서론
無標題
英文原文
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)
利未人的分別為聖（主前1490年）
¹ 耶和華在西奈山與摩西說話的日子，亞倫和摩西的後代如下。
² 亞倫的兒子的名字如下：長子拿答，亞比戶，以利亞撒，以他瑪。
³ 這是亞倫兒子的名字，就是受膏的祭司，他使他們承接聖職，在祭司職任中供職。
⁴ 拿答、亞比戶在西奈的曠野向耶和華獻凡火的時候，死在耶和華面前，他們也沒有兒女；以利亞撒、以他瑪在他們父親亞倫面前供祭司職。
⁵ 耶和華對摩西說：
⁶ 「你使利未支派近前來，叫他們站在祭司亞倫面前伺候他。
⁷ 他們要替他和全會眾在會幕前守所吩咐他們的，辦理帳幕的事。
⁸ 他們要看守會幕的一切器具，並看守以色列人的本分，辦理帳幕的事。
⁹ 你要把利未人給亞倫和他的兒子；他們是從以色列人中完全賜給他的。
¹⁰ 你要派亞倫和他的兒子，他們要盡祭司的職任；外人若挨近，必被治死。」
¹¹ 耶和華對摩西說：
¹² 「看哪，我從以色列人中揀選了利未人，代替以色列人中一切頭生的，就是一切開母腹的；所以利未人要歸我。
¹³ 因為凡頭生的都是我的；因為我在埃及地擊殺一切頭生的那日，就將以色列中一切頭生的，無論人畜，都分別為聖歸我；他們必屬我：我是耶和華。」
在此，一、亞倫的家族被確認在祭司的職任中（民三10）。他們先前已被呼召、被分別為聖歸於此職；如今他們被派定要盡祭司的職任：使徒用了這話（羅十二7）：我們就當專一（直譯：要專注於我們的職事）。傳道的職任需要常常在場和極大的殷勤；其工作循環頻繁，而其中有利的時機又轉瞬即逝，所以必須專注其上。這裏又重複了先前所說的話（民一51）：外人若挨近，必被治死；這話禁止任何其他人侵奪祭司的職任；除了亞倫和他的兒子之外，無人可就近供職，其餘的都是外人。這也把責任交給祭司，要他們像神家中的看門人一樣，小心看守，不讓律法所禁止的人靠近；他們要攔阻一切擅自闖入的人——這些人的靠近會褻瀇聖物——並告訴他們，若就近就是冒險，必死在神手中，像烏撒那樣。猶太人說，後來在殿門上掛著一把金劍（也許是暗示伊甸園入口那發火焰的劍），上面刻著：外人若挨近，必被治死。
二、關於亞倫這個家族，這裏作了特別的記述；先前關於他們的事，在這裏又重複了。1. 亞倫眾子的分別為聖（民三3）。他們都受膏在耶和華面前供職，雖然後來顯明——神也早已知道——他們當中有兩個是聰明的，兩個是愚拙的。2. 兩個長子的墮落（民三4）：他們獻上凡火，因而死在耶和華面前。這事在此處，就是論祭司職分的律法的序言中被提及，為要警告歷代一切作祭司的人；讓他們藉這例子知道，神是忌邪的神，是不可輕慢的；聖膏油對順命的人是尊榮，對不順命的人卻不是庇護。這裏說：他們沒有兒女，護理如此安排，為要加重他們的刑罰，使他們沒有後裔存留作祭司，以延續那褻瀇了神名之人的名。3. 兩個幼子的延續：以利亞撒和以他瑪在亞倫面前供職。這表明：（1）他們在供職時所存的謹慎，不犯任何過失；他們常在父親眼前，凡事向父親領教而行，因為拿答和亞比戶大概正是在獻凡火時，脫離了父親的眼目。當注意，年輕人在年長而有經驗之人的指引和監督之下行事，乃是好的。（2）亞倫從中所得的安慰；他看見兩個幼子謹慎莊重地行事，而兩個長子卻失足了，心裏就歡喜。當注意，作父母的看見兒女遵行真理，是極大的喜樂（約叁4）。
