(Numbers 10:13) And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
In verse 12 at the end of the last post, we were told that the pillar of cloud lifted and the children of Israel moved from the wilderness of Sinai to the wilderness of Paran where the cloud again rested. The
people set out on this first journey according to the commandment of
the Lord that had been earlier described as the movement of the cloud,
and by the directions that had been given to Moses and were carried out
by him as follows:
(14) In the first place went the
standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies;
and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
Numbers 2 explained the four standards, the tribes grouped under each standard, where they should camp, and the order of their marching. The Israelites under the standard of Judah were to move first; these included the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. These were camped on the east side and had been instructed in Numbers 2:9 to move out first. The captain of the tribe of Judah was Nahshon, the son of Amminadab.
(15) And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar.
The captain of the tribe of Issachar that was also under the standard of Judah, was Nethanel, the son of Zuar.
(16) And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.
The captain of the host or army, if you will, of the children of Zebulun was Eliab, the son of Helon. The tribe of Zebulun also moved under the standard of Judah.
(17) And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle.
The tabernacle was taken down; according to Numbers 1:51, this would have been done by the Levites. Then specifically the Gershonites and Merarites moved forward carrying the tabernacle. Numbers 3 described the tribes of the sons of Levi and their particular duties as it related to the moving of the tabernacle. The Gershonites were responsible for the tent, the skin covering, and all the curtains and linen hangings of the tabernacle. The Merarites carried the boards of the tabernacle, including all the bars, pillars, and sockets.
(18) And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies; and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur.
Next the standard of Reuben moved forward. According to Numbers 2, the standard of Reuben camped on the south side, and the tribes under that standard were Reuben, Simeon, and Gad. The captain of the host of Reuben was Elizur, the son of Shedeur.
(19) And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
The captain of the host of the tribe of Simeon, which was under the standard of Reuben, was Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai.
(20) And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
The captain of the army of Gad, which was also under the standard of Reuben, was Eliasaph, the son of Deuel.
(21) And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary; and the other did set up the tabernacle before they came.
Next the Kohathites moved forward, carrying the holy things, including the Ark of the Covenant with the mercy seat, the
showbread table, the gold candlestick, the altars, and all the vessels
and furnishings of the sanctuary. The Gershonites and Merarites, who had marched before the Kohathites, had the tabernacle set up before the Kohathites came with the holy things.
Because Blogger limits the number of labels I can have per post, I will continue this in the next post:
The Israelites' Removal from Sinai to Paran, Part 2
Showing posts with label Eliasaph. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eliasaph. Show all posts
Sunday, July 1, 2018
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Offerings of the Princes at the Dedication of the Altar, Part 1
Continuing a chronological Bible study:
(Numbers 7:1) And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all its instruments, both the altar and all its vessels, and had anointed them, and sanctified them, (2) That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them who were numbered, made an offering.
The past many chapters and posts, since Leviticus 10 till this one, have dealt with laws and numbers. I have been following a chronologically ordered study of the Bible set forth by Skip Andrews. As far as historical activities and events, Biblical scholars agree that the events in this chapter took place (or began to take place) on the second day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites' departure from Egypt, and the proper place of this account is immediately after the tenth chapter of Leviticus. However, it makes perfect logical sense that all the laws and numbers be linked together in sequence and placed conveniently where they were in the Bible.
Numbers 7:1 begins on the day after Moses had fully set up the tabernacle (Exodus 40:17), and after he had anointed and sanctified it and all its furnishings (Lev. 8:10-11). Obviously, all these things took time, and it is not to be taken literally that the events of Numbers 7 began on the exact day that Moses had set up the tabernacle, etc., but after all these things were completed. It was at that time that the princes of the twelve tribes of Israel who had been named in Numbers 1, made an offering.
(3) And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for every two of the princes, and for each one an ox; and they brought them before the tabernacle.
The princes brought six covered wagons, which scholars agree were actually covered litters, a litter being a type of wagon carried upon people or animals rather than on wheels. Each wagon was carried upon two oxen, and as there were twelve princes, it made one wagon for two princes and one ox for each prince. They brought them to the tabernacle.
(4) And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (5) "Take it from them, that they may be used to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service.”
The Lord told Moses to take the offerings of wagons and oxen from the princes to use in service of the tabernacle. They were to be distributed to the Levites according to each one's need for his particular service.
(6) And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites.
Moses did as the Lord had instructed him and he took the wagons and the oxen and distributed them to the Levites as follows:
(7) Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service.
Moses gave two wagons and four oxen to the Gershonites who were in charge of transporting the curtains, coverings, and hangings of the tabernacle (Numbers 4:25).
(8) And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
Moses gave the other four wagons and eight oxen to the Merarites whose service was the carrying of all the boards, bars, pillars, etc. (Numbers 4:31-32). As their burden was the heaviest, they were given more wagons and oxen. Ithamar, the son of Aaron, was in charge of direction and oversight of the Gershonites (Numbers 4:28) and the Merarites (Numbers 4:33).
(9) But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the sanctuary belonging to them was that which they should bear on their shoulders.
Moses gave no wagons or oxen to the Kohathites because they had charge of the ark and other holy furnishings (Numbers 4:4, 15), and those were to be carried on their shoulders. It makes sense that those sacred things must never be carried by beasts.
(10) And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed; the princes offered their offering before the altar.
The princes of the tribes also made offerings for the dedication of the altar. There is some discrepancy among the commentaries I study as to whether this referred back to the time when Moses first anointed the altar (Lev. 8:10), or if, like in Numbers 7:1 above, it meant once the anointing had been done, they offered their offerings for the dedicating of the altar. I tend to believe the latter as this appears to be a formal dedication after the time Moses first anointed and sanctified the altar.
(11) And the LORD said to Moses, “They shall offer their offering, one prince each day, for the dedication of the altar.”
The Lord instructed Moses that the princes were to offer their offerings one day at a time, one prince offering on the first day, then another the next, etc., for what would be twelve days, for this dedication of the altar.
