NÚMEROS 3

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1 Esta es la historia de las generaciones de Aarón y Moisés en el día en que Yahvé habló con Moisés en el monte Sinaí. 2 Estos son los nombres de los hijos de Aarón: Nadab, el primogénito, y Abiú, Eleazar e Itamar. 3 Estos son los nombres de los hijos de Aarón, los sacerdotes que fueron ungidos, a quienes consagró para que ejercieran el ministerio sacerdotal. 4 Nadab y Abiú murieron ante Yahvé cuando ofrecieron fuego extraño ante Yahvé en el desierto de Sinaí, y no tuvieron hijos. Eleazar e Itamar ejercieron el ministerio sacerdotal en presencia de Aarón, su padre. 5 Yahvé habló a Moisés, diciendo: 6 «Haz que se acerque la tribu de Leví, y preséntalos delante del sacerdote Aarón, para que le sirvan. 7 Ellos guardarán sus deberes, y los deberes de toda la congregación ante la Tienda del Encuentro, para hacer el servicio del tabernáculo. 8 Custodiarán todos los enseres de la Tienda del Encuentro y las obligaciones de los hijos de Israel, para hacer el servicio del tabernáculo. 9 Darás los levitas a Aarón y a sus hijos. Le serán entregados enteramente de entre los hijos de Israel. 10 Designarás a Aarón y a sus hijos, y ellos conservarán su sacerdocio, pero el extraño que se acerque será condenado a muerte». 11 Yahvé habló a Moisés, diciendo: 12 «He aquí que he tomado a los levitas de entre los hijos de Israel en lugar de todos los primogénitos que abren la matriz entre los hijos de Israel; por tanto, los levitas serán míos, 13 porque todos los primogénitos son míos. El día en que herí a todos los primogénitos en la tierra de Egipto, santifiqué para mí a todos los primogénitos de Israel, tanto de hombres como de animales. Míos serán. Yo soy Yahvé». 14 Yahvé habló a Moisés en el desierto del Sinaí, diciendo: 15 «Cuenta a los hijos de Leví por las casas de sus padres, por sus familias. Contarás a todos los varones de un mes en adelante». 16 Moisés los contó según la palabra de Yahvé, como se le había ordenado. 17 Estos fueron los hijos de Leví por sus nombres: Gersón, Coat y Merari. 18 Estos son los nombres de los hijos de Gersón por sus familias: Libni y Simei. 19 Los hijos de Coat por sus familias: Amram, Izhar, Hebrón y Uziel. 20 Los hijos de Merari por sus familias: Mahli y Mushi. Estas son las familias de los levitas según las casas de sus padres. 21 De Gersón era la familia de los libnitas, y la familia de los simeítas. Estas son las familias de los gersonitas. 22 Los que fueron contados de ellos, según el número de todos los varones de un mes para arriba, fueron siete mil quinientos. 23 Las familias de los gersonitas acamparán detrás del tabernáculo, hacia el occidente. 24 Eliasaf, hijo de Lael, será el príncipe de la casa paterna de los gersonitas. 25 La tarea de los hijos de Gersón en la Tienda del Encuentro será el tabernáculo, la tienda, su cubierta, la cortina de la puerta de la Tienda del Encuentro, 26 las cortinas del atrio, la cortina de la puerta del atrio que está junto al tabernáculo y alrededor del altar, y sus cuerdas para todo su servicio. 27 De Coat era la familia de los amramitas, la familia de los izharitas, la familia de los hebronitas y la familia de los uzielitas. Estas son las familias de los coatitas. 28 Según el número de todos los varones de un mes en adelante, había ocho mil seiscientos encargados de la custodia del santuario. 29 Las familias de los hijos de Coat acamparán al lado sur del tabernáculo. 30 El príncipe de la casa paterna de las familias de Coat será Elizafán, hijo de Uziel. 31 Su tarea será el arca, la mesa, el candelabro, los altares, los utensilios del santuario con los que ministran, la cortina y todo su servicio. 32 Eleazar, hijo del sacerdote Aarón, será el príncipe de los príncipes de los levitas, teniendo la supervisión de los encargados de la custodia del santuario. 33 De Merari era la familia de los mahlitas y la familia de los mushitas. Estas son las familias de Merari. 34 Los contados de ellos, según el número de todos los varones de un mes para arriba, fueron seis mil doscientos. 35 El príncipe de la casa paterna de las familias de Merari era Zuriel, hijo de Abihail. Acamparán en el lado norte del tabernáculo. 36 La tarea asignada a los hijos de Merari serán las tablas del tabernáculo, sus barras, sus pilares, sus basas, todos sus utensilios, todo su servicio, 37 los pilares alrededor del atrio, sus basas, sus estacas y sus cuerdas. 38 Los que acamparán delante del tabernáculo hacia el oriente, frente a la Tienda del Encuentro hacia la salida del sol, serán Moisés, y Aarón con sus hijos, teniendo a su cargo la custodia del santuario en nombre de los hijos de Israel. El extraño que se acerque será condenado a muerte. 39 Todos los contados de los levitas, que Moisés y Aarón contaron por orden de Yahvé, por sus familias, todos los varones de un mes en adelante, fueron veintidós mil. 40 Yahvé dijo a Moisés: «Cuenta todos los primogénitos varones de los hijos de Israel de un mes en adelante, y toma la cuenta de sus nombres. 41 Tomarás a los levitas para mí, yo soy Yahvé, en lugar de todos los primogénitos de entre los hijos de Israel; y el ganado de los levitas en lugar de todos los primogénitos de entre el ganado de los hijos de Israel». 42 Moisés contó, como le había ordenado Yahvé, todos los primogénitos de los hijos de Israel. 43 Todos los primogénitos varones, según el número de sus nombres, de un mes para arriba, de los que fueron contados, fueron veintidós mil doscientos setenta y tres. 44 Yahvé habló a Moisés diciendo: 45 «Toma a los levitas en lugar de todos los primogénitos de los hijos de Israel, y el ganado de los levitas en lugar de su ganado; y los levitas serán míos. Yo soy Yahvé. 46 Y para la redención de los doscientos setenta y tres primogénitos de los hijos de Israel que exceden el número de los levitas, 47 tomarás cinco siclos por cada uno; según el siclo del santuario los tomarás (el siclo es de veinte geras); 48 y darás el dinero, con el que se redime a los que sobran de ellos, a Aarón y a sus hijos». 49 Moisés tomó el dinero de la redención de los que excedían el número de los redimidos por los levitas; 50 de los primogénitos de los hijos de Israel tomó el dinero, mil trescientos sesenta y cinco siclos, según el siclo del santuario; 51 y Moisés dio el dinero de la redención a Aarón y a sus hijos, según la palabra de Yahvé, tal como Yahvé le ordenó a Moisés.

