人要归我。 ¹³ 因为凡头生的是我的；我在埃及地击杀一切头生的那日，就把以色列中一切头生的，无论是人是牲畜，都分别为圣归我；他们必归我为圣。我是耶和华。"
这里，I. 亚伦的家族被确立在祭司的职任上（民 3:10）。他们先前已被蒙召，也已被分别为圣；这里他们受派定"供祭司的职任"：使徒用了这话（罗 12:7），"我们要专心于我们的职事"。传道的职任要求不断的侍立和极大的殷勤；它的工 recurring 频繁，然而有利的时机又稍纵即逝，故必须专心侍立。此处又重申了先前所说的话（民 1:51）："近前来的外人必被治死"，这就禁止任何别的人僭越祭司的职任；除了亚伦和他的儿子，无人可以近前事奉，其余一切皆外人。这也吩咐众祭司，作为神家中的守门人，要当心，凡律法所禁止的，都不得近前；他们要挡住一切擅闯者，因为他们的临近必致圣物被亵渎，当告诉他们，若要近前，须自担危险，必"死在神手中"，如同乌撒那样。据说后来圣殿的门上悬挂了一把金剑（也许暗指伊甸园入口那发火焰的剑），其上刻着："近前来的外人必被治死。"
II. 这里也特地记下亚伦这家的事；我们此前所见关乎他们的事在此重述。1. 亚伦众子的分别为圣（民 3:3）。他们都受膏在耶和华面前事奉，尽管后来显明、神也早已知道，其中两个是聪明的，两个是愚拙的。2. 两位长子的坠落（民 3:4）：他们"献凡火"，"在耶和华面前"因此而死。此事在此处祭司律法的序言中被提起，为要警诫一切后来的祭司；让他们借这例知道，神是忌邪的神，是轻慢不得的；圣膏油对顺命者而言是尊荣，对悖逆者却不是庇护。这里说"他们没有儿子"，是神护理的安排，为加重他们的刑罚，使他们没有任何后裔存留作祭司，从而顶住那亵渎了神之名的人的姓名。3. 两位幼子的延续：以利亚撒和以他玛"在亚伦面前"供职。这表明：(1.) 他们对自己的职任十分谨慎，免得犯错；他们常在父亲的眼目之下，凡事从他领教而行，因为大概拿答和亚比户献凡火时正是脱离了父亲的眼目。当记取：年轻人能在年长、有经验者的指引和监督之下行事，是好的。(2.) 亚伦在其中得着安慰；他两位长子失脚，看见两位幼子行事审慎庄重，就心中喜悦。当记取：父母"看见儿女遵行真理"（约叁 1:4），是极大的慰藉。
III. 利未人被赐下，作为祭司事奉工作中的助手："你要将利未人给亚伦"（民 3:9）。亚伦对利未支派所要拥有的特殊产业和权柄，胜过任何首领对其本支派所拥有的。祭司职任的事务繁多，而如今只有三双手去做这一切——亚伦和他的两个儿子；因为没有记载他们此时任何一人有儿子，至少没有达到可以事奉年龄的儿子，所以神指派利未人来服事他们。当记取：神赐下工作的人，必赐下帮助。这里，1. 利未人所当办的事奉：他们要在祭司向耶和华供职时"事奉祭司"（民 3:6），并"守亚伦所当守的"（民 3:7），正如在福音的体制中执事之于监督，在监督专心于职事时管理饭食。利未人宰杀祭牲，然后祭司只需洒血和焚烧脂油：利未人预备香，祭司烧香。他们不但要守亚伦所当守的，也要守"全会众所当守的"。当记取：交托给传道人的，是一份极大的信托，不仅为基督的荣耀，也为祂教会的益处；所以他们不但要守大祭司所当守的，也要向人的灵魂尽忠，因为神已经把为他们的缘故所交托的责任托付给他们。2. 利未人被索取的依据：他们被取来代替长子。当众埃及人的长子（以色列人中不少人是与他们混杂的）被击杀之时，以色列的长子得以保全；这位从不无理索取的神视此为充分的缘由，从此将一切长子分别归祂自己（民 3:13）："凡头生的是我的。"这已足以使他们归祂，尽管祂没有再给理由，因为祂是万有、万权的惟一之源与主；但一切顺从必出自爱，尽本分的事必是感恩之事，所以在他们被召入特殊事奉之前，先以特殊的恩惠加冕。当记取：当造我们的神救了我们，我们就因此更深地负债来事奉祂、为祂而活。神借救赎而有的权利，坚固了祂借创造而有的权利。如今因为一家中的长子通常是最蒙宠的，有人会以为让他们的长子作祭司的仆人、在会幕门前侍立是羞辱，所以神取了整个利未支派归自己，代替长子（民 3:12）。当记取：神的典制并不在任何合理的利益或正当的情感上苛待人。可以料想，以色列人情愿交出利未人，不愿交出长子，所以神恩典地作了这交换；然而为我们，祂"不爱惜自己的儿子"。