(12) And the one who offered his offering on the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah.
The prince who offered his offering on the first day was Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, who had been named in Numbers 2:3 as the captain (prince) of the tribe of Judah.
(13) And his offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.
Nahshon's offering was one silver charger that weighed 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, according to the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Exactly what the sanctuary shekel was varies among Biblical scholars, but as discussed in previous posts, as in the most recent post discussing this, a shekel was twenty gerahs, a gerah being a "kernel" or a "grain", the smallest weight or coin. This doesn't seem to be much value, but then again, who's to say what silver was worth in Biblical times, or what the rate of inflation might do to that value. Both of the silver items offered were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.
(14) One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense; (15) One young bullock, one ram, and one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (16) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (17) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
In addition, Nahshon offered a spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense. Once again, no one seems to know exactly what the sanctuary shekel of gold weighed, but this article in Got Questions gives us one idea. According to those calculations, this spoon would have weighed about 4 ounces or 120 grams of gold, worth over $5500 in today's market. Nahshon also offered a young bull, a ram, and a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering; a goat kid for a sin offering, and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year for peace offerings.
(18) On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, leader of Issachar, presented an offering.
On the second day Nethanel, the son of Zuar, who had been named captain or prince of the tribe of Issachar in Numbers 2:5, presented an offering.
(19) He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (20) One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense; (21) One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (22) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (23) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar.
Nethanel also offered a silver charger weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, according to the standard shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. He also offered a gold spoon of ten shekels full of incense, and a young bull, a ram, and a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering. He also offered a goat kid for a sin offering, and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year for peace offerings.
(24) On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, did offer. (25) His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (26) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (27) One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (28) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (29) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.
On the third day Eliab, son of Helon, prince of the tribe of Zebulun, made his offering. He offered a silver charger and a silver bowl of the same weight as offered by the first two princes, also full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering. He also offered a golden spoon of the same weight as the spoons given before, also full of incense. He also offered a young bull, a ram, a lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering, a goat kid for a sin offering, and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year for peace offerings.
(30) On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, did offer. (31) His offering was one silver charger of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a grain offering; (32) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (33) One young bullock, one ram, and one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (34) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (35) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.
On the fourth day Elizur, the son of Shedeur, prince of the tribe of Reuben, presented his offering which consisted of the same items offered by the princes before him on the previous three days. The offerings which the princes brought were very rich and valuable, and were surely not their own personal freewill offerings, but were the offerings of the people of their tribes. The princes of the tribes of the children of Israel would not have been so much richer than the common people of their tribes at this point.
(36) On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, did offer. (37) His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (38) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (39) One young bullock, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering; (40) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (41) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
On the fifth day Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the tribe of Simeon, presented his offering which was exactly the same as the princes before him.
(42) On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered. (43) His offering was one silver charger of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (44) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (45) One young bullock, one ram, and one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (46) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (47) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
On the sixth day Eliasaph, the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered the same large rich offering as the princes in the days before him.
Because Blogger limits the number of labels on each post, and all of the names are important in Numbers 7, I have continued the study of this chapter in the next post:
Offerings of the Princes at the Dedication of the Altar, Part 2
(Numbers 7:1) And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all its instruments, both the altar and all its vessels, and had anointed them, and sanctified them, (2) That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them who were numbered, made an offering.
The past many chapters and posts, since Leviticus 10 till this one, have dealt with laws and numbers. I have been following a chronologically ordered study of the Bible set forth by Skip Andrews. As far as historical activities and events, Biblical scholars agree that the events in this chapter took place (or began to take place) on the second day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites' departure from Egypt, and the proper place of this account is immediately after the tenth chapter of Leviticus. However, it makes perfect logical sense that all the laws and numbers be linked together in sequence and placed conveniently where they were in the Bible.
Numbers 7:1 begins on the day after Moses had fully set up the tabernacle (Exodus 40:17), and after he had anointed and sanctified it and all its furnishings (Lev. 8:10-11). Obviously, all these things took time, and it is not to be taken literally that the events of Numbers 7 began on the exact day that Moses had set up the tabernacle, etc., but after all these things were completed. It was at that time that the princes of the twelve tribes of Israel who had been named in Numbers 1, made an offering.
(3) And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for every two of the princes, and for each one an ox; and they brought them before the tabernacle.
The princes brought six covered wagons, which scholars agree were actually covered litters, a litter being a type of wagon carried upon people or animals rather than on wheels. Each wagon was carried upon two oxen, and as there were twelve princes, it made one wagon for two princes and one ox for each prince. They brought them to the tabernacle.
(4) And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (5) "Take it from them, that they may be used to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service.”
The Lord told Moses to take the offerings of wagons and oxen from the princes to use in service of the tabernacle. They were to be distributed to the Levites according to each one's need for his particular service.
(6) And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites.
Moses did as the Lord had instructed him and he took the wagons and the oxen and distributed them to the Levites as follows:
(7) Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service.
Moses gave two wagons and four oxen to the Gershonites who were in charge of transporting the curtains, coverings, and hangings of the tabernacle (Numbers 4:25).
(8) And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
Moses gave the other four wagons and eight oxen to the Merarites whose service was the carrying of all the boards, bars, pillars, etc. (Numbers 4:31-32). As their burden was the heaviest, they were given more wagons and oxen. Ithamar, the son of Aaron, was in charge of direction and oversight of the Gershonites (Numbers 4:28) and the Merarites (Numbers 4:33).
(9) But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the sanctuary belonging to them was that which they should bear on their shoulders.
Moses gave no wagons or oxen to the Kohathites because they had charge of the ark and other holy furnishings (Numbers 4:4, 15), and those were to be carried on their shoulders. It makes sense that those sacred things must never be carried by beasts.
(10) And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed; the princes offered their offering before the altar.
