Deeper Commentary
Num 4:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying-
Kohath wasn’t the firstborn nor the senior born amongst the three
sons listed here, but the Kohathites are numbered first and had the
greatest responsibility. Again we see how God prefers to work not with the
humanly best, strongest or most senior.
Num 4:2 Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of
Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ families-
"From among" is literally 'from the midst', and Kohath was the middle
son out of Gershom, Kohath and Merari. He is perhaps listed first here
because his family carried the ark.
Num 4:3 from thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all
who enter into the service, to do the work in the Tent of Meeting-
David numbered the Levites from 30 years old (1 Chron. 23:3), in
accordance with the law which said Levites were to serve between the ages
of 30 and 50 (Num. 4:3,23,35,39). But in 1 Chron. 23:24 we are told that
David numbered the Levites from 20 years old. We note in Num. 8:23 that
there appeared some flexibility within the Mosaic law; the Levites could
be numbered from 25 years old. This is one of many examples of how the
Mosaic law was not set in stone. It was principle and spirit rather than
letter of the law, and within it there are examples of where one law
overrode another, or one principle overrode letter of the law. The law was
not designed as a simple test of obedience, for it was far more detailed
than that. It was designed to inculcate a spirit of living which looked
forward to the spirit of the Lord Jesus. And so David felt free to number
the Levites from 20 years old, even though we also read that he numbered
'the Levites from 30 years old', suggesting that this was a technical term
rather than a literal description. This would go toward explaining why
38,000 Levites were numbered by David, although "thousand" may mean a
division rather than a literal 1000. At the time of Num. 4:47,48 there
were only 8,580.
Num 4:4 This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting,
in the most holy things-
“Enter into the service” in Hebrew has a military connotation.
Whatever our occupation in this world, we are to see ourselves as soldiers
fighting for the only truly good and worthy cause on earth. There should
therefore be in our lives an element of discipline, regimentation and
focus on specific objectives. The New Testament is full of military
metaphors (e.g. 2 Tim. 2:4).
Num 4:5 When the camp moves forward, Aaron shall go in, and his sons, and
they shall take down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the
Testimony with it-
The taking down of the tabernacle is turned by Paul and Peter into a
metaphor for our death (2 Cor. 5:1; 2 Pet. 1:14). The implication is that
all the valuable things within the tabernacle through which God was
manifest can on one level be interpreted as our lives. In this metaphor
alone we see the immense value and meaning of human life if it is lived in
God’s service.
Num 4:6 and shall put a covering of sealskin on it, and shall spread over
it a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles-
The continual mention of rings and poles is because all the
tabernacle had to be portable, as Israel were constantly on the move. This
is proof enough that much of the "law of Moses" was only relevant to the
wilderness generation. God's desire to be continually on the move,
dwelling in a tent, was still evident at the time when Israel settled in
the land. For He told David that He didn't want a temple because He was
dynamic, always moving on. But the way of religion is to have a permanent,
stable closed system, rather than the dynamic way of the Spirit and true
spirituality. "Rings" in Hebrew is literally 'that which sinks in', and
refers to a signet ring. If a literal ring was solely in view, a different
word would have been used. It was as if this mobile, ever moving onwards
style of the tabernacle was the signature or hallmark of God.
Num 4:7 On the table of show bread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put
on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and the cups with which to pour
out; and the continual bread shall be on it-
The bread and wine which we take are antitypical of the Old Testament
sacrifices; and they were repeatedly described as "Yahweh's food", laid
upon the altar as "the table of Yahweh" (Lev. 21:6,8; 22:25; Num. 28:2;
Ez. 44:7,16; Mal. 1:7,12). And it has been commented: "Current
translations are inaccurate; lehem panim is the 'personal bread' of
Yahweh, just as sulhan panim (Num. 4:7) is the 'personal table' of
Yahweh". This deeply personal relationship between Yahweh and the priests
eating the bread is continued in the breaking of bread. For we are all
priests (1 Pet. 2:5).
Num 4:8 They shall spread on them a scarlet cloth, and cover the same with
a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles-
Sealskins were presumably taken by the Israelites from the shores of
the Red Sea? Whatever we pick up along the wilderness journey of life we
are to give to God’s service.