¹⁴ 耶和华在西奈的旷野晓谕摩西说： ¹⁵ "你要照着利未人的父家、宗族数点他们；凡一个月以上的男丁，你都要数点。" ¹⁶ 于是摩西照耶和华所吩咐的数点他们。 ¹⁷ 利未儿子的名字记在下面：革顺、哥辖、米拉利。 ¹⁸ 革顺儿子的名字按着宗族记在下面：立尼、示每。 ¹⁹ 哥辖儿子按着宗族记在下面：暗兰、以斯哈、希伯伦、乌薛。 ²⁰ 米拉利的儿子按着宗族记在下面：抹利、母示。这些是利未人的宗族，按着他们的父家。 ²¹ 革顺生立尼族、示每族；这些是革顺的各族。 ²² 他们被数的，按着一切男丁的数目，从一个月以上的，共有七千五百名。 ²³ 革顺的各族要在帐幕后边，就是西边安营。 ²⁴ 革顺人父家的首领，要作拉伊勒的儿子以利雅萨。 ²⁵ 革顺的子孙在会幕所当守的，就是帐幕和罩棚，并罩棚的盖，与会幕门帘， ²⁶ 院子的帷子和门帘（就是围着帐幕和坛的），并一切使用的绳子。 ²⁷ 哥辖生暗兰族、以斯哈族、希伯伦族、乌薛族；这些是哥辖的各族。 ²⁸ 按着一切男丁的数目，从一个月以上的，共有八千六百名，负责看守圣所。 ²⁹ 哥辖儿子的各族要在帐幕的南边安营。 ³⁰ 哥辖人父家各族的首领，要作乌薛的儿子以利撒反。 ³¹ 他们所当守的，是约柜、桌子、灯台、两座坛，并圣所内使用的器皿和帘子，并一切使用之物。 ³² 祭司亚伦的儿子以利亚撒，要作利未人众首领的首领，监管看守圣所的人。 ³³ 米拉利生抹利族、母示族；这些是米拉利的各族。 ³⁴ 他们被数的，按着一切男丁的数目，从一个月以上的，共有六千二百名。 ³⁵ 米拉利人父家各族的首领，是亚比亥的儿子苏列；他们要在帐幕的北边安营。 ³⁶ 米拉利子孙所当看守、管理的，是帐幕的板、闩、柱子、带卯的座，和一切的器具，并一切使用的物件， ³⁷ 院子四围的柱子、带卯的座、橛子、绳子。 ³⁸ 在帐幕前边，就是在帐幕东边，向日出之方安营的，是摩西、亚伦和亚伦的儿子；他们要替以色列人守圣所所当守的；近前来的外人必被治死。 ³⁹ 凡被数的利未人，就是摩西、亚伦照耶和华的吩咐，按着他们的宗族所数，凡一个月以上的男丁，共有二万二千名。
利未人既已赐给亚伦供他差遣，这里就按着名数交给他，使他能知道自己手下有多少人，并相应地使用他们。请观察：
I. 他们按什么准则被数点："凡一个月以上的男丁"（民 3:15）。其余支派只数点二十岁以上的，而且其中只数点那些"能出去打仗的"；但在利未人的数目里，必须把婴孩和体弱的都算进去；他们既免了兵役，就不必坚持他们已达能作战的年龄和力量。尽管后来显明，利未人中只有略多于三分之一适于在会幕事奉中服役（22,000人中的约8,000，民 4:47,48），神却要把他们全部数点为祂家中的差役；免得有人因自己不能像所看见的别人那样事奉神，就以为自己被神弃绝不认。一个月大的利未人不能像长大成人者那样荣耀神、事奉会幕，然而从婴孩和吃奶的口中，利未人的赞美得以完全。不要禁止小孩子被列入基督的门徒中，因为利未支派正是如此；天国——那祭司的国度——也正是由这样的人所组成。长子的赎银是从一个月大算起的（民 18:15,16），所以利未人也从那个年龄起数点。他们按"父家"数点，不按母家，因为利未人的女儿若嫁给别支派的人，她的儿子便不是利未人；然而我们读到有一位属灵的祭司事奉神，他承袭了住在他母亲和外祖母里面的"无伪之信"（提后 1:5）。