The princes of the tribes also made offerings for the dedication of the altar. There is some discrepancy among the commentaries I study as to whether this referred back to the time when Moses first anointed the altar (Lev. 8:10), or if, like in Numbers 7:1 above, it meant once the anointing had been done, they offered their offerings for the dedicating of the altar. I tend to believe the latter as this appears to be a formal dedication after the time Moses first anointed and sanctified the altar.
(11) And the LORD said to Moses, “They shall offer their offering, one prince each day, for the dedication of the altar.”
The Lord instructed Moses that the princes were to offer their offerings one day at a time, one prince offering on the first day, then another the next, etc., for what would be twelve days, for this dedication of the altar.
(12) And the one who offered his offering on the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah.
The prince who offered his offering on the first day was Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, who had been named in Numbers 2:3 as the captain (prince) of the tribe of Judah.
(13) And his offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.
Nahshon's offering was one silver charger that weighed 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, according to the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Exactly what the sanctuary shekel was varies among Biblical scholars, but as discussed in previous posts, as in the most recent post discussing this, a shekel was twenty gerahs, a gerah being a "kernel" or a "grain", the smallest weight or coin. This doesn't seem to be much value, but then again, who's to say what silver was worth in Biblical times, or what the rate of inflation might do to that value. Both of the silver items offered were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.
(14) One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense; (15) One young bullock, one ram, and one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (16) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (17) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
In addition, Nahshon offered a spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense. Once again, no one seems to know exactly what the sanctuary shekel of gold weighed, but this article in Got Questions gives us one idea. According to those calculations, this spoon would have weighed about 4 ounces or 120 grams of gold, worth over $5500 in today's market. Nahshon also offered a young bull, a ram, and a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering; a goat kid for a sin offering, and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year for peace offerings.
(18) On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, leader of Issachar, presented an offering.
On the second day Nethanel, the son of Zuar, who had been named captain or prince of the tribe of Issachar in Numbers 2:5, presented an offering.
(19) He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (20) One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense; (21) One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (22) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (23) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Nethanel the son of Zuar.
Nethanel also offered a silver charger weighing 130 shekels and a silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, according to the standard shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. He also offered a gold spoon of ten shekels full of incense, and a young bull, a ram, and a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering. He also offered a goat kid for a sin offering, and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year for peace offerings.
(24) On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, did offer. (25) His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (26) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (27) One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (28) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (29) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.
On the third day Eliab, son of Helon, prince of the tribe of Zebulun, made his offering. He offered a silver charger and a silver bowl of the same weight as offered by the first two princes, also full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering. He also offered a golden spoon of the same weight as the spoons given before, also full of incense. He also offered a young bull, a ram, a lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering, a goat kid for a sin offering, and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year for peace offerings.
(30) On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, did offer. (31) His offering was one silver charger of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a grain offering; (32) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (33) One young bullock, one ram, and one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (34) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (35) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.
On the fourth day Elizur, the son of Shedeur, prince of the tribe of Reuben, presented his offering which consisted of the same items offered by the princes before him on the previous three days. The offerings which the princes brought were very rich and valuable, and were surely not their own personal freewill offerings, but were the offerings of the people of their tribes. The princes of the tribes of the children of Israel would not have been so much richer than the common people of their tribes at this point.
(36) On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, did offer. (37) His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (38) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (39) One young bullock, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering; (40) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (41) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
On the fifth day Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the tribe of Simeon, presented his offering which was exactly the same as the princes before him.
(42) On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered. (43) His offering was one silver charger of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (44) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (45) One young bullock, one ram, and one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (46) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (47) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
On the sixth day Eliasaph, the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered the same large rich offering as the princes in the days before him.
Because Blogger limits the number of labels on each post, and all of the names are important in Numbers 7, I have continued the study of this chapter in the next post:
Offerings of the Princes at the Dedication of the Altar, Part 2
Saturday, February 3, 2018
The Numbering of the Levites and Their Exchange for the First-Born, Part 2
Continuing a chronological Bible study, this third chapter of Numbers having been started in the last post:
The Numbering of the Levites and Their Exchange for the First-Born, Part 1
(Numbers 3:21) Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.
In the first half of Numbers 3, Moses had begun numbering the Levites, as instructed by God. From Levi's first son, Gershon, and his family, the Gershonites, came the Libnites, named for Gershon's son Libni, and the Shimites, named for his son Shimei.
(22) Those who were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, those who were numbered of them were seven thousand five hundred.
The Gershonites, including the Libnites and the Shimites, numbered 7500 males from one month of age and upward.
(23) The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.
It had already been established in Numbers 1:53 that the Levites would pitch their tents around the tabernacle between the tabernacle and the rest of the tribes. The Gershonites were to camp on the west side of the tabernacle between the tabernacle and the camp of Ephraim, which was also westward (Numbers 2:18).
(24) And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.
The chief of the Gershonites was to be Eliasaph, the son of Lael, not to be confused with Eliasaph, the son of Reuel or Deuel, from the tribe of Gad.
(25) And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, its covering, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, (26) And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.
The Gershonites which included the Libnites and the Shimites, were in charge of the tent, the skin covering, and all the curtains and linen hangings of the tabernacle, including all the necessary cords that fastened them in place. The Gershonites were responsible for the taking down and carrying of all the coverings and hangings of the tabernacle, and the care of them while they were not in use as a tabernacle, for they would not have normally been allowed within the curtains of the tabernacle to do any service.
(27) And of Kohath were 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.
Levi's son Kohath had sons, Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, whose families were known as the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites.
(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.
The number of all the Kohathites was 8600 males from one month and older, and they were in charge of the vessels and furnishings of the sanctuary.
(29) The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.
The Kohathites were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle between the tabernacle and the camp of Reuben, which was also southward (Numbers 2:10).
(30) And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elzaphan the son of Uzziel.
The chief of the Kohathites was to be Elzaphan, the son of Uzziel. This was the same Elzaphan who, with his brother Mishael, carried Nadab and Abihu out of the camp after they had been devoured by fire from the Lord when they offered "strange fire" before the Lord (Lev. 10:4).