三、利未人被賜給祭司，作他們工作的助手：你要把利未人給亞倫（民三9）。亞倫要在利未支派中擁有比其他首領在他們各支派中更大的專屬權和權柄。祭司的職任有許多工作，而如今只有三雙手來作這一切——亞倫和他兩個兒子的手；因為看不出他們這時有任何一人有兒女，至少沒有能供職年紀的兒女；所以神指派利未人來伺候他們。當注意，神為有事奉祂的人找到工作，也必為他們找到幫助。這裏有：1. 利未人所設計的事奉：他們要在祭司向耶和華供職的事上伺候祭司（民三6），並守亞倫所吩咐的（民三7），正如福音體制中執事之於監督——在伺候飯食上服事，而監督則專注於他們的職事。利未人宰殺祭牲，然後祭司只需灑血和焚脂；利未人預備香，祭司燒香。他們不但要看守亞倫所吩咐的，還要看守全會眾所交託的。當注意，交託給傳道人的乃是極大的信任——不僅為基督的榮耀，也為祂教會的益處；所以他們不僅當看守大祭司所吩咐的，也當對人的靈魂忠心——因為所交託他們的，正是為這些靈魂而設的職分。2. 利未人被要求的緣由：他們被取來代替頭生的。當埃及人一切頭生的被滅之時，以色列人一切頭生的得以保全（他們當中有許多人原與埃及人雜處），這在那從不無理要求的神看來，已足夠作為將此後一切頭生的分別歸祂的憑據（民三13）：凡頭生的都是我的。這已足以使他們歸祂，即使祂未曾說明理由，因為祂是一切存在與權能的唯一源頭和主宰；但因為一切順服都當出於愛，盡本分的行動也當是感恩的行動，所以在他們被召入特別的事奉之前，他們先蒙了特別的恩寵。當注意，那造我們的神既拯救了我們，我們就因此更進一步有義務事奉祂、為祂而活。神因救贖而對我們所有的權利，加強了祂因創造而對我們所有的權利。如今因為家中的長子通常是最蒙寵愛的，有人或許以為讓他們的長子作祭司的僕人、在帳幕門前伺候，是有損顏面的事，所以神就把整個利未支派取來歸自己，以代替頭生的（民三12）。當注意，神的制度並不虧待人在任何正當利益或合理情感上。可以推想，以色列人寧可捨棄利未人，也不願捨棄頭生的，所以神恩慈地安排了這項交換；然而為我們，祂卻不愛惜自己的兒子。
¹⁴ 耶和華在西奈的曠野對摩西說：
¹⁵ 「你要照利未人的祖宗家室、宗族，數點他們：凡一切男的，從一個月以外的，你都要數點。」
¹⁶ 於是摩西照耶和華所吩咐的數點了他們。
¹⁷ 利未的兒子按著名字如下：革順、哥轄、米拉利。
¹⁸ 革順的兒子按著宗族，名字如下：立尼、示每。
¹⁹ 哥轄的兒子按著宗族如下：暗蘭、以斯哈、希伯倫、烏薛。
²⁰ 米拉利的兒子按著宗族如下：抹利、母示。這是按著祖宗家室的利未人宗族。
²¹ 屬革順的有立尼族、示每族：這是革順人的宗族。
²² 其中被數的，按著一切男丁的數目，從一個月以外的，就是他們當中被數點的，共七千五百名。
²³ 革順人的宗族要在帳幕後邊西邊安營。
²⁴ 革順人父家的首領是拉伊勒的兒子以利雅薩。
²⁵ 革順的兒子在會幕中所當守的是帳幕和罩棚，並罩棚的蓋，和會幕的門簾，
²⁶ 院子的帷子和簾子，並門簾，就是在帳幕和壇周圍的，並一切使用的繩子。
²⁷ 屬哥轄的有暗蘭族、以斯哈族、希伯倫族、烏薛族：這是哥轄人的宗族。
²⁸ 按著一切男丁的數目，從一個月以外的，共八千六百名，看守聖所。
²⁹ 哥轄人的宗族要在帳幕南邊安營。
³⁰ 哥轄人宗族父家的首領是烏薛的兒子以利撒反。
³¹ 他們所當守的是約櫃、桌子、燈臺、兩座壇，並他們所用以供職的聖所器具，以及簾子和一切使用之物。
³² 祭司亞倫的兒子以利亞撒，要作利未人首領中的首領，並要監督看守聖所的人。
³³ 屬米拉利的有抹利族、母示族：這是米拉利的宗族。
³⁴ 他們被數的，按著一切男丁的數目，從一個月以外的，共六千二百名。
³⁵ 米拉利人宗族父家的首領是亞比亥的兒子蘇列；他們要在帳幕北邊安營。
³⁶ 受米拉利兒子所派看守、當守的是帳幕的板、閂、柱子、帶卯的座，並一切器具，以及一切所用之物，
³⁷ 院子周圍的柱子、帶卯的座、橛子和繩子。
³⁸ 在帳幕前邊向東安營的，就是在會幕前向東的，是摩西、亞倫和他的兒子，為以色列人看守聖所的本分；外人若挨近，必被治死。
³⁹ 凡被數的利未人，就是摩西、亞倫照耶和華的吩咐、按著他們的宗族所數點的，一切男的從一個月以外的，共二萬二千名。
利未人既被賜給亞倫伺候他，就在這裏按著數目交給他，使他知道他有怎樣的人力，並相應地使用他們。當注意，
