Numbers 3: The Levites take the place of the firstborn
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What happens?
The chapter names Aaron's sons, the priests, and Yahweh gives the tribe of Levi to Aaron to serve him and look after the tabernacle. Yahweh says he has taken the Levites for himself in place of every firstborn of Israel. The Levites are counted from a month old, clan by clan, with each clan's place around the tabernacle and its duties. Then the firstborn of Israel are counted, and for the 273 more than the number of the Levites, five shekels each is paid to Aaron and his sons.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the account, and Yahweh speaks to Moses five times. God's own words are in 14 of the 51 verses: verses 6 to 10, 12 and 13, 15, 40 and 41, and 45 to 48. Verses 1 to 4 and 16 to 39 are the narrator's lists and counts, and in verses 42 and 49 to 51 the narrator says that Moses did what Yahweh commanded. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now this is the history of the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Yahweh spoke with Moses in Mount Sinai.
In plain English: These are the family records (this Bible: the history of the generations) of Aaron and Moses at the time when Yahweh spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.
The Hebrew word: "Generations" is toledot, which the dictionary gives as "descent, i.e. family", and "history". It is the word in "This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the earth" () and in the family lists of Genesis.
Good to know: The verse names Aaron and Moses, but the list that follows gives only the sons of Aaron. The text does not say why.
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2These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
In plain English: These are the names of Aaron's sons: Nadab the firstborn, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
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3These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office.
In plain English: These are the names of Aaron's sons, the anointed priests, whom he ordained (literally: filled their hand) to serve as priests.
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4Nadab and Abihu died before Yahweh when they offered strange fire before Yahweh in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the presence of Aaron their father.
In plain English: Nadab and Abihu died before Yahweh when they offered strange (or: foreign) fire before Yahweh in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons (this Bible: children). Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the presence of (or: during the lifetime of) Aaron their father.
Good to know: The death of Nadab and Abihu is told in and . tells it again in one line.
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5Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
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6“Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.God speaks
In plain English: "Bring the tribe of Levi near and set them before Aaron the priest, to serve him.
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7They shall keep his requirements, and the requirements of the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle.God speaks
In plain English: They are to carry out duties for him and for the whole community in front of the Tent of Meeting, doing the work of the tabernacle.
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8They shall keep all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, and the obligations of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.God speaks
In plain English: They are to take care of all the things of the Tent of Meeting and carry out the duties of the Israelites, doing the work of the tabernacle.
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9You shall give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons. They are wholly given to him on the behalf of the children of Israel.God speaks
In plain English: Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They are wholly given (literally: given, given) to him on behalf of (or: from among) the Israelites.
Good to know: "Wholly given" is one Hebrew word said twice, "given, given". In Yahweh says the same of the Levites, that they are "wholly given to me".
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10You shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood, but the stranger who comes near shall be put to death.”God speaks
In plain English: Appoint Aaron and his sons to keep their priesthood. Any outsider (this Bible: the stranger) who comes near is to be put to death."
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11Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
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12“Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be mine,God speaks
In plain English: "Look, I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of every firstborn who opens the womb among the Israelites. The Levites are to be mine,
Good to know: Yahweh claims every firstborn in , after he struck down the firstborn of Egypt (). Here he takes the Levites in their place. He says it again in to .
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13for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I made holy to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal. They shall be mine. I am Yahweh.”God speaks
In plain English: because every firstborn is mine. On the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I set apart (this Bible: made holy) for myself every firstborn in Israel, both people and animals. They are to be mine. I am Yahweh."
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14Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,
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15“Count the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families. You shall count every male from a month old and upward.”God speaks
In plain English: "Count the descendants of Levi by their fathers' houses and their clans. Count every male a month old and over."
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16Moses counted them according to Yahweh’s word, as he was commanded.
In plain English: So Moses counted them as Yahweh said (literally: at the mouth of Yahweh), as he had been commanded.
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17These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
In plain English: These were the sons of Levi by name: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
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18These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei.
In plain English: These are the names of the sons of Gershon, by their clans: Libni and Shimei.
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19The sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
In plain English: The sons of Kohath, by their clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.
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20The sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers’ houses.
In plain English: The sons of Merari, by their clans: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites, by their fathers' houses.
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21Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites. These are the families of the Gershonites.
In plain English: From Gershon came the clan of the Libnites and the clan of the Shimeites. These are the clans of the Gershonites.
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22Those who were counted of them, according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward, even those who were counted of them were seven thousand five hundred.
In plain English: Those counted, every male a month old and over, numbered 7,500.
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23The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tabernacle westward.
In plain English: The clans of the Gershonites are to camp behind the tabernacle, on the west.
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24Eliasaph the son of Lael shall be the prince of the fathers’ house of the Gershonites.
In plain English: The leader of the fathers' house of the Gershonites is Eliasaph son of Lael.
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25The duty of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting shall be the tabernacle, the tent, its covering, the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting,
In plain English: In the Tent of Meeting the Gershonites are in charge of the tabernacle, the tent, its covering, the screen for the entrance of the Tent of Meeting,
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26the hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the court which is by the tabernacle and around the altar, and its cords for all of its service.