(31) And their charge shall be the ark, the table, the candlestick, the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.
The Kohathites were in charge of the Ark of the Covenant which would include the mercy seat, and the showbread table, the gold candlestick, the altars, and all the vessels and furnishings of the sanctuary. It also included "the hanging" which would be the veil that divided the holy place from the most holy place; all the other hangings were in the charge of the Gershonites.
(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.
Eleazar, Aaron's son, was to be chief over all the chiefs of the Levites, that is, the chiefs of the Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites. He would have oversight of the Kohathites who were to keep charge of the sanctuary furnishings.
(33) Of Merari were the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites; these are the families of Merari.
Levi's son, Merari, had sons Mahli and Mushi, from which came the families of the Mahlites and the Mushites.
(34) And those who were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.
The number of all the Merarites, from one month old and older, was 6200.
(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.
The chief of all the Merarites was to be Zuriel, the son of Abihail, and they were to pitch their camps on the north side, between the tabernacle and the camp of Dan, which was also pitched northward (Num. 2:25).
(36) And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and its bars, and its pillars, and its sockets, and all its vessels, and all that serves these, (37) And the pillars of the court all around, and their sockets, their pins, and their cords.
The Merarites were to be in charge of the boards of the tabernacle, including all the bars and pillars, and the sockets in which the boards and pillars were put, and the pins and cords of the pillars, by which the outside hangings of the court were kept tight and unmoved by the winds. Whereas the Gershonites had charge of the cords of all the hangings of the tabernacle and tent, it seems the Merarites had charge of the cords of the court.
(38) But those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger who comes near shall be put to death.
On the east side which was in front of the court of the tabernacle, between it and the camp of Judah, Moses and Aaron and Aaron's sons, the priests were to camp. They were to keep charge of the sanctuary for the children of Israel and for their safety, for whoever came near to enter the holy place who was not a priest would be put to death.
(39) All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand.
After having discussed in the last post that it appeared Moses only was commanded to number the Levites (Num. 3:14-16), maybe because he was presenting them to Aaron (Num. 3:6), it appears that both Moses and Aaron numbered the Levites. However, the old commentators pointed out that the word "Aaron" in the original Hebrew text had a dot over every letter, for what reason it is not certain; but the word itself was left out in the Samaritan and Syriac versions, so perhaps the reason was that it had been questionably added to the text by an early transcriber. The Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge by Canne, Browne, Blayney, Scott, etc., asserts that "Moses alone, as Houbigant observes, was commanded to number the Levites (Num 3:5, Num 3:11, Num 3:40, Num 3:44, Num 3:51) for as the money with which the first-born were redeemed was to be paid to Aaron and his sons (Num 3:48), it was decent that he, whose advantage it was that the number of the first-born should exceed, should not be authorized to take that number himself." Most of the scriptures referenced are yet to come in the study, but Houbigant's explanation does seem reasonable. The Houbigant referenced is probably Charles Francois Houbigant, a French Oratorian Biblical scholar (the French Oratory being a Roman Catholic Society of apostolic life of Catholic priests).
The total number of Levites from one month of age and upward was said to be 22,000. This number does not agree with the total when the Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites are totaled together, which comes to 22,300. The old commentaries go to great lengths to explain the discrepancy, but the simplest explanation seems to be that there was an error in the number of Gershonites, where instead of 7500, there were only 7200. The numbers in the Hebrew Bible were expressed by letters and not by words at full length, and apparently the symbol for 500 is very similar to the one for 200 and could have easily been mistakenly transcribed.
(40) And the LORD said to Moses, "Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names."
After numbering the Levites, the Lord told Moses to number the firstborn males of all the Israelites that were one month and older, identifying each one and counting them.
(41) “And you shall take the Levites for Me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel."
This is where God made the exchange for His firstborn among all the children of Israel, those firstborn that He made His because as their sovereign Lord who saved all their firstborn in Egypt, He had every right to them. He would take all the Levites as His, to serve Him in His tabernacle, and no longer require that the firstborn be in service to Him. Likewise, He would accept the cattle of the Levites as His as they would be used in the service of His priests and tabernacle, and would no longer require the firstborn among the people's cattle to be for Him.
(42) And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and he numbered all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
(43) And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three.
The number of firstborn males one month old and older of all the children of Israel totaled 22,273.
(44) And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (45) "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle, and the Levites shall be mine; I am the LORD."
The Lord had declared before that He had taken the Levites in exchange for all the firstborn among the Israelites. Now He told Moses, who had numbered them, to take them and their cattle, and they were to be the Lord's, once again, because He was Lord and had thusly commanded ('nuf said).
(46) "And for those who are to be redeemed of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites; (47) You shall take five shekels apiece by the head, after the shekel of the sanctuary you shall take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs)."
There were 273 more firstborn of all the Israelites than there were Levites. I believe this proves that the number 22,000 said to be the total of all the Levites (v. 39 above) must be the accurate number, and that the correct number of Gershonites had been 7200 instead of the transcribed 7500. Had the number been 22,300, for whatever reason some of the old commentators went to great lengths to explain, why would there have been a need to redeem for the discrepancy? It is evident there were 273 more firstborn of all the Israelites than there were Levites, so the Lord required a redemption to be made to level the discrepancy. The number of firstborn which exceeded the number of the Levites (273 in all) were to be redeemed at five shekels apiece, according to the shekel used by the sanctuary. There were twenty gerahs to one shekel, and as discussed in an earlier post, a gerah is defined as a "kernel" or a "grain", the smallest weight or coin among the Israelites, about two and a half or three pennies of American money (if a shekel of silver as in former scriptures). As discussed previously, that doesn't seem like a huge value for a person, but precious metals were probably worth a lot more in Biblical times than now, and, if you calculated for inflation, the value would be exceedingly more now. There is common agreement among the Biblical scholars that the exchange began with the oldest of the firstborn, and so downward, so that those who were to be redeemed with money were the 273 youngest of the firstborn.