II. 他们如何被分为三班，按照利未之子革顺、哥辖、米拉利的数目，这些又再分为若干家族（民 3:17-20）。
1. 论到这三班，每班都有记载，(1.) 论他们的人数。革顺人是7,500。哥辖人是8,600。米拉利人是6,200。其余支派并未像利未人那样把所属家族单独数点；这是神赐给自己支派的尊荣。(2.) 论他们在会幕周围当值的位置。革顺人在帐幕后边，西边安营（民 3:23）。哥辖人在右边，南边（民 3:29）。米拉利人在左边，北边（民 3:35）。而为补全方形，摩西、亚伦与众祭司在前方，东边安营（民 3:38）。会幕如此被卫兵环绕；照样，"耶和华的使者在敬畏祂的人四围安营搭救他们"——那些活的殿（诗 34:7）。人人都知道自己的位置，就必须在其中与神同住。(3.) 论他们的首领或头目。每班既有自己的位置，也各有自己的首领。革顺人的统帅是以利雅萨（民 3:24）；哥辖人的是以利撒反（民 3:30），我们读到（利 10:4）他是拿答、亚比户殡葬中抬尸者之一；米拉利人的是苏列（民 3:35）。(4.) 论拔营时他们的职责。每班都知道自己的本分；这是必需的，因为众人之事往往无人问津。革顺人负责看守并扛抬帐幕和院子的所有幔子、帷子和盖（民 3:25,26），哥辖人负责帐幕的一切器具——约柜、祭坛、桌子等（民 3:31,32），米拉利人负责沉重的物件——板、闩、柱子等（民 3:36,37）。
2. 这里我们可以观察，(1.) 哥辖人虽是次子之家，却被列在长子革顺家之前。除了亚伦和众祭司都属这家之外，他们人数更多，所站的位置和所负的责任更为尊荣，这大概是为尊荣摩西，因他属这家。然而，(2.) 摩西的后裔却没有任何加尊或特权，却与其他利未人同列，为要显明他并不谋求自己家族的高升，也不想在教会或国家中为它确立任何世袭的尊荣；他自身尊荣已足，不愿借那借来的光使自己的名发光，倒愿利未人从他的名得尊荣。不要轻看利未人，虽然他们次于祭司，因为摩西自己认为他的儿子能作利未人已是足够的高升。也许正是因为摩西的家只是利未人，所以在本章论及那支派的标题中（民 3:1），亚伦被列在摩西之前。
III. 这支派的总数。他们合计共22,000（民 3:39）。各个家族之数相加多了300；若把它加到总数上，利未人就不再是比长子少273人（如民 3:43所言），而是多27人，天平就要倒向另一边了；但据推测，当交换进行时从账上勾销的那300人，是利未人自己的长子，是他们出埃及以后才生的，不能算入交换，因为他们已经分别为圣归神了。但此处特别可观察的是，利未支派是所有支派中最小的。当记取：神在世上所得之分常常是最小的。祂所拣选的，相比之下只是一小群。
⁴⁰ 耶和华对摩西说："你要计算以色列人中一切头生的男子，从一个月以上的，并将他们的名字记下。" ⁴¹ 我是耶和华；你要拣选利未人归我，代替以色列人中一切头生的；也取利未人的牲畜，代替以色列人的牲畜中一切头生的。" ⁴² 摩西就照耶和华所吩咐的，把以色列人中一切头生的都数点了。 ⁴³ 按着人名的数目，从一个月以上的男子，凡被数的头生男子，共有二万二千二百七十三名。 ⁴⁴ 耶和华晓谕摩西说： ⁴⁵ "你取利未人代替以色列人中一切头生的，取利未人的牲畜代替他们的牲畜；利未人要归我：我是耶和华。 ⁴⁶ 至于那二百七十三个超过利未人数目的以色列人长子中当赎的人， ⁴⁷ 你要按人头每人取赎银五舍客勒，按圣所的平收取——一舍客勒是二十季拉—— ⁴⁸ 把那多于利未人数目之人的赎银，给亚伦和他的儿子。" ⁴⁹ 于是摩西从那超过被利未人所赎之数的人收了赎银； ⁵⁰ 他从以色列人长子所收的银，按圣所的平，共有一千三百六十五舍客勒。 ⁵¹ 摩西照耶和华的话，把赎银给了亚伦和他的儿子，正如耶和华所吩咐摩西的。
