Numbers 4:39

_AND MOSES AND AARON AND THE CHIEF OF THE CONGREGATION NUMBERED THE SONS OF THE KOHATHITES AFTER THEIR FAMILIES, AND AFTER THE HOUSE OF THEIR FATHERS,_ Moses and Aaron ... This enumeration was made on a different principle from that which is recorded in the preceding chapter. That was confined to the males from a month old and upwards, while this was extended to all capable of service in the three classes of the Levitical tribe. In considering their relative numbers the wisdom of Divine Providence appears in arranging that, whereas in the Kohathites and Gershonites, whose burdens were few and easier, there were but about a third part of them which were fit for service; the Merarites, whose burdens were more and heavier, had above one half of them fit for this work (Poole). The small population of this tribe, so inferior to that of the other tribes, is attempted to be explained (see the...

34-49 God so ordered it, that though the Merarites were the fewest in number, yet they should have most able men among them; for whatever service God calls men to, he will furnish them for it, give strength in proportion to the work, and grace sufficient. The least of the tribes had many more able men than the Levites: those who engage in the service of this world, are many more than those devoted to the service of God. May our souls be wholly devoted to his service....

EXPOSITION THE DUTIES OF THE LEVITES (Numbers 4:1). NUMBERS 4:2 TAKE THE SUM OF THE SONS OF KOHATH. The Levites having been separated from the other tribes, the Kohathites are now to be separated from amongst the other Levites for the most honourable and sacred duties. To them the preference was given presumably because the priests were Kohathites. NUMBERS 4:3 FROM THIRTY YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. The age at which they became liable for service was shortly after reduced to twenty-five ...

FROM THIRTY YEARS OLD AND UPWARD EVEN UNTO FIFTY YEARS OLD,.... Numbers 4:34....

CHAPTER 4 The Service of the Levites and their Numbering _ 1. The children of Kohath; their service (Numbers 4:1)_ 2. The sons of Gershon; their service (Numbers 4:21) 3. The sons of Merari; their service (Numbers 4:29) 4. Their numbering for service (Numbers 4:34) This chapter enters more fully into the service of the Levites. They are mustered for service “from thirty years old and upwards even unto fifty years old.” As we saw in the previous chapter, their service was to carry the holy things of Jehovah through the wilderness. The wilderness is for us the type of the world through which we p

A CENSUS OF THE LEVITES QUALIFIED TO SERVE ABOUT THE TABERNACLE, AND THE APPORTIONMENT OF THEIR DUTIES. This census includes all males between 30 and 50 (_cf._ 1 Chronicles 23:3). In Numbers 8:23 the limits of age are 25 and 50 (and the LXX substitutes 25 for 30 in this passage also); in 1 Chronicles 23:24; 2 Chronicles 31:17; Ezra 3:8 the inferior limit is 20, and no superior limit is specified. The variation no doubt corresponds to changes which prevailed at different periods. The task of packing the contents of the Tabe

34 49. A detailed statement that Moses and Aaron numbered the men between the ages of 30 and 50 in the three Levitical families, as had been commanded....

D. THE CENSUS OF THE PRIESTLY FAMILIES vv. 34-49 TEXT Numbers 4:34. And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers, 35. From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation: 36. And those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty. 37. These were they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. 38. And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers, 30. From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, e

4:39 labour, (b-18) See Note at ver. 3....

THE DUTIES OF THE LEVITES ON THE MARCH 2. Kohath seems to have been the second son of Levi (Numbers 3:17), but his family is mentioned first, because Moses and Aaron belonged to it (Numbers 3:19 cp. Exodus 6:18; Exodus 6:20), and because it had charge of the most sacred furniture, the ark, etc....