(48) “And you shall give the money, with which the excess number of them is to be redeemed, to Aaron and his sons.”
The redemption money was to be given to Aaron and his sons, the priests. Because the Levites were given to Aaron that they might minister to him (Num. 3:6) and there was a deficiency of them in exchange for the firstborn, it was right and just that the redemption price be paid to him and his sons.
(49) And Moses took the redemption money of them who were over and above them who were redeemed by the Levites.
A Levite redeemed a firstborn, or freed him from the redemption price, being taken in lieu of him. 22,000 Levites were answerable to 22,000 firstborn of Israel, but as there were 273 more firstborn than Levites, those were to be redeemed by money, and it was the redemption money of these that Moses took.
(50) Of the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.
Obviously, Moses took the money from the parents of the 273 firstborn. We can't be sure how it was decided which 273 must pay. As suggested before, many commentators believed the firstborn were counted in age order; it does seem reasonable that the first who were born would be the first to be redeemed by a Levite, and when the Levites "ran out", there were left the 273 youngest firstborn. Perhaps it was just the last 273 who were numbered. However it was determined, Moses collected from those 273, 1365 shekels, which is exactly 273 times five shekels.
(51) And Moses gave the money of them who were redeemed to Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Moses did just as the Lord had commanded he do, and he gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, the priests.
The firstborn being the Lord's, then being exchanged for priests in service to Him, and those being redeemed, paints a big beautiful symbolic picture of the things that were to come with the arrival of the Messiah. The church is called the church of the firstborn, and its people called a royal priesthood redeemed with the precious blood of Christ:
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. - Hebrews 12:23
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. - 1 Peter 2:9
Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. - 1 Peter 1:18-19
Obviously, the Lord didn't have to do a formal exchange, nor did He have to level the number by a redemption fee. After all, He is the sovereign Lord, and He could do whatever He wanted to do. He obviously did it this way to paint a picture to us humans of what was to come. Once again, I marvel at how often we find Jesus in the scriptures of the Old Testament! It also occurs to me that God's chosen people, the Israelites, are like the Levites, God's chosen for His priesthood; and that the 273 who had to be redeemed are like the Gentiles who were allowed to be redeemed and grafted into the living olive tree, illustrative of everlasting life through Christ (Romans 11:16-24). God's plan for salvation through Jesus Christ was there from the beginning, and with all these beautiful illustrations, He patiently shows us our need for Christ.
The Numbering of the Levites and Their Exchange for the First-Born, Part 1
(Numbers 3:21) Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.
In the first half of Numbers 3, Moses had begun numbering the Levites, as instructed by God. From Levi's first son, Gershon, and his family, the Gershonites, came the Libnites, named for Gershon's son Libni, and the Shimites, named for his son Shimei.
(22) Those who were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, those who were numbered of them were seven thousand five hundred.
The Gershonites, including the Libnites and the Shimites, numbered 7500 males from one month of age and upward.
(23) The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.
It had already been established in Numbers 1:53 that the Levites would pitch their tents around the tabernacle between the tabernacle and the rest of the tribes. The Gershonites were to camp on the west side of the tabernacle between the tabernacle and the camp of Ephraim, which was also westward (Numbers 2:18).
(24) And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.
The chief of the Gershonites was to be Eliasaph, the son of Lael, not to be confused with Eliasaph, the son of Reuel or Deuel, from the tribe of Gad.
(25) And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, its covering, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, (26) And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.
The Gershonites which included the Libnites and the Shimites, were in charge of the tent, the skin covering, and all the curtains and linen hangings of the tabernacle, including all the necessary cords that fastened them in place. The Gershonites were responsible for the taking down and carrying of all the coverings and hangings of the tabernacle, and the care of them while they were not in use as a tabernacle, for they would not have normally been allowed within the curtains of the tabernacle to do any service.
(27) And of Kohath were 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.
Levi's son Kohath had sons, Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, whose families were known as the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites.
(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.
The number of all the Kohathites was 8600 males from one month and older, and they were in charge of the vessels and furnishings of the sanctuary.
(29) The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.
The Kohathites were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle between the tabernacle and the camp of Reuben, which was also southward (Numbers 2:10).
(30) And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elzaphan the son of Uzziel.
The chief of the Kohathites was to be Elzaphan, the son of Uzziel. This was the same Elzaphan who, with his brother Mishael, carried Nadab and Abihu out of the camp after they had been devoured by fire from the Lord when they offered "strange fire" before the Lord (Lev. 10:4).
(31) And their charge shall be the ark, the table, the candlestick, the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.
The Kohathites were in charge of the Ark of the Covenant which would include the mercy seat, and the showbread table, the gold candlestick, the altars, and all the vessels and furnishings of the sanctuary. It also included "the hanging" which would be the veil that divided the holy place from the most holy place; all the other hangings were in the charge of the Gershonites.
(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.
Eleazar, Aaron's son, was to be chief over all the chiefs of the Levites, that is, the chiefs of the Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites. He would have oversight of the Kohathites who were to keep charge of the sanctuary furnishings.
(33) Of Merari were the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites; these are the families of Merari.
Levi's son, Merari, had sons Mahli and Mushi, from which came the families of the Mahlites and the Mushites.
(34) And those who were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.
The number of all the Merarites, from one month old and older, was 6200.
(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.
The chief of all the Merarites was to be Zuriel, the son of Abihail, and they were to pitch their camps on the north side, between the tabernacle and the camp of Dan, which was also pitched northward (Num. 2:25).
(36) And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and its bars, and its pillars, and its sockets, and all its vessels, and all that serves these, (37) And the pillars of the court all around, and their sockets, their pins, and their cords.
The Merarites were to be in charge of the boards of the tabernacle, including all the bars and pillars, and the sockets in which the boards and pillars were put, and the pins and cords of the pillars, by which the outside hangings of the court were kept tight and unmoved by the winds. Whereas the Gershonites had charge of the cords of all the hangings of the tabernacle and tent, it seems the Merarites had charge of the cords of the court.
