Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites. These are the families of the Gershonites.
Those who were counted of them, according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward, even those who were counted of them were seven thousand five hundred.
The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tabernacle westward.
Eliasaph the son of Lael shall be the prince of the fathers’ house of the Gershonites. The duty of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting shall be the tabernacle, the tent, its covering, the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting, the hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the court which is by the tabernacle and around the altar, and its cords for all of its service.
Of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites. These are the families of the Kohathites. According to the number of all the males from a month old and upward, there were eight thousand six hundred keeping the requirements of the sanctuary.
The families of the sons of Kohath shall encamp on the south side of the tabernacle. The prince of the fathers’ house of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. Their duty shall be the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, the screen, and all its service. Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be prince of the princes of the Levites, with the oversight of those who keep the requirements of the sanctuary.
Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites. These are the families of Merari. Those who were counted of them, according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward, were six thousand two hundred.
The prince of the fathers’ house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They shall encamp on the north side of the tabernacle. The appointed duty of the sons of Merari shall be the tabernacle’s boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its instruments, all its service, the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, and their cords.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv22, 24, 25, 28, 31, 32, 36 Only numbering the male children.
Only numbering the male children.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 37 The tabernacle; not the boards, which belonged to Merari,…
The tabernacle; not the boards, which belonged to Merari, Num 3:36, but the ten curtains mentioned Exo 26:1.
The tent, to wit, the curtains of goats’ hair.
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The covering thereof, i.e. the coverings of rams’ skins and badgers’ skins. See Num 4:25.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv21–37 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and…
Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites,.... The first son of Levi:
these are the family of the Gershonites; that were now, numbered.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32 The tabernacle - Not the boards, which belonged to…
The tabernacle - Not the boards, which belonged to Merari, ver. 36, but the ten curtains. The tent - The curtains of goats hair. The coverings - That is, the coverings of rams-skins and badgers- skins.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v22 Verse 22. Seven thousand and five hundred] Perhaps originally…
Verse 22. Seven thousand and five hundred] Perhaps originally resh, 200, instead of caph, 500; see the following note.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv25, 27, 31, 32 Num 3:25-26. The tabernacle — Not the boards, which…
Num 3:25-26. The tabernacle — Not the boards, which belonged to Merari, (Num 3:36,) but the ten curtains. The tent — The curtains of goats’ hair. The coverings — That is, the coverings of rams’ skins and badgers’ skins. The cords — By which the tabernacle was fastened to the pins, and stretched out, Exo 35:18.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv26–27 the cords ... the service thereof - i. e.…
the cords ... the service thereof - i. e. of the tabernacle, not of the hangings of the court, for these, with their cords and other fittings, belonged to the charge of the Merarites Num 3:36-37. The tabernacle was under the care of the Gershonites.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv22, 24, 26, 28, 32 Five hundred, expressed by the letter c, has, according…
Five hundred, expressed by the letter c, has, according to Kennicott been put for 200, which the Hebrews denote by a similar letter, r. See 2 Kings xxiii. 8, and 1 Paralipomenon xi. 11, for other mistakes. (Haydock)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v32 chief--rather, "chiefs" of the Levites. Three persons are mentioned…
chief--rather, "chiefs" of the Levites. Three persons are mentioned as chiefs of these respective divisions [Num 3:24, Num 3:30, Num 3:35]. And Eleazar presided over them; whence he is called "the second priest" (Kg2 25:18); and in the case of the high priest's absence from illness or other necessary occasions, he performed the duties (Kg1 4:4).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv22, 25, 26, 30 22. Numbered… according to the number — Mustered, or…
22. Numbered… according to the number — Mustered, or inspected, according to the number. The words differ in the Hebrew.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 31, 32, 36 21–39. The Levitical families and their duties.
21–39. The Levitical families and their duties.
Notice that narrative in Num_3:21 f., 27 f., 33 f., 39 alternates with commands in Num_3:23-26; Num_3:29-32; Num_3:35-38. It is one of the many indications that the priestly portions of the book were the composite work of more than one writer.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv23, 25, 26, 29, 32, 37 (23) Behind the tabernacle westward.—As the position of the…
(23) Behind the tabernacle westward.—As the position of the twelve tribes in respect of the tent of meeting had been already determined, so in this and the following verses the position of the priests and Levites is fixed. On the east side of the tent Moses and Aaron and Aaron’s sons were to encamp, on the south the Kohathites, on the west the Gershonites, on the north the Merarites.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv23, 25, 28, 30, 32 Shall pitch. These directions as to the position and…
Shall pitch. These directions as to the position and duties of the Levitical families retain the form in which they were originally given. The way in which they are mixed up with direct narrative affords a striking proof of the inartificial character of these sacred writings. Behind the tabernacle westward. The tabernacle opened or looked eastward towards the sunrise.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v33 These shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle.
Num_3:33-39
These shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle.
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The placing of the Levites throughout the host
In this division we see more particularly that which was in part noted before, namely, the several situations that these Levites had about the tabernacle, which they compassed round about that they might not be far from any of the people of God, but always resident among them. This teacheth us that God will have every part of His people taught. None are too high in regard of their great places; none are too low in regard of their obscure callings; none are too good to be taught, whatsoever their degrees be. This will be made plain by divers reasons.
