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

3:1-4:49 Two Censuses of the Levites. The two censuses count different groups of Levites: the first (3:1-51) counts every male Levite over one month old, whereas the second (4:1-49) counts those between 30 and 50 years of age. The male Levites took the place of the firstborn males of the other tribes in order to serve the Lord, so the first census ensures that the number of the former matches the number of the latter. Transporting the tabernacle requires strength, so the second census aims to find if there are enough able-bodied male Levites for this task.

3:1-51 Census of All Male Levites. This census focuses on the Levites' ongoing role in Israel.

3:1-4 The Sons of Aaron. This census begins with the priests, the most holy family of the Levites. The priests were descended from Aaron, who belonged to the Kohathite clan within the tribe of Levi (Ex. 6:16-25). Because of their high status, they camped to the east of the tabernacle, guarding its entrance (Num. 3:38); the tribe of Judah camped farther out (2:3). Despite their privileges, two sons of Aaron died as a result of giving an unauthorized incense offering (3:4; see Lev. 10:1-20).

3:5-10 The Duties of the Levites. The two principal tasks of the Levites included: (1) guarding the tabernacle from intruders and (2) ministering at the tabernacle (i.e., transporting it from place to place). How this is to be done is explained in ch. 4.

3:11-13 Reason for the Levitical Census. In the last plague, every firstborn male Egyptian and every firstborn of their cattle died, but the Israelite boys and cattle were spared. So after this, all Israelite firstborn boys and cattle were 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).

3:14-39 The Clans' Numbers, Positions, and Responsibilities. The census results are listed by clan, specifying which parts of the tabernacle each clan was responsible for carrying and which side they had to guard (see diagram). Most privileged were the Kohathites (8,600), camping on the south side and responsible for the ark and other holy furniture. Next in privilege were the Gershonites (7,500), camping on the west side and responsible for the curtains and hangings. Finally came the Merarites (6,200), camping on the north side and looking after the frames, pegs, etc. The total number of Levites (v. 39) is 22,000, which is 300 less than the sum of the individual clans. The likeliest explanation is that, due to a copyist's error, the number of Kohathites should be 8,300, not 8,600. The numerals 6 and 3 are very similar in Hebrew. The location of the priests at the east side of the tabernacle guarding its entrance (v. 38) may anticipate the role of Jesus as high priest, giving his people access to God's presence in heaven (Hebrews 9-10).

3:40-51 Redemption of the Firstborn. The census showed there were 273 fewer Levites than firstborn males in the other tribes. To redeem these 273 Israelites who had no Levite to take their place, five shekels (v. 47) per person had to be paid. This is the tariff prescribed in Lev. 27:6 for boys under five. Five shekels would have been about a year's pay for a herdsman.

4:1-49 Census of Mature Levites. Levites between 30 and 50 years old were responsible for moving the tabernacle from campsite to campsite. This chapter specifies what each Levitical clan must do (vv. 3-33) and then records their number (vv. 34-49). The instructions presuppose that the reader can visualize the tabernacle and its furniture. For a full description of the tabernacle, see Exodus 25-31 and notes, and The Tabernacle.

4:1-20 The Tasks of the Kohathites. The Kohathite priests handle the most holy items of the tabernacle (such as the ark, lampstand, and altars), but the non-priestly Kohathites are not even to look at them, lest they die. If someone looks at God, he will die (Ex. 33:20), and because these items share this intense divine holiness, they could prove equally lethal (Num. 4:17-20). For this reason, only the priests may wrap these pieces of sacred furniture. Notice that different-colored cloths are used for different items, symbolizing their different degrees of holiness. The ark, being most holy, was wrapped in three layers, the veil, goatskin, and blue . . . cloth (vv. 5-6). The next most holy item, the table, had three layers with goatskin on the outside, and the golden altar and lampstand had two layers (vv. 7-11). When the priests had wrapped the items, they were given to the Kohathites to carry, either on poles or on a carrying frame (vv. 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14). A Hittite document from the second millennium b.c. provides an analogy to OT texts that describe the work of Levites and priests, in that it describes two classes of people who watch over and take care of the temple: a priestly class and a non-priestly class. People in the latter group serve as aides to the former group.

4:21-28 The Tasks of the Gershonites. This section specifies the curtains of the tabernacle that the Gershonites are to carry. They were to be transported in two oxcarts (7:7).

4:29-33 The Tasks of the Merarites. The Merarites had to transport the planks, poles, bases, etc. These items, being heavier and bulkier than the curtains, required four oxcarts (7:8).

4:34-49 The Results of the Second Census. Levites between 30 and 50 years old totaled 8,580, just over a third of their total number of 22,000 (3:39). This chapter again shows preparations being made for the march into Canaan. It underlines once again the dangerous holiness of God: he cannot be approached casually. It also emphasizes the importance of the ministry of the Levites, who make possible the transport of the tabernacle to the land and who guard it from intrusion.