这里完成了以利未人换长子的交换。1. 长子从一个月大起被数点（民 3:42,43）。那些虽为长子却已自家作家长的人当然不算在内，只算那些尚未成年的；博学的帕特里克主教明确认为，所数点的只是他们出埃及以后才生的，那时长子被分别为圣（出 13:2）。若有22,000个长子男子，女子当也有同样多，而这一切都是在他们出埃及后第一年内出生的，我们由此可以推断，他们在为奴的最后一年，即使在最严酷的困境中，仍有大量的婚配；他们没有被眼前的苦难所挫，却在信心中成婚，指望神不久必以恩典眷顾他们，他们的儿女虽生在为奴之中，却必活在自由和尊荣之中。这对他们是个好兆头，证明他们蒙了耶和华的福；他们不仅得以存活，还在荒凉的旷野中大大增多。2. 长子与利未人的数目，借着特殊的护理，颇为相近；如此，当祂"将地业赐给列邦、将世人分开的时候，便照着以色列人的数目，立定万民的疆界"（申 32:8）。神所行的，祂都早已知道，其中都有精确的比例，待到比较之时就必显明。利未人的牲畜被说成是代替"以色列人牲畜中"一切头生的而取的，即利未人连同他们一切所有的，都献给神以代替长子及一切所有的；因为当我们把自己献给神，我们一切所有的也就作为附属随之而献。3. 那少数超过利未人数目的长子（共273人），要用赎银赎出，每人五舍客勒，赎银归给亚伦；因为不便将他们并入利未人之中。在交换时大概是从长子中年长的开始，依次而下，因此要用银赎的，是273个最年幼的长子；这比抽签决定，或从公库中付出赎银，更为可能。教会被称为"长子"之会，这教会之赎，不像他们这样用金银，而是既因罪献给神的公义，就用"神儿子的宝血"赎出来。
英語原文
The Separation of the Levites (1490 BC)
¹ These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in 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 priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.
⁴ And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father.
⁵ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
⁶ Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.
⁷ And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.
⁸ And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.
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.
¹⁰ And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
¹¹ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
¹² And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;
¹³ Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.