Num 4:9 They shall take a blue cloth, and cover the lampstand of the
light, and its lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff dishes, and all its
oil vessels, with which they minister to it-
Ex. 25:38 says that "Its snuffers and its snuff dishes shall be of
pure gold". Gold wasn’t the strongest or most practical material for these
instruments. But it represents faith (1 Pet. 1:7). We aren’t the best
instruments for God to use in His house, but He prefers to use the soft
and those who aren’t humanly qualified for His work- because He works by
faith in us, and by our faith in Him rather than our human strength
Num 4:10 They shall put it and all its vessels within a covering of
sealskin, and shall put it on the frame-
They would have gathered these sealskins from the shores of the Red
Sea and taken them with them. The lesson is that what we pick up along
life's way we are to dedicate to the Lord's service.
Num 4:11 On the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it
with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles-
"Pole" is s.w. "strength". There is again a juxtaposition of ideas-
the weak acacia wood (Ex. 27:6), which is no more than a thorn bush, was to be turned
into God's strength through being overlaid with precious metal. "Acacia" is literally "thorns". It is translated "thorns" in Josh.
23:13. It refers to the common thorn bushes found in the scrubland they were
passing through in the desert. Thorns were part of the curse in Eden. But
from this weak material which was very difficult to work with, brittle,
fragile and very weak, God covered this weak, difficult wood with gold and
constructed a system with it where His glory might dwell. It all speaks of
how He uses us. And we connect this with how God speaks of His people are
wood from a vine tree, which is not used by anyone else for making anything;
but He uses it for His work (Ez. 15:1-6). We shouldn't be surprised at the brittle nature of the folk with whom God works, their difficulty in binding together and resistance to being worked with- this is as it were all God has to work with.
It was a surprising choice of material to be used in God’s dwelling
place. But His choice of us with
all our weakness and dysfunction, the common, weak stuff of the wilderness,
is no less surprising. The choice of acacia wood for constructing the
tabernacle is one of several points in the whole enterprise where it seems a
less than ideal material was chosen, from a construction point of view. This
aspect emphasizes that God prefers to work with the soft, weak and easily
broken in order to do His work.
Num 4:12 They shall take all the vessels of ministry, with which they
minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth, and cover them
with a covering of sealskin, and shall put them on the frame-
"Frame" is better "pole". These things were all to be carried by
poles on the shoulders. When David brought the ark to Zion, he paid no
attention to this repeated emphasis. The man who claimed to study God's
word and law all the day... missed an obvious emphasis, and considered
that his 'keeping the spirit of the law' enabled him to disobey God's
basic principles. And there is clear warning for us in all ages.
Num 4:13 They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a
purple cloth on it-
Purple cloth was a sign of royalty, and these cloths were likely
given to the Israelites by the leaders of Egypt when they left Egypt. And
so there is a juxtaposition of ideas between the glory of secular royalty,
and the usage of it to cover the ashes of Yahweh's altar. The world's
greatest honours are as nothing to God and are here used for the lowest
work.
Num 4:14 They shall put on it all its vessels, with which they minister
for it, the fire pans, the flesh hooks, the shovels, and the basins; all
the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of
sealskin, and put in its poles-
Jewish tradition has it that the fire which came down from Heaven in
Lev. 9:24 remained burning; and this fire was preserved burning all night
and day. Hence the need for "fire pans" (Ex. 27:3) to keep the fire
burning whilst the altar was being cleaned or the remains of sacrifices
removed from it. But the fact these fire pans were packed away and
transported raises some difficulties for this idea.
Num 4:15 When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary, and
all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp moves forward; after that,
the sons of Kohath shall come to carry it: but they shall not touch the
sanctuary, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of
Kohath in the Tent of Meeting-
In 2 Sam. 6:8, God slew Uzzah because he touched the ark when David
brought it back to Jerusalem on a cart. Yet the Law clearly stated that
the ark was to be carried only by the Levites, and was to be carried on
poles rather than on a cart. Throughout Ps. 119, David declares how he
loves God’s law and studies and recites it by day and night. That surely
included this passage in Numbers 4. But we have a tendency to read God’s
word, to know it well, speaking of it to others- and yet somehow assume
that it doesn’t apply to us personally, and we can take shortcuts as
convenient to us. If righteous David did this, how much more should we be
aware of our temptation to fail in the same way.