(38) But those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger who comes near shall be put to death.
On the east side which was in front of the court of the tabernacle, between it and the camp of Judah, Moses and Aaron and Aaron's sons, the priests were to camp. They were to keep charge of the sanctuary for the children of Israel and for their safety, for whoever came near to enter the holy place who was not a priest would be put to death.
(39) All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand.
After having discussed in the last post that it appeared Moses only was commanded to number the Levites (Num. 3:14-16), maybe because he was presenting them to Aaron (Num. 3:6), it appears that both Moses and Aaron numbered the Levites. However, the old commentators pointed out that the word "Aaron" in the original Hebrew text had a dot over every letter, for what reason it is not certain; but the word itself was left out in the Samaritan and Syriac versions, so perhaps the reason was that it had been questionably added to the text by an early transcriber. The Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge by Canne, Browne, Blayney, Scott, etc., asserts that "Moses alone, as Houbigant observes, was commanded to number the Levites (Num 3:5, Num 3:11, Num 3:40, Num 3:44, Num 3:51) for as the money with which the first-born were redeemed was to be paid to Aaron and his sons (Num 3:48), it was decent that he, whose advantage it was that the number of the first-born should exceed, should not be authorized to take that number himself." Most of the scriptures referenced are yet to come in the study, but Houbigant's explanation does seem reasonable. The Houbigant referenced is probably Charles Francois Houbigant, a French Oratorian Biblical scholar (the French Oratory being a Roman Catholic Society of apostolic life of Catholic priests).
The total number of Levites from one month of age and upward was said to be 22,000. This number does not agree with the total when the Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites are totaled together, which comes to 22,300. The old commentaries go to great lengths to explain the discrepancy, but the simplest explanation seems to be that there was an error in the number of Gershonites, where instead of 7500, there were only 7200. The numbers in the Hebrew Bible were expressed by letters and not by words at full length, and apparently the symbol for 500 is very similar to the one for 200 and could have easily been mistakenly transcribed.
(40) And the LORD said to Moses, "Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names."
After numbering the Levites, the Lord told Moses to number the firstborn males of all the Israelites that were one month and older, identifying each one and counting them.
(41) “And you shall take the Levites for Me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel."
This is where God made the exchange for His firstborn among all the children of Israel, those firstborn that He made His because as their sovereign Lord who saved all their firstborn in Egypt, He had every right to them. He would take all the Levites as His, to serve Him in His tabernacle, and no longer require that the firstborn be in service to Him. Likewise, He would accept the cattle of the Levites as His as they would be used in the service of His priests and tabernacle, and would no longer require the firstborn among the people's cattle to be for Him.
(42) And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and he numbered all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
(43) And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three.
The number of firstborn males one month old and older of all the children of Israel totaled 22,273.
(44) And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (45) "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle, and the Levites shall be mine; I am the LORD."
The Lord had declared before that He had taken the Levites in exchange for all the firstborn among the Israelites. Now He told Moses, who had numbered them, to take them and their cattle, and they were to be the Lord's, once again, because He was Lord and had thusly commanded ('nuf said).
(46) "And for those who are to be redeemed of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites; (47) You shall take five shekels apiece by the head, after the shekel of the sanctuary you shall take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs)."
There were 273 more firstborn of all the Israelites than there were Levites. I believe this proves that the number 22,000 said to be the total of all the Levites (v. 39 above) must be the accurate number, and that the correct number of Gershonites had been 7200 instead of the transcribed 7500. Had the number been 22,300, for whatever reason some of the old commentators went to great lengths to explain, why would there have been a need to redeem for the discrepancy? It is evident there were 273 more firstborn of all the Israelites than there were Levites, so the Lord required a redemption to be made to level the discrepancy. The number of firstborn which exceeded the number of the Levites (273 in all) were to be redeemed at five shekels apiece, according to the shekel used by the sanctuary. There were twenty gerahs to one shekel, and as discussed in an earlier post, a gerah is defined as a "kernel" or a "grain", the smallest weight or coin among the Israelites, about two and a half or three pennies of American money (if a shekel of silver as in former scriptures). As discussed previously, that doesn't seem like a huge value for a person, but precious metals were probably worth a lot more in Biblical times than now, and, if you calculated for inflation, the value would be exceedingly more now. There is common agreement among the Biblical scholars that the exchange began with the oldest of the firstborn, and so downward, so that those who were to be redeemed with money were the 273 youngest of the firstborn.
(48) “And you shall give the money, with which the excess number of them is to be redeemed, to Aaron and his sons.”
The redemption money was to be given to Aaron and his sons, the priests. Because the Levites were given to Aaron that they might minister to him (Num. 3:6) and there was a deficiency of them in exchange for the firstborn, it was right and just that the redemption price be paid to him and his sons.
(49) And Moses took the redemption money of them who were over and above them who were redeemed by the Levites.
A Levite redeemed a firstborn, or freed him from the redemption price, being taken in lieu of him. 22,000 Levites were answerable to 22,000 firstborn of Israel, but as there were 273 more firstborn than Levites, those were to be redeemed by money, and it was the redemption money of these that Moses took.
(50) Of the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.
Obviously, Moses took the money from the parents of the 273 firstborn. We can't be sure how it was decided which 273 must pay. As suggested before, many commentators believed the firstborn were counted in age order; it does seem reasonable that the first who were born would be the first to be redeemed by a Levite, and when the Levites "ran out", there were left the 273 youngest firstborn. Perhaps it was just the last 273 who were numbered. However it was determined, Moses collected from those 273, 1365 shekels, which is exactly 273 times five shekels.
(51) And Moses gave the money of them who were redeemed to Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Moses did just as the Lord had commanded he do, and he gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, the priests.