Here, I. The family of Aaron is confirmed in the priests' office, Nu 3:10. They had been called to it before, and consecrated; here they are appointed to wait on their priests' office: the apostle uses this phrase (Ro 12:7), Let us wait on our ministry. The office of the ministry requires a constant attendance and great diligence; so frequent are the returns of its work, and yet so transient its favourable opportunities, that it must be waited on. Here is repeated what was said before (Nu 1:51): The stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death, which forbids the invading of the priest's office by any other person whatsoever; none must come nigh to minister but Aaron and his sons only, all others are strangers. It also lays a charge on the priests, as door-keepers in God's house, to take care that none should come near who were forbidden by the law; they must keep off all intruders, whose approach would be to the profanation of the holy things, telling them that if they came near it was at their peril, they would die by the hand of God, as Uzza did. The Jews say that afterwards there was hung over the door of the temple a golden sword (perhaps alluding to that flaming sword at the entrance of the garden of Eden), on which was engraven, The stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
II. A particular account is given of this family of Aaron; what we have met with before concerning them is here repeated. 1. The consecration of the sons of Aaron, Nu 3:3. They were all anointed to minister before the Lord, though it appeared afterwards, and God knew it, that two of them were wise and two were foolish. 2. The fall of the two elder (Nu 3:4): they offered strange fire, and died for so doing, before the Lord. This is mentioned here in the preamble to the law concerning the priesthood, for a warning to all succeeding priests; let them know, by this example, that God is a jealous God, and will not be mocked; the holy anointing oil was an honour to the obedient, but not a shelter to the disobedient. It is here said, They had no children, Providence so ordering it, for their greater punishment, that none of their descendants should remain to be priests, and so bear up their name who had profaned God's name. 3. The continuance of the two younger: Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the sight of Aaron. It intimates, (1.) The care they took about their ministration not to make any blunders; they kept under their father's eye, and took instruction from him in all they did, because, probably, Nadab and Abihu got out of their father's sight when they offered strange fire. Note, It is good for young people to act under the direction and inspection of those that are aged and experienced. (2.) The comfort Aaron took in it; it pleased him to see his younger sons behave themselves prudently and gravely, when his two elder had miscarried. Note, It is a great satisfaction to parents to see their children walk in the truth, 3Jo 1:4.
III. A grant is made of the Levites to be assistants to the priests in their work: Give the Levites to Aaron, Nu 3:9. Aaron was to have a greater propriety in, and power over, the tribe of Levi than any other of the prices had in and over their respective tribes. There was a great deal of work belonging to the priests' office, and there were now only three pairs of hands to do it all, Aaron's and his two sons'; for it does not appear that they had either of them any children at this time, at least not any that were of age to minister, therefore God appoints the Levites to attend upon them. Note, Those whom God finds work for his will find help for. Here is, 1. The service for which the Levites were designed: they were to minister to the priests in their ministration to the Lord (Nu 3:6), and to keep Aaron's charge (Nu 3:7), as the deacons to the bishops in the evangelical constitution, serving at tables, while the bishops waited on their ministry. The Levites killed the sacrifices, and then the priests needed only to sprinkle the blood and burn the fat: the Levites prepared the incense, the priests burnt it. They were to keep, not only Aaron's charge, but the charge of the whole congregation. Note, It is a great trust that is reposed in ministers, not only for the glory of Christ, but for the good of his church; so that they must not only keep the charge of the great high priest, but must also be faithful to the souls of men, in trust for whom a dispensation is committed to them. 2. The consideration upon which the Levites were demanded; they were taken instead of the first-born. The preservation of the first-born of Israel, when all the first-born of the Egyptians (with whom they were many of them mingled) were destroyed, was looked upon by him who never makes any unreasonable demands as cause sufficient of the appropriating of all the first-born thenceforward to himself (Nu 3:13): All the first-born are mine. That was sufficient to make them his, though he had given no reason for it, for he is the sole fountain and Lord of all beings and powers; but because all obedience must flow from love, and acts of duty must be acts of gratitude, before they were challenged into peculiar services they were crowned with peculiar favours. Note, When he that made us saves us we are thereby laid under further obligations to serve him and live to him. God's right to us by redemption corroborates the right he has to us by creation. Now because the first-born of a family are generally the favourites, and some would think it a disparagement to have their eldest sons servants to the priests, and attending before the door of the tabernacle, God took the tribe of Levi entire for his own, in lieu of the first-born, Nu 3:12. Note, God's institutions put no hardships upon men in any of their just interests or reasonable affections. It was presumed that the Israelites would rather part with the Levites than with the first-born, and therefore God graciously ordered the exchange; yet for us he spared not his own Son.
¹⁴ And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,
¹⁵ Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.
