AS THE LORD COMMANDED MOSES
Key verse: 49
NIV
The Numbering of the Levite Clans
34 Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites(A) by their clans and families. 35 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age(B) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 36 counted by clans, were 2,750. 37 This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clans(C) who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.
38 The Gershonites(D) were counted by their clans and families. 39 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 40 counted by their clans and families, were 2,630. 41 This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command.
42 The Merarites were counted by their clans and families. 43 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age(E) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 44 counted by their clans, were 3,200. 45 This was the total of those in the Merarite clans.(F) Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.
46 So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted(G) all the Levites by their clans and families. 47 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age(H) who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting 48 numbered 8,580.(I) 49 At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.
Thus they were counted,(J) as the Lord commanded Moses.
Cross references
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
34 And Moses and Aaron and the chiefs of the congregation listed the sons of the Kohathites, by their clans and their fathers' houses, 35 (A)from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come on duty, for service in the tent of meeting; 36 and those listed by clans were 2,750. 37 (B)This was the list of the clans of the Kohathites, all who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron listed according to the commandment of the Lord by Moses.
38 Those listed of the sons of Gershon, by their clans and their fathers' houses, 39 (C)from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come on duty for service in the tent of meeting— 40 those listed by their clans and their fathers' houses were 2,630. 41 (D)This was the list of the clans of the sons of Gershon, all who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron listed according to the commandment of the Lord.
42 Those listed of the clans of the sons of Merari, by their clans and their fathers' houses, 43 (E)from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come on duty, for service in the tent of meeting— 44 those listed by clans were 3,200. 45 (F)This was the list of the clans of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron listed according to the commandment of the Lord by Moses.
46 All those who were listed of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chiefs of Israel listed, by their clans and their fathers' houses, 47 (G)from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come to do the service of ministry and the service of bearing burdens in the tent of meeting, 48 those listed were 8,580. 49 According to the commandment of the Lord through Moses they were listed, (H)each one with his task of serving or carrying. Thus they were listed by him, (I)as the Lord commanded Moses.
Read full chapterCross references
- Numbers 4:35 : [See ver. 23 above]; ver. 3
- Numbers 4:37 : ver. 2
- Numbers 4:39 : [See ver. 23 above]; ver. 3
- Numbers 4:41 : ver. 22
- Numbers 4:43 : [See ver. 23 above]; ver. 3
- Numbers 4:45 : ver. 29
- Numbers 4:47 : [See ver. 23 above]; ver. 3
- Numbers 4:49 : ver. 15, 24, 31
- Numbers 4:49 : ver. 1, 21, 29
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
The LORD commanded Moses and Aaron to count the Levites who were assigned to the tent of meeting. They would record the history of God’s work among the Israelites from the outset of their journey. King David once ordered a census to be taken out of his own pride. The LORD opposed him at that time. In this case, it is the LORD who commanded the census. It is a record of history, of God’s deliverance of his people.
Moses, Aaron, and the leaders counted all the Levites. Indeed, they would likewise count all of the Israelites who would embark on this journey. The journey could have been short but for the rebelliousness of the people. Still, there would be a record of this history. Of those counted initially, only Caleb and Joshua crossed into the promised land. But the LORD would make a new creation by training them in the desert. His commands never fail.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be counted as your holy servant. May your commands be fulfilled in my life.
One Word: Counted as God’s servant