There were very specific laws about the transportation of the ark, which David disobeyed in 2 Sam. 6:2-5. It was to be carried on poles on the shoulders of not just Levites but specifically the sons of Kohath (Num. 4:15); and Abinadab's family were not the right people to carry it. David claims in Ps. 119 to have studied God's law all the day whilst on the run from Saul, reciting it to himself. Perhaps he forgot these details in Numbers 4. But I suggest because he came to see that God wanted the spirit and not letter of the law to be followed, he came to totally place himself above Divine law. We face the same temptation. And it was this which led David into his sin with Bathsheba. Shaving off bits and pieces of God's laws and principles, on the basis that we are above His law, leads to the final catastrophe of David's sin with Bathsheba. Instead of following God's laws about the transportation of the ark, it seems David instead followed the pattern of the Philistines, who also transported the captured ark on a cart (s.w. 1 Sam. 6:10,11). And considered that having built a new cart, never used before, he was in his own way showing respect to it.
Num 4:16 The duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be the oil
for the light, the sweet incense, the continual grain offering, and the
anointing oil, the requirements of all the tabernacle, and of all that is
in it, the sanctuary, and its furnishings-
There is no suggestion that this was to be the duty of every High
Priest. Eleazar is mentioned as he was to replace Aaron. So much of the
Mosaic law was only for the generation who were to march through the
wilderness to the promised land, where God had in view another worship
system. All claims that any law of God is eternally binding must be
considered in this context. It is simply not the case.
Num 4:17 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying-
The family of Kohath were to bear the ark, and so they had greater
responsibility and greater risk of destruction for inappropriate
behaviour. If we love God, we will not shy away from intimacy with Him.
But it is also true that knowledge brings responsibility to act the more
appropriately.
Num 4:18 Don’t cut off the clan of the families of the Kohathites from
among the Levites-
By Moses’ inattention, a whole group of people could have died. Our
sensitivity, or lack of it, to others’ likely failings can lead to their
losing their part amongst the family of the redeemed. We can’t reason that
human failure is simply their fault; we also bear some responsibility if
we don’t do what we can to mitigate against it.
Num 4:19 but thus do to them, that they may live, and not die, when
they approach to the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and
appoint them each one to his service and to his burden-
Not touching holy things connects with the command not to touch the
forbidden fruit of Eden (Gen. 3:3). Time and again, Adam’s sin is
presented (by way of such allusions) as the sin of everyman; elements of
it are to be found in all human sin, and therefore we can never blame Adam
as the source of our present discomfort under the curse; for we would have
done the same. In this sense, all humanity sinned as it were in Adam (Rom.
5:12 Gk.). It’s no bad exercise to analyze our own sins in the light of
Adam’s failure and see wherein are the essential similarities.
Num 4:20 but they shall not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment,
lest they die-
This law was applied even to Gentiles who looked into the ark (1 Sam.
6:19). God still feels sin as a committed offence against Him personally,
even when it’s performed by those not responsible to His law. It must be
hard being God, seeing and feeling so much offence against Him every
moment. In this we see not only His sensitivity to sin, but His grace in
allowing the whole of human society to exist in its disobedient, sinful
state, minute by minute. And thereby we can appreciate more fully the way
that He delays judging this world and ending sin, all because He is so
earnest that we and others might come to repentance and salvation (2 Pet.
3:9).
Num 4:21 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying-
The census of Israel required that a half shekel of redemption money
be offered to Him. We wonder whether this census of the Levites required
the same; for we have just read in Num. 3:49-51 of how they had been given
the redemption money for the 273 firstborns they had failed to substitute
for. They were being tested as to whether they would give it back to God.
Just as we are by any receipt of wealth.
Num 4:22 Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’
families, by their families-
Gershon was the firstborn but he was not given any particular honour
for that, and Kohath had the honour of bearing the ark and is mentioned
first in this list. This is typical of how God often doesn't choose the
firstborn, those with secular advantage, but delights to work otherwise.
See on :24.
