Numbers 3:9-13 NLT

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 3:1-13

Here, I. The family of Aaron is confirmed in the priests? office, Num. 3:10. They had been called to it before, and consecrated; here they are appointed to wait on their priests? office: the apostle uses this phrase (Rom. 12:7), Let us wait on our ministry. The office of the ministry requires a constant attendance and great diligence; so frequent are the returns of its work, and yet so transient its favourable opportunities, that it must be waited on. Here is repeated what was said before... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 3:9

And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons ,.... To be their ministers and servants: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel : even all of them entirely, none excepted; the whole tribe which were not in the priestly office; those were separated from the rest of the tribes of Israel, and appointed for the service of the priests: or they were "given, given" F17 נתונים נתונים "dati, dati", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Drusius. ; which is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 3:10

And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons ,.... To the priestly office; this was done before, but is renewed for the confirmation of it, and repeated to put them in mind of it, that they be careful to execute it, as follows: and they shall wait on their priest's office , to do what was peculiar to it, both in the holy and in the most holy place, at the altar, and within, the vail, where the Levites had nothing to do; and this is observed that the priests might take notice, that by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 3:11

And the Lord spake unto Moses ,.... Continued to speak unto him, and give him the reason of his appointing the Levites to minister to the priests and serve the tabernacle: saying : as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 3:12

And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel ,.... Separated them from others, and set them apart for the service of the sanctuary; this was his own act and deed, and which he did of his own will and pleasure, who is a sovereign Being, and might and would do whatsoever he pleased, nor should any object unto him, or contradict him: and this he did: instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel ; he made an exchange of those... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 3:13

Because all the firstborn are mine ,.... Not merely in a general way, as all creatures are his, but in a special manner as his own, and that for the following reason: for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt , I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast ; that is, sanctified or set them apart as his own special property, or ordered the people of Israel so to do, Exodus 13:2 ; for as when he destroyed the firstborn of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 3:10

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. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 3:12

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 Numbers 3:45 . Several reasons have been assigned why God should give this honor to the tribe of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 3:12

Verse 12 12.And I, behold, I have taken the Levites A little further on we shall see more clearly why God claims one tribe for Himself; He now only shews that the Levites rightfully belong to Him, because by special privilege the first-born of the people were preserved in the destruction of the Egyptians. God, therefore, declares that those, whose lives were thus gratuitously spared, were purchased to Himself. Since, then, He had the free option of devoting to Himself the first-born of every... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 3:1-13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 3:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 3:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 3:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 3:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 3:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 3:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 3:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 3:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Numbers 3:1-51

Group of Brands