20 And the sons of Merari by their families 'are' Mahli and Mushi; these are the families of the Levites, by the house of their fathers. 21 Of Gershon 'is' the family of the Libnite, and the family of the Shimite; these are the families of the Gershonite. 22 Their numbered ones, in number, every male from a son of a month and upward, their numbered ones 'are' seven thousand and five hundred. 23 The families of the Gershonite, behind the tabernacle, do encamp westward. 24 And the prince of a father's house for the Gershonite 'is' Eliasaph son of Lael. 25 And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting 'is' the tabernacle, and the tent, its covering, and the vail at the opening of the tent of meeting, 26 and the hangings of the court, and the vail at the opening of the court, which 'is' by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and its cords, to all its service. 27 And of Kohath 'is' the family of the Amramite, and the family of the Izharite, and the family of the Hebronite, and the family of the Uzzielite; these are families of the Kohathite. 28 In number, all the males, from a son of a month and upward, 'are' eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary. 29 The families of the sons of Kohath encamp by the side of the tabernacle southward. 30 And the prince of a father's house for the families of the Kohathite 'is' Elizaphan son of Uzziel. 31 And their charge 'is' the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary with which they serve, and the vail, and all its service. 32 And 'to' the prince of the princes of the Levites, Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, 'is' the oversight of the keepers of the charge of the sanctuary. 33 Of Merari 'is' the family of the Mahlite, and the family of the Mushite; these 'are' the families of Merari. 34 And their numbered ones, in number, all the males from a son of a month and upward, 'are' six thousand and two hundred. 35 And the prince of a father's house for the families of Merari 'is' Zuriel son of Abihail; by the side of the tabernacle they encamp northward.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 3:20-35
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.