The firstborn being the Lord's, then being exchanged for priests in service to Him, and those being redeemed, paints a big beautiful symbolic picture of the things that were to come with the arrival of the Messiah. The church is called the church of the firstborn, and its people called a royal priesthood redeemed with the precious blood of Christ:
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. - Hebrews 12:23
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. - 1 Peter 2:9
Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. - 1 Peter 1:18-19
Obviously, the Lord didn't have to do a formal exchange, nor did He have to level the number by a redemption fee. After all, He is the sovereign Lord, and He could do whatever He wanted to do. He obviously did it this way to paint a picture to us humans of what was to come. Once again, I marvel at how often we find Jesus in the scriptures of the Old Testament! It also occurs to me that God's chosen people, the Israelites, are like the Levites, God's chosen for His priesthood; and that the 273 who had to be redeemed are like the Gentiles who were allowed to be redeemed and grafted into the living olive tree, illustrative of everlasting life through Christ (Romans 11:16-24). God's plan for salvation through Jesus Christ was there from the beginning, and with all these beautiful illustrations, He patiently shows us our need for Christ.
Saturday, January 20, 2018
Order of the Encampment and March of the Tribes of Israel, Part 1
Continuing a chronological Bible study:
(Numbers 2:1) And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, (2) "Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house; they shall pitch far off around the tabernacle of the congregation."
In the last chapter, Moses and Aaron had taken a census of the able-bodied men from age twenty and upward who were able to go to war, as the Lord had instructed they do. They were counted according to their tribes. The Lord resumed speaking with Moses and Aaron giving them more instructions. The children of Israel were to camp in their own groups, their own tribes, with their tribe's banner with the sign or distinguishing mark of the father of their particular tribe. They were to pitch their tents a distance away from the tabernacle probably in a circle so that each tribe was the same distance from the tabernacle. In a later scripture (Joshua 3:4), the distance was described as two thousand cubits, which was a little more than half a mile, so we might assume that is how far off they were to camp at this time.
(3) "And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies; and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah."
On the east side toward the rising sun, the entire tribe of Judah, 74,600 men of war, not including the rest of the women and children and men not able to go to war, was to camp; and Nahshon, the son Amminadab, was to be the captain or head of the tribe of Judah.
(4) "And his host, and those who were numbered of them, were seventy-four thousand six hundred."
As already recalled, Judah's company or army totaled 74,600 men.
(5) "And those who pitch next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar, and Nethanel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar. (6) And his host, and those who were numbered of it were fifty-four thousand four hundred."
Next to the tribe of Judah was the tribe of Issachar to camp; and Nethanel, the son of Zuar was to be the captain of the tribe of Issachar. The tribe of Issachar amounted to 54,400 able-bodied men of war.
(7) "Then the tribe of Zebulun; and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun. (8) And his host, and those who were numbered of it were fifty-seven thousand four hundred."
According to the early Jewish scholar, Aben Ezra, said Dr. John Gill in his Exposition of the Entire Bible, the tribe of Zebulun was camped on the opposite side of Judah than was the tribe of Issachar, with Judah in the middle. Zebulun's camp included 57,400 men able to go to war, and Eliab was the captain of that tribe.
(9) “All who were numbered in the camp of Judah were one hundred and eighty-six thousand four hundred throughout their armies. These shall first set forth."
It would appear that "they of the standard of the camp of Judah" from verse 3 included the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, and they totaled 186,400 men in their armies. These tribes that were camped on the east side were to be the first ones to move in a march or when about to journey. Matthew Henry, in his Commentary on the Whole Bible, explained, "Those tribes were placed together under the same standard that were nearest of kin to each other; Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, were the three younger sons of Leah, and they were put together; and Issachar and Zebulun would not grudge to be under Judah, since they were his younger brethren."
(10) "On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies; and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur."
On the south side was to be camped the standard of the camp of Reuben, beginning with the tribe of Reuben, whose captain was Elizur, the son of Shedeur.
(11) "And his host, and those who were numbered of it, were forty-six thousand five hundred."
Reuben's company or army numbered 46,500 able-bodied men of war.
(12) "And those who pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon; and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. (13) And his host, and those who were numbered of them, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred."
The tribe of Simeon was to camp next to the tribe of Reuben under the standard of the camp of Reuben, and Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai, was the captain of the tribe of Simeon. Simeon's company totaled 59,300.
(14) "Then the tribe of Gad; and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel. (15) And his host, and those who were numbered of them, were forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty."
Then camped under the standard of Reuben was the tribe of Gad, whose captain was Eliasaph, the son of Reuel, or Deuel, as in Numbers 1:14 and elsewhere. The army of Gad totaled 45,650.
(16) "All who were numbered in the camp of Reuben were one hundred and fifty-one thousand four hundred and fifty throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank."
Reuben, Jacob's oldest son, was made chief of the next standard. Simeon, also a son of Leah, and Gad, the son of Zilpah her maid, were of this standard. They totaled 151,450 men. This standard would be the second in line when marching or moving.
(17) "Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps; as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards."
The tabernacle with the camp of the Levites was to move next, so that it was in the middle of all the camps. The six tribes under the standards of Judah and Reuben were to move out first, then moved the tribe of Levi, followed by the other six tribes, as described in the next post. As they camped, beginning with Judah in the east, so they would move, with Levi in the middle.
Because Blogger limits the number of labels on each post, and there are so many important names in Numbers 2, I have continued the study of this chapter in the next post:
Order of the Encampment and March of the Tribes of Israel, Part 2
(Numbers 2:1) And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, (2) "Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house; they shall pitch far off around the tabernacle of the congregation."
In the last chapter, Moses and Aaron had taken a census of the able-bodied men from age twenty and upward who were able to go to war, as the Lord had instructed they do. They were counted according to their tribes. The Lord resumed speaking with Moses and Aaron giving them more instructions. The children of Israel were to camp in their own groups, their own tribes, with their tribe's banner with the sign or distinguishing mark of the father of their particular tribe. They were to pitch their tents a distance away from the tabernacle probably in a circle so that each tribe was the same distance from the tabernacle. In a later scripture (Joshua 3:4), the distance was described as two thousand cubits, which was a little more than half a mile, so we might assume that is how far off they were to camp at this time.
