Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

1:47-54 The Responsibilities of the Levites. The Levites, the priestly tribe, were not included in the census because they had a more important job than fighting. They were responsible for the tabernacle, God's palace, the most vital part of the whole camp. Israel was the people of God, but without his presence with them in the tabernacle, there would have been no point to their existence. The Levites' task was to ensure God's continuing presence with Israel. They dismantled, carried, and reassembled the tabernacle (vv. 50-51). They also guarded it from intruders. Entry to the tabernacle by laypeople could lead to divine wrath breaking out and the death of many Israelites, so the Levites were told to execute any outsider breaking in (vv. 51-53). A similar threat had been made against anyone trying to approach God on Mount Sinai (Ex. 19:11-13; Heb. 12:18-29).