Num 4:23 you shall count them from thirty years old and upward until fifty
years old; all who enter in to wait on the service, to do the work in the
Tent of Meeting-
The fact the Lord Jesus began His service at age 30 therefore
presents Him as the ideal priest; although He was not of Levi but from
Judah, His ministry was effectively a priestly service.
Num 4:24 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in
serving and in bearing burdens-
Bearing burdens is the language of the lowest servant, although
Gershon was the firstborn; see on :22.
Num 4:25 they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle, and the Tent of
Meeting, its covering, and the covering of sealskin that is above it, and
the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting-
These are the coverings of Ex. 26:14: "You shall make a covering for
the tent of rams’ skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above".
They were dyed red to represent how the blood of Christ is the covering
for God’s people.
Num 4:26 and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the
gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and around the altar, and
their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and whatever shall
be done with them. In this will be their service-
These are the "hangings" of Ex. 27:9: "You shall make the court of
the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for
the court of fine twined linen one hundred cubits long for one side".
The "fine twined linen" was given to them on leaving Egypt, as it was
characteristic of Egypt ("fine twined linen from Egypt" Ez. 27:7). It was
apparently only in Egypt at that time that such fine linen was "made from
yarn of which each thread was composed of many delicate strands". We see
that the best wealth we take from Egypt / the world is to be devoted to
the Lord's work. It perhaps appropriately designated the boundary between
the believer and the world, represented by the linen fence which marked
the enclosure of the tabernacle. 100 cubits is 58 yards or 53 meters.
Num 4:27 At the commandment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service
of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burden, and in all their
service; and you shall appoint their duty to them in all their
responsibilities-
As the new priesthood (1 Pet. 2:5), we too have specific service
intended for us. Eph. 2:10 alludes to this: "For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God beforehand prepared that
we should walk in them". Man is never better than when working at what is
clearly his calling and empowered by God in doing so. We need to pray that
God will reveal to us what are those specific works which He has prepared
for us to do- and make them the thrust of our lives. For it's unlikely
that His intention and hope was that we should get qualified, climb the
career ladder, improve our homes, go up the ladder of cars, holiday homes
and expensive gadgets... and die in a comfortable nursing home leaving
what was left over to our kids or someone else as a kind of short cut
towards that same sad life we thought we did so well in. Entry into
Christ, therefore, is a beginning and not an end. Nor is it merely an
assent to the correctness of a set of theological truths. Rather is it an
opening of ourselves to His workmanship upon us, and working for Him. See
on :32.
Num 4:28 This is the service of the families of the sons of the
Gershonites in the Tent of Meeting: and their duty shall be under the hand
of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest-
The Levites were under the command of the priests. Eleazar was to
succeed Aaron as High Priest, and so he was placed over the Kohathites as
they carried the ark; Ithamar, his younger brother, commanded the
Gershonites and Merarites (Num. 4:33).
Num 4:29 As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their
families, by their fathers’ families-
It is likely that a sense of genealogy had been somewhat lost during
the time spent in Egypt. There was huge emphasis on genealogies at Sinai,
because God is a family God and wanted the people to be arranged by
families. God set even the solitary in families at this time (Ps. 68:6)-
those without any family were assigned to one. This looks ahead to God's
desire that His people should not be solitary individuals but organized
ideally in spiritual family groups, what we would call churches.
Num 4:30 you shall count them from thirty years old and upward even to
fifty years old, everyone who enters on the service, to do the work of the
Tent of Meeting-
"The service" translates a word usually used for a military group.
The idea was that they were to do God's work as soldiers grouped for
battle, disciplined and with respect for authority and specific ends in
view. As the new priesthood, we should have a similar disciplined
approach. Not just drifting into church life and remaining in it as
spectators at a show, as mere religion, but specifically aware that we are
called to personal engagement, participation and action. See on :31.
Num 4:31 This is the duty of their burden, according to all their service
in the Tent of Meeting: the tabernacle’s boards, its bars, its pillars,
its sockets-
As discussed on :30, "duty" is likewise a military term, something
similar to 'sentry duty'. These are the boards of Ex. 26:16: "Ten cubits
shall be the length of a board, and one and a half cubits the breadth of
each board". As discussed on :11, acacia bushes don't grow so long nor
straight. These boards would have been very difficult to construct, and
would have involved much joining together of pieces of wood which were
difficult to work with. It was an appropriate symbol for the kind of human
material which goes to make up God's dwelling place. For God dwells in the
community of His people, and not within wood and stone. The materials of
the tabernacle therefore represent us His people.