一、他們被數點所用的準則：凡一切男的，從一個月以外的（民三15）。其餘的支派只從二十歲以外數點，而且只數那些能出去打仗的；但在利未人的數目中，卻要把嬰孩和軟弱的人都包括進來；他們既免了兵役，就不堅持他們必須達到能打仗的年齡和體力。雖然此後顯明，利未人中只有不到三分之一的人適合在帳幕中事奉（二萬二千人中約八千人，民四47-48），神卻要他們全都算為祂家中的僕役而被數點；好使無人因自己不能像別人那樣事奉神，就以為被神否認和棄絕。一個月大的利未人不能像長成的人那樣榮耀神、事奉帳幕；然而從嬰孩和吃奶的口中，利未人的讚美得以完全。不要攔阻小孩子被列在基督的門徒之中，因為利未支派就是這樣的，天國也是這樣的人的——那祭司的國度。長子的贖價是從一個月大算起的（民十八15-16），所以利未人也從那個年齡被數點。他們是按著祖宗家室被數點，不是按著母親；因為利未的女兒若嫁入別支派，她的兒子就不是利未人；然而我們讀到一位事奉神的屬靈祭司，他承接了那住在他母親和外祖母心裏無偽的信（提後一5）。
二、他們如何被分為三等，照著利未三子革順、哥轄、米拉利的數目，又再分為若干家族（民三17-20）。
-
關於這三等的每一等，我們都有記載：（1）他們的數目。革順人有七千五百名。哥轄人有八千六百名。米拉利人有六千二百名。其餘的支派並沒有像利未人那樣，把下屬的家族個別數點；這是神對自己支派所加的尊榮。（2）他們當守的、圍繞帳幕的崗位。革順人在帳幕後邊西邊安營（民三23）。哥轄人在右邊南邊（民三29）。米拉利人在左邊北邊（民三35）。為使四方完整，摩西和亞倫以及眾祭司在前方東邊安營（民三38）。這樣，帳幕就被守衛四圍環繞；照樣，耶和華的使者，在敬畏祂的人四圍安營，搭救他們——那些活殿（詩三十四7）。各人都知道自己的位置，也當在其中與神同住。（3）他們的首領或族長。每一等既有自己的位置，也就有自己的首領。革順人的統領是以利雅薩（民三24）；哥轄人的是以利撒反（民三30），我們讀到他曾在拿答和亞比戶的葬禮上作抬屍的人之一（利十4）；米拉利人的是蘇列（民三35）。（4）他們在起行時所當看守的。每一等都知道自己的職責；這是必需的，因為人人有責的工作常常變成無人負責的工作。革順人受託看守並搬運帳幕和院子一切幕幔、帷子和蓋（民三25-26）；哥轄人受託看守帳幕的一切器具——約櫃、壇、桌子等（民三31-32）；米拉利人受託搬運沉重的物件——板、閂、柱子等（民三36-37）。
-
在此我們可以觀察到：（1）哥轄人雖是次子之家，卻排在長子革順家之前。除了亞倫和眾祭司都屬這一家之外，他們人數更多，崗位和職責也更尊榮，這安排大概為要尊榮屬這家的摩西。然而（2）摩西的後裔卻毫無特別的尊榮或特權，乃與其他利未人站在同等的地位上，好使人看見他並不尋求自己家族的高升，也不想在教會或國家中為其家族留下任何世襲的尊榮；他自己既已得著足夠的尊榮，就不貪圖藉著借用之光使自己的名發亮，倒情願讓利未人從他的名得尊榮。所以無人可以輕看利未人，雖然他們不及祭司，因為摩西自己也算他兒子作利未人是足夠的高升。也許正因為摩西的家族只是利未人，所以在本章——論及利未支派（民三1）——的標題中，亞倫被列在摩西之前。
三、本支派數目的總計。他們合計共二萬二千名（民三39）。各家數目相加，比總數多了三百名；這三百若加在總數上，利未人就會比頭生的多出二十七名，而非像實際那樣少二百七十三名（民三43），天平就會倒向另一邊；但據推想，當交換之時被從數目中減去的那三百名，是利未人自己的長子——他們是在出埃及之後出生的，不能列入交換之中，因為他們已經分別為聖歸神了。然而此處特別可注意的，是利未支派顯然是所有支派中最小的。當注意，神在世上所得的分，往往是最小的一分。祂所揀選的，相對而言是一小群。
