Numbers 1:53

_BUT THE LEVITES AFTER THE TRIBE OF THEIR FATHERS WERE NOT NUMBERED AMONG THEM._ But the Levites ... were not numbered. They were obliged to keep a register of their own. They were consecrated to the priestly office, which in all countries has been exempted customarily, and in Israel by the express authority of God, from military service. The custody of the things devoted, to the divine service was assigned to them so exclusively that 'no stranger' - i:e., no person, not even an Israelite of any other tribe-was allowed, under penalty of death, to approach these; and hence, they encamped around the tabernacle, that there should be no manifestation of the divine displeasure among the people. Thus, the numbering of the people was subservient to the separation of the Levites from those Israelites who were fit for military service, and to the practical introduction of the law respecting the...

47-54 Care is here taken to distinguish the tribe of Levi, which, in the matter of the golden calf, had distinguished itself. Singular services shall be recompensed by singular honours. It was to the honour of the Levites, that to them was committed the care of the tabernacle and its treasures, in their camps and in their marches. It was for the honour of the holy things that none should see them, or touch them, but those who were called of God to the service. We all are unfit and unworthy to have fellowship with God, till called by his grace into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and so, being the spiritual seed of that great High Priest, we are made priests to our God. Great care must be taken to prevent sin, for preventing sin is preventing wrath. Being a holy tribe, they were not reckoned among other Israelites. They that minister about holy things, should neither ent...

When a census of the tribe of Levi takes place. Numbers 3:15; Numbers 26:62, “all” the males are counted from a month old and upward, and not, as in the other tribes, those only who were of age for service in the field. Numbers 1:48 HAD SPOKEN - Render spake. The formal appointment is only now made, in reward for their zeal Exodus 32:26, though reference to their future office appears previously in Leviticus 25:32 ff, and they had already acted as assistants to the priests (com

EXPOSITION THE LEVITES (Numbers 1:47-4). NUMBERS 1:47 NOT NUMBERED AMONG THEM. They _were _numbered (Numbers 3:39), but not among the rest; their census was taken separately, and on a different basis. NUMBERS 1:48 HAD SPOKEN. Rather, "spake," and so Septuagint. This was the formal command to separate, although it had been anticipated to a considerable extent. The Levites had been marked out from the others (1) as the tribesmen of Moses and Aaron,...

BUT THE LEVITES SHALL PITCH ROUND ABOUT THE TABERNACLE OF TESTIMONY,.... Between the tabernacle and the camps of Israel, to guard the tabernacle and preserve the things in it, and to keep persons from going into it that should not, to pollute or plunder it: these were placed in like manner as the four living creatures round the throne, Revelation 4:6; where the allusion seems to be to this situation of the Levites: THAT THERE BE NO WRATH UPON THE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL; that is, from the Lord, should any of them approach too near, or meddle with and touch what they had nothing to do with, or go where they should not; such wrath as came upon Uzzah for his error and transgression before observed: AND THE LEVITES SHALL KEEP THE CHARGE OF THE TABERNACLE OF TESTIMONY; the several things in it committed to their charge; see...

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. THE PREPARATION FOR THE JOURNEY 1. The People Numbered CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The command to number (Numbers 1:1)_ 2. The appointed helpers for the work (Numbers 1:5) 3. The congregation assembled (Numbers 1:17) 4. The twelve tribes numbered (Numbers 1:20) 5. The Levites separated unto the tabernacle service (Numbers 1:47) It was exactly one month after the erection of the tabernacle that the Lord gave the commandment to Moses to number the people. This is seen by comparing

PITCH. encamp. THAT THERE BE NO WRATH: i.e. no judgment from God. "wrath" put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Cause) for the judgment inflicted. App-6. Hebrew. _kazaph._ First occurrence....

The Levites were not to be numbered as fighting men, but were assigned other duties on the march. These duties are stated more fully in chs. 3, 4....

THAT THERE BE NO WRATH— The service of the Levites, respecting the tabernacle, being mentioned in the preceding verses, it is here particularly enjoined, that they should pitch their tents round about it, that no man might approach nearer than was allowed, and thus incur the Divine wrath or displeasure. REFLECTIONS.—1st, As the Israelites were about to march, they must be regimented. Order in an army is of the last importance. Those who were commanded were expeditious in their work, and in less than three weeks the review, and the register, were completed. Zeal to serve God makes quick work. Every tribe gave account of the families in it; every family, of the houses; every house, the number and age of the males. And in their numbers we see the prophecies eminently fulfilled, in Judah's increase, in Ephraim's surpassing Manasseh, and in Reuben, though the eldest, being inferior to many ot...

III. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO THE LEVITES (NUMBERS 1:47-54) TEXT Numbers 1:47. But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them. 48. For the Lord had spoken unto Moses, saying, 49. Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel: 50. But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong _to_ it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle. 51. And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put