Num 4:32 and the pillars of the court around it, and their sockets, and
their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all
their service: and by name you shall appoint the instruments of the duty
of their burden-
GNB "Each man will be responsible for carrying specific items". Again
we have the sense that each Levite had specific responsibilities, looking
ahead to how we in the new priesthood have specific callings unique to
each of us. See on :27.
Num 4:33 This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari,
according to all their service, in the Tent of Meeting, under the hand of
Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest-
"The service... their service" continues the theme of each group and
individual having a specific service or ministry intended for them. See on
:27,32.
Num 4:34 Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation numbered the
sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by their fathers’ families-
There is repeatedly specific priority and emphasis given to the
Kohathites, although Kohath was not the firstborn. They were chosen to
carry the ark, and we see God's repeated theme of not choosing the
firstborn or those with secular advantage for His most significant work.
And that is His abiding style to this day.
Num 4:35 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old,
everyone who entered into the service, for work in the Tent of Meeting-
The grammar of the original doesn't have to mean that every make
between 30 and 50 was in "the service". Rather those numbered were between
those ages, who had entered into the service. This suggests an element of
freewill agreement to serve- without which they were not numbered within
Israel.
Num 4:36 Those who were numbered of them by their families were two
thousand seven hundred and fifty-
The Kohathites had 2,750 men able to serve, 5,850 unable or unwilling
to serve, making a total of 8,600
The Gershonites had 2,630 men able to serve, 4,870 unable or unwilling to
serve, making a total of 7,500
The Merarites had 3,200 men able to serve, 3,000 unable or unwilling to
serve, making a total of 6,200.
We can conclude from this that there was a higher level of relative
commitment amongst those of Merari. The Kohathites, given the highest
honour of carrying the ark, were in fact the least committed. And yet God
often gives a high calling to those apparently least spiritually
qualified, to inspire them. We think of the entire choice of the tribe of
Levi as the priestly tribe, the calling of Saul son of Kish and many
others.
Num 4:37 These are those who were numbered of the families of the
Kohathites, all who served in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron
numbered according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses-
Num. 3:15 could be read as a command to Moses to personally number
all the people of his own tribe, Levi. And he did so. His obedience is
constantly stressed. This looks ahead to the similar personal relationship
between the Lord Jesus and His people.
Num 4:38 Those who were numbered of the sons of Gershon, by their
families, and by their fathers’ families-
"Gershon" means 'expelled', maybe meaning that like Reuben he was
expelled from the role of firstborn [he is mentioned first as if he was
the firstborn]. This is a theme of the Genesis record. But perhaps because of these
weaknesses, the line to the high priest ran through Kohath.
Num 4:39 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old,
everyone who entered into the service, for work in the Tent of Meeting-
God met with Israel over the ark in the most holy place (Ex. 25:22;
30:6; Num. 17:4). But they were never allowed there. And so He also "met"
(s.w.) with Israel at the door of the tabernacle, and spoke with them
there (Ex. 29:42,43; 30:36). But the word for "meet" is used in Am. 3:3,
where God laments that Israel had not "met" with Him and therefore they
could not walk further together. The idea of the "meeting" was that God's
word might be revealed, so that the people could walk with Him in His
ways. It was an awesome invitation, to be able to meet with the God who
only otherwise met with His people in the glory of the most holy place,
over the ark. He as it were came out of that most holy place and met with
them at the door of the tabernacle. But they weren't interested. Just as
so many today.
Num 4:40 even those who were numbered of them, by their families, by their
fathers’ families, were two thousand six hundred and thirty-
We have a choice between understanding the Hebrew elep as meaning a literal number, or a "thousand" in the sense
of a family group. In this case, the number following the word "thousand"
would refer to the number of males amongst that number of families. This
makes a more realistic number of Levites (see on Num. 3:39,43). Although it
means that as discussed on Num. 3:22, the total number of Israelites who left
Egypt was not as huge as often imagined.
