The families of the Gershonites ,.... The two before mentioned, the Libnites and Shimites: shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward ; this was their situation when encamped; they were placed in the rear of the camp of the Levites, between the tabernacle and the camp of Ephraim, which was westward also, Numbers 1:18 . read more
And the chief of the house of the fathers of the Gershonites ,.... Who had the chief authority over them, and the chief direction of them in what they were to do: shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael ; but who he was, or of which family of the Gershonites, whether of the Libnites or Shimites, is not said here or elsewhere; nor do the Jewish writers, who affect to know every thing, pretend to tell us. read more
And the charge of the sons of Gershom ,.... The Libnites and Shimites: in the tabernacle of the congregation ; or with respect to the things of it, when it was taken down and committed to them; for otherwise they had no place in it, nor might they enter into it, or do any service therein: shall be the tabernacle and the tent ; the former intends not the boards of it, which were the charge of the Merarites, Numbers 3:36 ; but the curtains, as Aben Ezra, or the under curtains, as... read more
And the hangings of the court ,.... Which formed the great open court that encompassed the tabernacle, and was an hundred cubits long and fifty broad; Exodus 27:9 , and the curtain for the door of the court : which was an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, Exodus 27:16 , which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about : this refers to the court, the hangings, and curtains of the door of it, which are spoken of; and this court... read more
And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites ,.... So called from Amram, the first son of Kohath, and father of Aaron and Moses; so that Moses and Aaron, and their children, are included in this family: and the family of Izeharites ; of which family was Korah, Numbers 16:1 , and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites ; which four families had their names from Kohath's four sons, Numbers 3:19 , these are the families of the Kohathites ; which were as... read more
In the number of all the males, from a month old and upwards, were eight thousand and six hundred ,.... 8,600 men, which was the largest number of any of the houses of the Levites; but considering it had double the number of families in it, the increase was not so large in proportion, at least to Gershon, whose two families wanted but 1,100 of these four: keeping the charge of the sanctuary ; of the holy and most holy places, and the vessels and instruments belonging thereunto; not... read more
The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward. Or to the right, which was the more honourable place, excepting the east or front, which was reserved for Moses and Aaron, and his sons, and who were one of these families; and is the reason why this honour was conferred upon them, as well as they had the more honourable charge, having the holy places and holy things committed to their care; and one from among them was appointed over all the Levites, and... read more
And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. The same man, who, with his brother Mishael, carried Nadab and Abihu out of the camp, and buried them, Leviticus 10:4 ; he descended from the last and youngest of the families of the Kohathites; and some think this was one reason at least of Korah's dissatisfaction, and of his entering into a conspiracy against Moses and Aaron, because one of a younger family of his house was... read more
And their charge shall be the ark ,.... That is, when the tabernacle was taken down, and carried from place to place, this, and the following things, were committed to their care and custody, the ark with the mercy seat, and all appertaining thereunto, which were in the holy of holies: and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars ; the table of shewbread, and the candlestick of pure gold, with its lamps, and the altar of incense, all which stood in the holy place, and the altar... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 3:14-39
The Levites being granted to Aaron to minister to him, they are here delivered to him by tale, that he might know what he had, and employ them accordingly. Observe, I. By what rule they were numbered: Every male from a month old and upward, Num. 3:15. The rest of the tribes were numbered only from twenty years old and upwards, and of them those only that were able to go forth to war; but into the number of the Levites they must take in both infants, and infirm; being exempted from the war, it... read more