⁴⁰ 耶和華對摩西說：「你要從一個月以外，數點以色列人中一切頭生的男子，並記他們的名字。
⁴¹ 我是耶和華，你要揀選利未人歸我，代替以色列人中一切頭生的；也取利未人的牲畜，代替以色列人的牲畜中一切頭生的。」
⁴² 摩西就照耶和華所吩咐他的，數點了以色列人中一切頭生的。
⁴³ 按著人名的數目，從一個月以外的，一切頭生的男子，凡被數的，共二萬二千二百七十三名。
⁴⁴ 耶和華對摩西說：
⁴⁵ 「你取利未人代替以色列人中一切頭生的，也取利未人的牲畜代替他們的牲畜；利未人要歸我：我是耶和華。
⁴⁶ 以色列人中頭生的，比利未人多二百七十三名，當贖的那些人，
⁴⁷ 你要按人丁數，每人按聖所的平，取贖銀五舍客勒*：（一舍客勒是*二十季拉：）
⁴⁸ 把那多出來之人的贖銀，交給亞倫和他的兒子。」
⁴⁹ 於是摩西從那些比利未人多出來、當贖的人收取了贖銀。
⁵⁰ 他從以色列人頭生的所取的銀子，按聖所的平，共一千三百六十五舍客勒。
⁵¹ 摩西照耶和華的話，將當贖之人的銀子交給亞倫和他的兒子，正如耶和華所吩咐摩西的。
這裏是利未人代替頭生的所作的交換。1. 頭生的從一個月大被數點（民三42-43）。那些雖是頭生、卻已成家立業的人，顯然不計在內，只數未成年的人；博學的帕特里克主教（bishop Patrick）斷然主張，被數點的只是他們出埃及之後所生的，因為頭生的是在那時被分別為聖的（出十三2）。若有二萬二千名頭生男子，我們可以推想女子也有同樣數目，而這些都是在出埃及後第一年出生的，由此我們必須推論：在他們為奴的最後一年，甚至在極端艱難之時，以色列人當中仍有許多婚嫁；他們並不因眼前的困苦而灰心，反憑信心結婚，盼望神不久就要施恩眷顧他們，他們的兒女雖生在奴役中，卻必活在自由和尊榮裏。這對他們是美善的記號，是他們蒙耶和華賜福的明證，因為他們不僅得以存活，而且在荒涼的曠野中大為增多。2. 頭生的數目，與利未人的數目，藉著特別的護理，相當接近；這樣，當祂將列國分開時，就按著以色列人的數目，立定萬民的疆界（申三十二8）。神對自己一切的工作都瞭如指掌，它們之間存在精確的對應，等到相比較時就要顯明出來。利未人的牲畜據說被取來代替以色列人牲畜中的頭生——意思是說，利未人連同他們一切所有的，都獻給神，以代替頭生的和他們一切所有的；因為我們把自己獻給神時，我們一切所有的也就隨之作為附屬之物獻上了。3. 頭生的數目超過利未人數目的那一小部分（共二百七十三名），當按每人五舍客勒贖出，贖銀歸給亞倫；因為把這些人也加在利未人中並不妥當。在交換時大概從最年長的開始，依次而下，所以要用銀子贖出來的，乃是二百七十三名最年幼的頭生；這比用拈鬮決定，或從公款支付，都更為可能。教會被稱為長子之教會——這教會得蒙救贖，不是像這些人一樣用金銀贖出，而是因罪而落在神公義之下，就用神兒子的寶血贖回。
英文原文
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.
本章與下一章論及利未支派，他們要單獨被點閱和編排，不與其他支派一同辦理，這表明了他們所蒙特別的尊榮，以及對他們要求的特別職分與事奉。在本章中，利未人從兩方面被考慮：一、作為祭司在聖殿事奉中的隨侍與助手。因此我們看到記載：1. 祭司本身（民 3:1-4）及其職責，民 3:10。2. 將利未人賜給他們為禮物（民 3:5-9），為此他們被點閱（民 3:14-16），並統計了總數，民 3:39。他們各家族都經過點閱，各有指定的位置與當守的職責：革順人（民 3:17-26）、哥轄人（民 3:27-32）、米拉利人，民 3:33-39。二、作為長子的替代，民 3:11-13。1. 長子被數點，利未人取代他們的地位，按利未人的數目而定，民 3:40-45。2. 超出利未人數目的長子被贖出來，民 3:46-51 等。