THE LEVITES’ RESPONSIBILITIES
Key verse: 52,53
NIV
47 The ancestral tribe of the Levites,(A) however, was not counted(B) along with the others. 48 The Lord had said to Moses: 49 “You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. 50 Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle(C) of the covenant law(D)—over all its furnishings(E) and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. 51 Whenever the tabernacle(F) is to move,(G) the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it.(H) Anyone else who approaches it is to be put to death.(I) 52 The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each of them in their own camp under their standard.(J) 53 The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle(K) of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall(L) on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law.(M)”
54 The Israelites did all this just as the Lord commanded Moses.
Cross references
- Numbers 1:47 : S Nu 3:17-20
- Numbers 1:47 : Nu 4:3, 49
- Numbers 1:50 : Ex 25:9; S 26:1
- Numbers 1:50 : S 16:34; Ac 7:44; Rev 15:5
- Numbers 1:50 : Nu 3:31
- Numbers 1:51 : S Ex 26:1
- Numbers 1:51 : Nu 4:5
- Numbers 1:51 : Nu 3:38; 4:15
- Numbers 1:51 : S Ex 21:12
- Numbers 1:52 : Nu 10:14; Ps 20:5; SS 2:4; 6:4
- Numbers 1:53 : Nu 2:10; 3:23, 29, 38
- Numbers 1:53 : Lev 10:6; Nu 16:46; 18:5; Dt 9:22
- Numbers 1:53 : S Ex 38:21; Nu 18:2-4
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Levites Exempted
47 But (A)the Levites were not listed along with them by their ancestral tribe. 48 For the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 49 “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not list, and you shall not take a census of them among the people of Israel. 50 (B)But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it (C)and shall camp around the tabernacle. 51 (D)When the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down, and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up. (E)And if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death. 52 The people of Israel shall pitch their tents by their companies, each man in his own camp and (F)each man by his own standard. 53 But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no (G)wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel. (H)And the Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.” 54 Thus did the people of Israel; they did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses.
Read full chapterCross references
- Numbers 1:47 : ch. 2:33; [ch. 26:57, 58, 62]; See ch. 3; ch. 4; 1 Chr. 6
- Numbers 1:50 : ch. 3:7, 8; Ex. 38:21; See ch. 4:15-33
- Numbers 1:50 : See ch. 3:23-38
- Numbers 1:51 : ch. 10:17, 21
- Numbers 1:51 : ch. 3:10, 38; 18:22; [1 Sam. 6:19; 2 Sam. 6:6, 7; 1 Chr. 13:10]
- Numbers 1:52 : ch. 2:2, 34
- Numbers 1:53 : ch. 8:19; 16:46; 18:5
- Numbers 1:53 : ch. 3:7, 8, 38; 8:26; 9:19, 23; 18:3-5; 31:30, 47; 1 Chr. 23:32; [2 Chr. 13:11]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
At the LORD’s command, the ancestral tribe of the Levites was not counted in the census. They would not serve in the army. The Levites were wholly dedicated to ministry activities related to the tabernacle. Any non-Levite who approached the tabernacle was to be put to death. The Israelites were not to be like worldly, military powers. More important than the size of their army was their commitment and faith in the LORD. Success belonged to God (Ps 33:16-18). Is your commitment and faith in the LORD at the center of all your endeavors?
This section also highlights the place where the Levites camped. The tabernacle was the place where God was present with his people. Inside the tabernacle was God’s covenant law. God and his word were literally the center of camp life. The Levites camped around the tabernacle. As the Levites did everything God commanded, they shielded the people from God’s wrath (52).
The Levites’ ministry looks forward to Jesus. In perfect obedience, Jesus obeyed his Father in every way (Jn 14:31b; Php 2:8). Through his death and resurrection, Jesus shields and saves anyone who believes in him from God’s wrath.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for saving me from the wrath I deserve. Please be the focus of my life. Help me to be faithful to you.
One Word: Jesus saves; be faithful to him