¹⁶ And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.
¹⁷ And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and 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, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
²⁰ And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.
²¹ Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.
²² Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred.
²³ The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.
²⁴ And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.
²⁵ And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,
²⁶ And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.
²⁷ And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.
²⁸ In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.
²⁹ The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.
³⁰ And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.
³¹ And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.
³² And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.
³³ Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.
³⁴ And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.
³⁵ And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward.
³⁶ And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto,
³⁷ And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.
³⁸ But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
³⁹ All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.
The Levites being granted to Aaron to minister to him, they are here delivered to him by tale, that he might know what he had, and employ them accordingly. Observe,
I. By what rule they were numbered: Every male from a month old and upward, Nu 3:15. The rest of the tribes were numbered only from twenty years old and upwards, and of them those only that were able to go forth to war; but into the number of the Levites they must take in both infants, and infirm; being exempted from the war, it was not insisted upon that they should be of age and strength for the wars. Though it appears afterwards that little more than a third part of the Levites were fit to be employed in the service of the tabernacle (about 8000 out of 22,000, Nu 4:47,48), yet God would have them all numbered as retainers to his family; that none may think themselves disowned and rejected of God because they are not in a capacity of doing him that service which they see others do him. The Levites of a month old could not honour God and serve the tabernacle, as those that had grown up; yet out of the mouths of babes and sucklings the Levites' praise was perfected. Let not little children be hindered from being enrolled among the disciples of Christ, for such was the tribe of Levi, of such is the kingdom of heaven, that kingdom of priests. The redemption of the first-born was reckoned from a month old (Nu 18:15,16), therefore from that age the Levites were numbered. They were numbered after the house of their fathers, not their mothers, for, if the daughter of a Levite married one of another tribe, her son was not a Levite; but we read of a spiritual priest to out God who inherited the unfeigned faith which dwelt in his mother and grandmother, 2Ti 1:5.
II. How they were distributed into three classes, according to the number of the sons of Levi, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, and these subdivided into several families, Nu 3:17-20.
1. Concerning each of these three classes we have an account, (1.) Of their number. The Gershonites were 7500. The Kohathites were 8600. The Merarites were 6200. The rest of the tribes had not their subordinate families numbered by themselves as those of Levi; this honour God put upon his own tribe. (2.) Of their post about the tabernacle on which they were to attend. The Gershonites pitched behind the tabernacle, westward, Nu 3:23. The Kohathites on the right hand, southward, Nu 3:29. The Merarites on the left hand, northward, Nu 3:35. And, to complete the square, Moses and Aaron, with the priests, encamped in the front, eastward, Nu 3:38. Thus was the tabernacle surrounded with its guards; and thus does the angel of the Lord encamp round about those that fear him, those living temples, Ps 34:7. Every one knew his place, and must therein abide with God. (3.) Of their chief or head. As each class had its own place, so each had its own prince. The commander of the Gershonites was Eliasaph (Nu 3:24); of the Kohathites Elizaphan (Nu 3:30), of whom we read (Le 10:4) that he was one of the bearers at the funeral of Nadab and Abihu; of the Merarites Zuriel, Nu 3:35. (4.) Of their charge, when the camp moved. Each class knew their own business; it was requisite they should, for that which is everybody's work often proves nobody's work. The Gershonites were charged with the custody and carriage of all the curtains and hangings and coverings of the tabernacle and court (Nu 3:25,26), the Kohathites of all the furniture of the tabernacle—the ark, altar, table, etc. (Nu 3:31,32), the Merarites of the heavy carriage, boards, bars, pillars, etc., Nu 3:36,37.
2. Here we may observe, (1.) That the Kohathites, though they were the second house, yet were preferred before the elder family of the Gershonites. Besides that Aaron and the priests were of that family, they were more numerous, and their post and charge more honourable, which probably was ordered to put an honour upon Moses, who was of that family. Yet, (2.) The posterity of Moses were not at all dignified or privileged, but stood upon the level with other Levites, that it might appear he did not seek the advancement of his own family, nor to entail any honours upon it either in church or state; he that had honour enough himself coveted not to have his name shine by that borrowed light, but rather to have the Levites borrow honour from his name. Let none think contemptibly of the Levites, though inferior to the priests, for Moses himself though it preferment enough for his sons to be Levites. Probably it was because the family of Moses were Levites only that in the title of this chapter, which is concerning that tribe (Nu 3:1), Aaron is put before Moses.