In plain English: the hangings of the courtyard, the screen for the entrance of the courtyard that goes around the tabernacle and the altar, and its ropes, with all the work that goes with them.
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27Of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites. These are the families of the Kohathites.
In plain English: From Kohath came the clans of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites. These are the clans of the Kohathites.
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28According to the number of all the males from a month old and upward, there were eight thousand six hundred keeping the requirements of the sanctuary.
In plain English: Every male a month old and over numbered 8,600. They kept the duties of the holy place (this Bible: sanctuary).
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29The families of the sons of Kohath shall encamp on the south side of the tabernacle.
In plain English: The clans of the Kohathites are to camp on the south side of the tabernacle.
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30The prince of the fathers’ house of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.
In plain English: The leader of the fathers' house of the Kohathite clans is Elizaphan son of Uzziel.
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31Their duty shall be the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, the screen, and all its service.
In plain English: They are in charge of the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the things of the holy place used in the service, the screen, and all the work that goes with them.
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32Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be prince of the princes of the Levites, with the oversight of those who keep the requirements of the sanctuary.
In plain English: Eleazar son of Aaron the priest is the chief of the leaders of the Levites. He oversees those who keep the duties of the holy place.
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33Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites. These are the families of Merari.
In plain English: From Merari came the clan of the Mahlites and the clan of the Mushites. These are the clans of Merari.
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34Those who were counted of them, according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward, were six thousand two hundred.
In plain English: Those counted, every male a month old and over, numbered 6,200.
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35The prince of the fathers’ house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They shall encamp on the north side of the tabernacle.
In plain English: The leader of the fathers' house of the Merari clans was Zuriel son of Abihail. They are to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.
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36The appointed duty of the sons of Merari shall be the tabernacle’s boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its instruments, all its service,
In plain English: The Merarites are appointed to take care of the frames (this Bible: boards) of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its bases (this Bible: sockets), all its fittings, and all the work that goes with them,
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37the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, and their cords.
In plain English: and the pillars of the courtyard all around, with their bases, their tent pegs (this Bible: pins) and their ropes.
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38Those who encamp before the tabernacle eastward, in front of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, shall be Moses, with Aaron and his sons, keeping the requirements of the sanctuary for the duty of the children of Israel. The outsider who comes near shall be put to death.
In plain English: Camping in front of the tabernacle on the east, in front of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, are Moses, Aaron and his sons. They keep the duties of the holy place for the Israelites. Any outsider who comes near is to be put to death.
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39All who were counted of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the commandment of Yahweh, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand.
In plain English: All the Levites whom Moses and Aaron counted at Yahweh's command, by their clans, every male a month old and over, numbered 22,000.
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40Yahweh said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to Moses, "Count every firstborn male of the Israelites a month old and over, and list their names.
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41You shall take the Levites for me—I am Yahweh—instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the children of Israel.”God speaks
In plain English: Take the Levites for me, I am Yahweh, in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites, and the Levites' livestock in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites' livestock."
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42Moses counted, as Yahweh commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
In plain English: So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as Yahweh had commanded him.
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43All the firstborn males according to the number of names from a month old and upward, of those who were counted of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred seventy-three.
In plain English: All the firstborn males a month old and over, listed by name, numbered 22,273.
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44Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
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45“Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock; and the Levites shall be mine. I am Yahweh.God speaks
In plain English: "Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites, and the Levites' livestock in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be mine. I am Yahweh.
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46For the redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel who exceed the number of the Levites,God speaks
In plain English: To redeem (buy back) the 273 firstborn of the Israelites who are more than the number of the Levites,
The Hebrew word: "Redemption" is paduy, which the dictionary gives as "a ransom": the price paid to buy someone back. The word is used in only 4 verses of the Bible, all in this chapter. also uses a related word, pidyom, which the dictionary gives as "a ransom".
Church tradition: Many Jewish families still keep the redemption of a firstborn son: when the boy is a month old, the father gives five silver coins to a priest (a kohen), following this law and . Chapter 3 only describes the payment for the 273.
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47you shall take five shekels apiece for each one; according to the shekel of the sanctuary you shall take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs);God speaks
In plain English: take five shekels for each one. Take them by the shekel of the holy place (the shekel is twenty gerahs),
Good to know: "The shekel is twenty gerahs" is also said in . The dictionary gives a gerah as "a small weight (and coin)".
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48and you shall give the money, with which their remainder is redeemed, to Aaron and to his sons.”God speaks
In plain English: and give the money for redeeming the extra ones to Aaron and his sons."
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49Moses took the redemption money from those who exceeded the number of those who were redeemed by the Levites;
In plain English: So Moses took the redemption money from those who were more than the number redeemed by the Levites.
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50from the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred sixty-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary;
In plain English: From the firstborn of the Israelites he took the money: 1,365 shekels, by the shekel of the holy place.
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51and Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and to his sons, according to Yahweh’s word, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
In plain English: Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons as Yahweh said (literally: at the mouth of Yahweh), as Yahweh had commanded Moses.
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