11 Again the Lord spoke to Moses , saying , 12 "Now, behold , I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of every firstborn , the first issue of the womb among the sons of Israel . So the Levites shall be Mine. 13 "For all the firstborn are Mine; on the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt , I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel , from man to beast . They shall be Mine; I am the Lord ."
14 Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai , saying , 15 " Number the sons of Levi by their fathers' households , by their families ; every male from a month old and upward you shall number ." 16 So Moses numbered them according to the word of the Lord , just as he had been commanded . 17 These then are the sons of Levi by their names : Gershon and Kohath and Merari . 18 These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families : Libni and Shimei ; 19 and the sons of Kohath by their families : Amram and Izhar , Hebron and Uzziel ; 20 and the sons of Merari by their families : Mahli and Mushi . These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers' households . 21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimeites ; these were the families of the Gershonites . 22 Their numbered men, in the numbering of every male from a month old and upward , even their numbered men were 7,500 e e e . 23 The families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle westward , 24 and the leader of the fathers' households of the Gershonites was Eliasaph the son of Lael . 25 Now the duties of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting involved the tabernacle and the tent , its covering , and the screen for the doorway of the tent of meeting , 26 and the hangings of the court , and the screen for the doorway of the court which is around the tabernacle and the altar , and its cords , according to all the service concerning them. 27 Of Kohath was the family of the Amramites and the family of the Izharites and the family of the Hebronites and the family of the Uzzielites ; these were the families of the Kohathites . 28 In the numbering of every male from a month old and upward , there were 8,600 e e , performing the duties of the sanctuary . 29 The families of the sons of Kohath were to camp on the southward side of the tabernacle , 30 and the leader of the fathers' households of the Kohathite families was Elizaphan the son of Uzziel . 31 Now their duties involved the ark , the table , the lampstand , the altars , and the utensils of the sanctuary with which they minister , and the screen , and all the service concerning them; 32 and Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was the chief of the leaders of Levi , and had the oversight of those who perform the duties of the sanctuary . 33 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites ; these were the families of Merari . 34 Their numbered men in the numbering of every male from a month old and upward , were 6,200 e e . 35 The leader of the fathers' households of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail . They were to camp on the northward side of the tabernacle . 36 Now the appointed duties of the sons of Merari involved the frames of the tabernacle , its bars , its pillars , its sockets , all its equipment , and the service concerning them, 37 and the pillars around the court with their sockets and their pegs and their cords . 38 Now those who were to camp before the tabernacle eastward , before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise , are Moses and Aaron and his sons , performing the duties of the sanctuary for the obligation of the sons of Israel ; but the layman coming near was to be put to death .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 3:11-38
Commentary on Numbers 3:1-13
(Read Numbers 3:1-13)
There was much work belonging to the priests' office, and there were now only Aaron and his two sons to do it; God appoints the Levites to attend them. Those whom God finds work for, he will find help for. The Levites were taken instead of the first-born. When He that made us, saves us, as the first-born of Israel were saved, we are laid under further obligations to serve him faithfully. God's right to us by redemption, confirms the right he has to us by creation.
Commentary on Numbers 3:14-39
(Read Numbers 3:14-39)
The Levites were in three classes, according to the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; and these were subdivided into families. The posterity of Moses were not at all honoured or privileged, but stood upon the level with other Levites; thus it was plain, that Moses did not seek the advancement of his own family, or to secure any honours to it. The tribe of Levi was by much the least of all the tribes. God's chosen are but a little flock in comparison with the world.