III. The sum total of the numbers of this tribe. They are computed in all 22,000, Nu 3:39. The sum of the particular families amounts to 300 more; if this had been added to the sum total, the Levites, instead of being 273 fewer than the first-born, as they were (Nu 3:43), would have been twenty-seven more, and so the balance would have fallen the other way; but it is supposed that the 300 which were struck off from the account when the exchange was to be made were the first-born of the Levites themselves, born since their coming out of Egypt, which could not be put into the exchange, because they were already sanctified to God. But that which is especially observable here is that the tribe of Levi was by much the least of all the tribes. Note, God's part in the world is too often the smallest part. His chosen are comparatively a little flock.
⁴⁰ And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.
⁴¹ And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.
⁴² And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
⁴³ And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.
⁴⁴ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
⁴⁵ Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.
⁴⁶ And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites;
⁴⁷ Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:)
⁴⁸ And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.
⁴⁹ And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:
⁵⁰ Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
⁵¹ And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Here is the exchange made of the Levites for the first-born. 1. The first-born were numbered from a month old, Nu 3:42,43. Those certainly were not reckoned who, though first-born, had become heads of families themselves, but those only that were under age; and the learned bishop Patrick is decidedly of opinion that none were numbered but those only that were born since their coming out of Egypt, when the first-born were sanctified, Ex 13:2. If there were 22,000 first-born males, we may suppose as many females, and all these brought forth in the first year after they came out of Egypt, we must hence infer that in the last year of their servitude, even when it was in the greatest extremity, there were abundance of marriages made among the Israelites; they were not discouraged by the present distress, but married in faith, expecting that God would shortly visit them with mercy, and that their children, though born in bondage, should live in liberty and honour. And it was a token of good to them, an evidence that they were blessed of the Lord, that they were not only kept alive, but greatly increased, in a barren wilderness. 2. The number of the first-born, and that of the Levites, by a special providence, came pretty near to each other; thus, when he divided the nations, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel, De 32:8. Known unto God are all his works beforehand, and there is an exact proportion between them, and so it will appear when they come to be compared. The Levites' cattle are said to be taken instead of the firstlings of the cattle of the children of Israel, that is, the Levites, with all their possessions, were devoted to God instead of the first-born and all theirs; for, when we give ourselves to God, all we have passes as appurtenances with the premises. 3. The small number of first-born which exceeded the number of the Levites (273 in all) were to be redeemed, at five shekels apiece, and the redemption-money given to Aaron; for it would not do well to have them added to the Levites. It is probable that in the exchange they began with the eldest of the first-born, and so downward, so that those were to be redeemed with money who were the 273 youngest of the first-born; more likely so than either that it was determined by lot or that the money was paid out of the public stock. The church is called the church of the first-born, which is redeemed, not as these were, with silver and gold, but, being devoted by sin to the justice of God, is ransomed with the precious blood of the Son of God.
本章与下一章论及利未支派，他们要单独被点阅和编列，不与其他支派一同统计，这表明神赐给他们特别的尊荣，也要求他们尽特别的本分与服事。本章中利未人被分为两方面来考虑：I. 作为祭司在圣所事奉中的随侍与助手。为此我们读到：1. 关于祭司本身（民 3:1-4）及其职任，民 3:10。2. 将利未人作为礼物赐给他们（民 3:5-9）；为此利未人被点阅（民 3:14-16），并核计其总数，民 3:39。利未人各家族逐一被点阅，各得其位、各领其责：革顺人（民 3:17-26），哥辖人（民 3:27-32），米拉利人，民 3:33-39。II. 作为长子的替代，民 3:11-13。1. 长子被数点，利未人代替他们，按利未人的数目为限，民 3:40-45。2. 利未人之外多出来的长子要被赎出，民 3:46-51 等。