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NÚMEROS 3:1-3

Introduction

The generations of Aaron and Moses, Num 3:1-4. The tribe of Levi to minister to the Lord under Aaron and his sons, Num 3:5-10. They are taken in the place of the first-born, Num 3:11-13. Moses is commanded to number them, Num 3:14-16. Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the names of the three heads of families of the Levites, Num 3:17. Of Gershon and his family, Num 3:18-21. Their number, 7,500, Num 3:22. Their place behind the tabernacle, westward, Num 3:23. Their chief, Eliasaph, Num 3:24. Their charge, Num 3:25, Num 3:26. Of Kohath and his family, Num 3:27. Their number, 8,600, Num 3:28. Their place, beside the tabernacle, southward, Num 3:29. Their chief, Elizaphan, Num 3:30. Their charge, Num 3:31. The chief of the Levites, Eleazar, son of Aaron, Num 3:32. Of Merari and his family, Num 3:33. Their number, 6,200, Num 3:34. Their chief, Zuriel, they shall pitch beside the tabernacle, northward, Num 3:35. Their charge, Num 3:35-37. Moses and Aaron to encamp before the tabernacle, eastward, Num 3:38. The amount of all the males among the Levites from a month old and upwards, 22,000, Num 3:39. Moses is commanded to number the first-born, Num 3:40; and to take the Levites and their cattle, instead of the first-born of man and beast among the Israelites, Num 3:41. Moses numbers the first-born, who amount to 22,273, Num 3:43. As the first-born were 273 more than the Levites, Moses is commanded to take from the people five shekels apiece for them, Num 3:44-47, which is to be given to Aaron and his sons, Num 3:48. Moses does accordingly, and finds the amount of the money to be 1,365 shekels, Num 3:49, Num 3:50, which is given to Aaron and his sons, Num 3:51.