Thus the numbers would work out like this:
Gershon 7,500, or 7 families with 500 males, making 71 males / family
group.
Kohath 8,600 or 8 families with 600 males, making 75 males / family group.
Merari 6,200 or 6 families with 200 males, making 33 males / family group.
This would make a total of 22,300 if we take "thousand" literally; or a
total of 21 families [7+8+6] and 1300 males, making a total of 48 males
per family group.
Num 4:41 These are those who were numbered of the families of the sons of
Gershon, all who served in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron
numbered according to the commandment of Yahweh-
As discussed on :40 and Num. 3:22,39,43, this numbering of families
rather than individuals could suggest that the "thousands" we read of
refer to families rather than literal numbers. This makes more sense, as
otherwise thousands of men would each be involved in carrying something-
although the structure may just about have given each of them something to
carry, and they may have taken turns in carrying the poles when on the
march.
Num 4:42 Those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, by
their families, by their fathers’ families-
The Merarites had 3,200 men able to serve, 3,000 unable or unwilling
to serve, making a total of 6,200. We can conclude from this that there
was a higher level of relative commitment amongst those of Merari. See on
:36.
Num 4:43 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old,
everyone who entered into the service, to do work in the Tent of Meeting-
The Israelite males were to be counted as able to fight from 20 years
old (Num. 1:3). The higher age limit of 30 for priestly service therefore
suggests that a greater maturity was required for their work.
Num 4:44 even those who were numbered of them by their families, were
three thousand two hundred-
The Merarites had 3200 workers out of a total of 6200. Although they
were the smallest of the three families, they had the most number of
workers (Gershon had 2630 out of 7500; Kohath 2750 out of 8600). This may
have been for various reasons, but it’s also a fact that the smaller the
group, the higher percentage are willing to work. God doesn’t need great
numbers to do His work.
Out of 22,000 Levites, a total of 8580 were apparently between 20 and 50 years old and able or willing to serve. This is a reasonable proportion if we accept these numbers as literal. But the numbers are so rounded that one suspects that as often, the term "thousand" is used not as a number but as a reference to a group; and likewise a "hundred" and a "fifty". See on Num. 3:21.
Num 4:45 These are those who were numbered of the families of the sons of
Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of
Yahweh by Moses-
"These are those" could suggest that a written list was produced of
all the names, although it is not included in the inspired record at this
point.
Num 4:46 All those who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron
and the princes of Israel numbered, by their families, and by their
fathers’ families-
Although Moses was personally commanded to number the Levites, seeing
they were his own tribe, he may have used the princes of the other tribes
of Israel to participate or be present, to provide a level of integrity to
his counting. This wasn't commanded, but it was typical of his humility
that he did this.
Num 4:47 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old,
everyone who entered in to do the work of service, and the work of bearing
burdens in the Tent of Meeting-
38,000 Levites were numbered by David in 1 Chron. 23:3, although
"thousand" may mean a division rather than a literal 1000. At the time of
Num. 4:47,48 there were only 8,580. And Levite males from a month old were
22,000 in Num. 3:39 and 23,000 at the time of Num. 26:62. This suggests a
great increase in the number of Levites by David's time; or perhaps he
more generously counted who was a Levite, because he wanted to have as
many as possible involved in his grandiose plans for the temple services.
There was no need for such large numbers of Levites in order to serve God
effectively, for there were far fewer Levites at the time of the figures
given in the book of Numbers, and the sanctuary and Divine service still
continued.
Num 4:48 even those who were numbered of them, were eight thousand five
hundred and eighty-
As discussed on :40 and Num. 3:22,39,43, this numbering of families
rather than individuals could suggest that the "thousands" we read of
refer to a level of clan rather than literal numbers, and likewise
"hundred".
Num 4:49 According to the commandment of Yahweh they were numbered by
Moses, everyone according to his service, and according to his burden.
Thus were they numbered by him, as Yahweh commanded Moses-
Each man having his own burden to bear is an idea picked up in the
New Testament (Gal. 6:5). We are each asked to carry the cross of Christ,
and yet that cross is articulated in unique ways for each of us.
Just as each Levite had some specific part of the tabernacle to
carry.
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