1. Consider the titles that are given unto God in the Scriptures. He is worthily called the King of His Church, and the Lord and Master of His house. Is not He the Shepherd of Israel that leadeth Josephlike sheep? (Psa_80:1). Will a shepherd that hath any care of his sheep, or any love unto them, look unto some of them and not to all? Will a king regard only the chief cities and most populous places of his kingdom, and suffer the rest to live as they list, without laws and good orders? Or will the master of a house look to some in his family, and not to all?
2. Such is the grace and goodness of God, that He would have all His people come to knowledge. Such as know not His will are none of His servants. If then He require the understanding of His ways, not only of rich men, of great men, of learned men, and of the ministers, but of all the people, we must hereof conclude that He hath ordained that all of them should have the means of knowledge and salvation offered unto them, and published among them.
3. The Word of God was penned for all estates, degrees, and conditions of men.
4. All persons, whatsoever they be, have souls to save: simple persons, small congregations, little assemblies, as well as others that ale many in number.
Uses:
1. It is Gods ordinance that every congregation should have a learned minister to teach them the true religion and fear of God.
2. It is required of the ministers of the Gospel, whom the Holy Ghost hath made overseers of their several flocks, to look to their whole charge from one corner of it to another. They are to give an account for every soul that dies through their ignorance or through their negligence.
3. We have warrant from hence to desire most earnestly that the kingdom of God may flourish everywhere. Christ our Saviour teaches us to pray that His kingdom may come (Mat_6:10), and so to be erected in the hearts of men.
4. This doctrine serveth as an instruction to all magistrates (as their places serve them) to further the preaching of the Word, and to furnish such places as belong unto them with able teachers. (W. Attersoll.)
.
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v21 The Charges of the Various Divisions among the Levites
The Charges of the Various Divisions among the Levites
v. 21. of Gershon was the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimites; these are the families of the Gershonites.
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v. 22. Those that were numbered of them, mustered or entered into the rolls of service, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, for at that age the first-born boy babies were liable for the service of the Lord, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred.
v. 23. The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the Tabernacle westward, inside the armies led by the tribe of Ephraim.
v. 24. And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph, the son of Lael.
v. 25. And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the Tabernacle of the Congregation shall be the tabernacle, the inner curtains of variegated cloth, and the tent, the outer covering or curtain of goat-hair, the covering thereof, that of rams’ skins and that of the leather of sea-cows, and the hanging for the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, the entrance to the Holy Place,
v. 26. and the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the Tabernacle, the white byssus curtains as well as the beautiful entrance curtain of variegated material, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof, the various guy-ropes for the Tabernacle, but not for the court,
v. 37. The Gershonites had to tend to all the drapery and the curtains but the screen of the Most Holy Place.
v. 27. And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites; these are the families of the Kohathites.
v. 28. In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the Sanctuary, taking their share in the ministry of the Holy Place.
v. 29. The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the Tabernacle southward, inside the armies led by the tribe of Reuben.
v. 30. And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan, the son of Uzziel.
v. 31. And their charge, for which they would be held responsible, shall be the ark, and the table, that of showbread, and the candlestick, and the altars, both the golden altar of the Holy Place and the altar of burnt offering in the court, and the vessels of the Sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, the screen of the Most Holy Place, and all the service thereof, everything that was connected with the actual carrying of these appointments from one station to the next.
v. 32. And Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the Sanctuary; he was the superintendent of the work as here described.
v. 33. of Merari was the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites; these are the families of Merari.
v. 34. And those that were numbered of them, mustered as in the other cases, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.
v. 35. And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel, the son of Abihail; these shall pitch on the side of the Tabernacle northward, inside the armies under the leadership of the tribe of Dan.
v. 36. And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the Tabernacle, the great planks which formed its walls, and the bars thereof, the cross-bars which held the planks upright, and the pillars thereof, at the entrance to the Tabernacle and to the Most Holy Place, and the sockets thereof, the bases of the planks and of the pillars, and all the vessels thereof, the pins and the tools, and all that serveth thereto,
v. 37. and the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, the bronze bases which held the pillars upright, and their pins, and their cords, the guy-ropes which held them in place. Theirs was the last work when camp was struck and the first when a new station was reached. The work was thus divided in a manner which practically excluded all friction and made for the greatest efficiency. In this respect we Christians of the New Testament may learn a lesson from the children of Israel.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36 come from Gershon
come from Gershon
Here the author speaks of "descending" as if it were "coming." AT: "descend from Gershon" (See: Metaphor)
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Libnites ... Shimeites ... Gershonites
"Libnites" and "Shimeites" are the name of clans, named after the head of their family. The "Gershonites" is the name of people who descended from Gershon. (See: How to Translate Names)
All the males from a month old and older were counted
This can be stated in active form. AT: "Moses counted all the males from a month old and older" (See: Active or Passive)
7,500
"seventy-five hundred" or "seven thousand five hundred" (See: Numbers)
translationWords
tabernacle
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv27, 28, 32 3:27-32 Aaron and Moses, sons of Amram, were descendants…
3:27-32 Aaron and Moses, sons of Amram, were descendants of Kohath (see Exod 6:18, 20, 26). Because they were caretakers of the sanctuary (the Most Holy Place) and its very sacred furnishings (described in Num 3–4), the Kohathites were the most highly regarded of the three clans.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.