Verse 1

The generations of Aaron and Moses - Though Aaron and Moses are both mentioned here, yet the family of Aaron alone appears in the list: hence some have thought that the word Moses was not originally in the text. Others think that the words ואלה תלדות veelleh toledoth, these are the generations, should be rendered these are the acts, or transactions, or the history of the lives, as the same phrase may be understood in Gen 2:4; Gen 6:9. However this may be, it is evident that in this genealogy the family of Aaron are alone mentioned, probably because these belonged to the priesthood. Moses passes by his own family, or immediate descendants; he gave no rank or privilege to them during his life, and left nothing to them at his death. They became incorporated with the Levites, from or amongst whom they are never distinguished. What a strong proof is this of the celestial origin of his religion! Had it been of man, it must have had the gratification of some impure passion for its object; lust, ambition, or avarice: but none of these ever appear during the whole of his administration amongst the Israelites, though he had it constantly in his power to have gratified each. What an essential difference between the religion of the Pentateuch and that of the Koran! The former is God's workmanship; the latter is a motley mixture of all bad crafts, with here and there a portion of heavenly fire, stolen from the Divine altar in the Old and New Testaments, to give some vitality to the otherwise inert mass.

NÚMEROS 3:4-5

Verse 4

Nadab and Abihu died - See the notes on Leviticus 10 (note).

NÚMEROS 3:6

Verse 6

Bring the tribe of Levi near - The original word הקרב hakreb is properly a sacrificial word, and signifies the presenting of a sacrifice or offering to the Lord. As an offering, the tribe of Levi was given up entirely to the service of the sanctuary, to be no longer their own, but the Lord's property.

NÚMEROS 3:7

Verse 7

The charge of the whole congregation - They shall work for the whole congregation; and instead of the first-born.

NÚMEROS 3:8-9

Verse 8

All the instruments - The tabernacle itself and all its contents: see all described, Num 3:25, Num 3:26, Num 3:31, Num 3:36, Num 3:37. The Levites were to perform the most common and laborious offices. It was their business to take down, put up, and carry the tabernacle and its utensils; for it was the object of their peculiar care. In a word, they were the servants of the priests.

NÚMEROS 3:10-11

Verse 10

Aaron and his sons - shall wait on their priest's office - It was the business of the priests to offer the different sacrifices to God; to consecrate the shew-bread, pour out the libations, burn the incense, sprinkle the blood of the victims, and bless the people. In a word, they were the servants of God alone.

NÚMEROS 3:12-14

Verse 12

I have taken the Levites - instead of all the first-born - The Levites are taken for the service of the sanctuary in place of the first-born. The first-born were dedicated to God in commemoration of his slaying the first-born of the Egyptians, and preserving those of the Israelites. Even the cattle of the Levites were taken in place of the first-born of the cattle of the rest of the tribes. See Num 3:45. Several reasons have been assigned why God should give this honor to the tribe of Levi in preference to all the others, but they do not seem to me to be conclusive. Their zeal in destroying those who had corrupted the worship of God in the business of the golden calf, Exo 32:28, has been thought a sufficient reason. A better reason is, that this was the smallest tribe, and they were quite enough for the service. To have had a more numerous tribe at this time would have been very inconvenient. Aaron, says Mr. Ainsworth, being in his priesthood a type of Christ, all these rites are fulfilled in him. For unto Christ God gave children, Heb 2:13. And they are a congregation of first-born, whose names are written in heaven, Heb 12:23, being of God's own will begotten by the word of truth, that they should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures, Jam 1:18, to whom he also gives the first-fruits of his Spirit, Rom 8:23. These wait on and follow the Lamb, being first-fruits unto God and to the Lamb, Rev 14:4; and Christ hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, that we may serve him day and night in his temple, Rev 1:6; Rev 7:15.

