Num 3:5-38 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Num 3:5-13: 3:5-13 The Levites were appointed as assistants to the priests, who were represented by Aaron . Their ministry included sacred duties (3:7 ) in maintaining the Tabernacle and its furnishings (3:8 ; described in greater detail in 4:1-33 ).

Summary for Num 3:5-13: 3:5-13 ^a The Levites were appointed as assistants to the priests, who were represented by Aaron. Their ministry included sacred duties (3:7 ^b) in maintaining the Tabernacle and its furnishings (3:8 ^c; described in greater detail in 4:1-33 ^d).
3:10 ^e The sanctuary was sacred (1:51 ^f; 3:38 ^g; 18:7 ^h); it was not to be approached by the unqualified (cp. 3:4 ⁱ).
Summary for Num 3:11-13: 3:11-13 ^j The firstborn sons ... of Israel belonged to God, having been spared when the Egyptian firstborn sons died (3:13 ^k; see Exod 11–12 ^l). The Levites were chosen ... to serve as substitutes in their place.
Summary for Num 3:14-39: 3:14-39 ^m This first phase of a two-stage registration of the tribe of Levi (see 4:34-49 ⁿ for stage two) summarized each family group’s special responsibilities (described in greater detail in 4:1-33 ^o). This numbering was not linked with military duties, so it enrolled male Levites from the age of one month (3:40-41 ^p).

• Three family groups are descended from Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the three sons of Levi. These clans (often called the Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites) later inherited the “cities of refuge” (Josh 21 ^q) and filled various important posts in the Jerusalem Temple (2 Chr 29:3-17 ^r).
Summary for Num 3:27-32: 3:27-32 ^s Aaron and Moses, sons of Amram, were descendants of Kohath (see Exod 6:18 ^t, 20 ^u, 26 ^v). Because they were caretakers of the sanctuary (the Most Holy Place) and its very sacred furnishings (described in Num 3–4 ^w), the Kohathites were the most highly regarded of the three clans.
3:28 ^x 8,600: Some Greek manuscripts read 8,300. The “six” (Hebrew shsh) in 8,600 could result from misreading a “three” (Hebrew shlsh).
3:32 ^y Eleazar, Aaron’s third son, presided over the Levites as administrator (perhaps as an executive secretary), while his father dealt with other matters; he had special ... oversight of the Tabernacle (4:16-20 ^z). He played an important role in Israel’s wilderness period and later succeeded his father as high priest (see 16:37-39 ^aa; 19:3-6 ^ab; 20:25-28 ^ac; 26:1-3 ^ad).
3:38 ^ae The preeminent campsite east of the Tabernacle was reserved for ... Moses, Aaron, and his priestly sons.