NÚMEROS 3:15

Verse 15

A month old and upward - The males of all the other tribes were numbered, from twenty years and upward; had the Levites been numbered in this way, they would not have been nearly equal in number to the firstborn of the twelve tribes. Add to this, that as there must have been first-born of all ages in the other tribes, it was necessary that the Levites, who were to be their substitutes, should be also of all ages; and it appears to have been on this ground, at least partly, that the Levites were numbered from four weeks old and upward.

NÚMEROS 3:16-21

Verse 16

Moses numbered them - Though Moses and Aaron conjointly numbered the twelve tribes, yet Moses alone numbered the Levites; "for as the money with which the first-born of Israel, who exceeded the number of Levites, were redeemed, was to be paid to Aaron and his sons, Num 3:48, it was decent that he, whose advantage it was that the number of the first-born of Israel should exceed, should not be authorized to take that number himself." - Dodd, from Bishop Kidder.

NÚMEROS 3:22-38

Verse 22

Seven thousand and five hundred - Perhaps originally ר resh, 200, instead of ך caph, 500; see the following note Num 3:39 (note).

NÚMEROS 3:39-42

Verse 39

Which Moses and Aaron numbered - The word ואהרן veaharon, "and Aaron." has a point over each of its letters, probably designed as a mark of spuriousness. The word is wanting in the Samaritan, Syriac, and Coptic; it is wanting also in eight of Dr. Kennicott's MSS., and in four of De Rossi's. Moses alone, as Houbigant observes, is commanded to take the number of the Levites; see Num 3:5, Num 3:11, Num 3:40, Num 3:44, and Num 3:51.

All the males - were twenty and two thousand - This total does not agree with the particulars; for the Gershonites were 7,500, the Kohathites 8,600, the Merarites 6,200, total 22,300. Several methods of solving this difficulty have been proposed by learned men; Dr. Kennicott's is the most simple. Formerly the numbers in the Hebrew Bible were expressed by letters, and not by words at full length; and if two nearly similar letters were mistaken for each other, many errors in the numbers must be the consequence. Now it is probable that an error has crept into the number of the Gershonites, Num 3:22, where, instead of 7,500, we should read 7,200, as ך caph, 500, might have been easily mistaken for ר resh, 200, especially if the down stroke of the caph had been a little shorter than ordinary, which is often the case in MSS. The extra 300 being taken off, the total is just 22,000, as mentioned in the 39th verse.

NÚMEROS 3:43-51

Verse 43

All the first-born males - were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen - Thus we find there were 273 first-born beyond the number of the Levites. These are ordered, Num 3:46, to be redeemed; and the redemption price is to be five shekels each, Num 3:47, about 15s. And this money, amounting to 1,365 shekels, equal to 204 15s. English, he took of the first-born of Israel, Num 3:50. But how was this collected among 22,273 persons? Rabbi Solomon Jarchi says, "to prevent contention, Moses took 22,000 slips of parchment, and wrote on each a son of Levi, and 273 others, on which he wrote five shekels; then he mixed them in a basket, and each man took out one; those who drew the slips on which five shekels were written, paid the money; the others went free." This is a most stupid and silly tale, for such a mode of settlement never could have been resorted to by an intelligent people. It would have been much more simple to have paid it out of a general fund; and it is very likely that in this way the expense was defrayed. This species of redeeming of men is referred to by St. Peter, 1Pet 1:18, 1Pet 1:19 : "Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation, received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious (τιμιω αἱματι, valuable) blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot," etc. And it is not the first-born only which are thus redeemed, for he, by the grace of God, tasted death for Every man; Heb 2:9. Reader, give glory to God that such a ransom has been paid for thy soul, and see that, redeemed from thy vain conversation, thy empty, fruitless, and graceless observances, on which thou hast built thy hopes of salvation, thou walk in newness of life, giving thy whole soul with thankfulness unto the Father who hath translated thee from darkness, and placed thee in the kingdom of his beloved Son. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever! Amen.

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