(3) "And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies; and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah."
On the east side toward the rising sun, the entire tribe of Judah, 74,600 men of war, not including the rest of the women and children and men not able to go to war, was to camp; and Nahshon, the son Amminadab, was to be the captain or head of the tribe of Judah.
(4) "And his host, and those who were numbered of them, were seventy-four thousand six hundred."
As already recalled, Judah's company or army totaled 74,600 men.
(5) "And those who pitch next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar, and Nethanel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar. (6) And his host, and those who were numbered of it were fifty-four thousand four hundred."
Next to the tribe of Judah was the tribe of Issachar to camp; and Nethanel, the son of Zuar was to be the captain of the tribe of Issachar. The tribe of Issachar amounted to 54,400 able-bodied men of war.
(7) "Then the tribe of Zebulun; and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun. (8) And his host, and those who were numbered of it were fifty-seven thousand four hundred."
According to the early Jewish scholar, Aben Ezra, said Dr. John Gill in his Exposition of the Entire Bible, the tribe of Zebulun was camped on the opposite side of Judah than was the tribe of Issachar, with Judah in the middle. Zebulun's camp included 57,400 men able to go to war, and Eliab was the captain of that tribe.
(9) “All who were numbered in the camp of Judah were one hundred and eighty-six thousand four hundred throughout their armies. These shall first set forth."
It would appear that "they of the standard of the camp of Judah" from verse 3 included the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, and they totaled 186,400 men in their armies. These tribes that were camped on the east side were to be the first ones to move in a march or when about to journey. Matthew Henry, in his Commentary on the Whole Bible, explained, "Those tribes were placed together under the same standard that were nearest of kin to each other; Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, were the three younger sons of Leah, and they were put together; and Issachar and Zebulun would not grudge to be under Judah, since they were his younger brethren."
(10) "On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies; and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur."
On the south side was to be camped the standard of the camp of Reuben, beginning with the tribe of Reuben, whose captain was Elizur, the son of Shedeur.
(11) "And his host, and those who were numbered of it, were forty-six thousand five hundred."
Reuben's company or army numbered 46,500 able-bodied men of war.
(12) "And those who pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon; and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. (13) And his host, and those who were numbered of them, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred."
The tribe of Simeon was to camp next to the tribe of Reuben under the standard of the camp of Reuben, and Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai, was the captain of the tribe of Simeon. Simeon's company totaled 59,300.
(14) "Then the tribe of Gad; and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel. (15) And his host, and those who were numbered of them, were forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty."
Then camped under the standard of Reuben was the tribe of Gad, whose captain was Eliasaph, the son of Reuel, or Deuel, as in Numbers 1:14 and elsewhere. The army of Gad totaled 45,650.
(16) "All who were numbered in the camp of Reuben were one hundred and fifty-one thousand four hundred and fifty throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank."
Reuben, Jacob's oldest son, was made chief of the next standard. Simeon, also a son of Leah, and Gad, the son of Zilpah her maid, were of this standard. They totaled 151,450 men. This standard would be the second in line when marching or moving.
(17) "Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps; as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards."
The tabernacle with the camp of the Levites was to move next, so that it was in the middle of all the camps. The six tribes under the standards of Judah and Reuben were to move out first, then moved the tribe of Levi, followed by the other six tribes, as described in the next post. As they camped, beginning with Judah in the east, so they would move, with Levi in the middle.
Because Blogger limits the number of labels on each post, and there are so many important names in Numbers 2, I have continued the study of this chapter in the next post:
Order of the Encampment and March of the Tribes of Israel, Part 2
Sunday, January 14, 2018
The Numbering of the Israelites, Part 2
Because Blogger limits the number of labels each post can have, I have separated the post on Numbers 1 into three posts so that all the heads of tribes may be noted in labels. Part 1 of Numbers 1 can be found at this link:
The Numbering of the Israelites, Part 1
In the last post (part 1) God was instructing Moses and Aaron to take a census of the able-bodied men from twenty years and older who would be able to go to war. They were to take each head of the twelve tribes to assist them in this census, and the instructions continued from the last post as follows:
(10) "Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud; of Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur;"
Previously noted was that the tribe of Levi was not counted among the twelve tribes fit for armies as the Levites were the priests. However, there were still twelve tribes as the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, each became heads of their tribes. In Genesis 48:5, Jacob or Israel, adopted, so to speak, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own children, making them heads of tribes as his own sons would be, having a distinct portion of the promised land. At the time of the census, Elishama, the son of Ammihud, was the head of the tribe of Ephraim; and Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur, was the head of the tribe of Manasseh. "Elishama" meant "my God has heard"; "Gamaliel" meant "reward of God". To be noted is that the insertion of Joseph here is not in birth order. Dr. John Gill, in his Exposition of the Entire Bible, sometimes referencing the Jewish biblical scholar, Aben Ezra, explained it this way:
"...first the children of Leah, beginning with Reuben, the firstborn; and the rest, Simeon and Judah, are ranked according to their birth; Levi being omitted, because that tribe was not now numbered...and then Issachar and Zebulun; after those the children of Rachel, because of her honour and glory above the handmaids, as Aben Ezra remarks; who further observes, that it begins with Ephraim, following Jacob our father, that is, because of the blessing of Jacob, who preferred Ephraim the younger to Manasseh the elder; and here Ephraim and Manasseh are set before Benjamin, because they were in the place of Joseph; and after that the account goes on with Dan, because, he was the firstborn of the handmaids; and after him Asher, though the second son of Zilpah, is placed before Gad, the first son, because, says the same Aben Ezra, the Lord knew that he would be the head of those that encamped by the standard of Dan, and so is placed next to him; and after him Gad, who was the firstborn of Leah's handmaid; and Naphtali last of all, the second son of Bilhah: this order seems to be designed to suit with their encampments, and the form of them."
(11) "Of Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni;"
From the tribe of Benjamin, Abidan, the son of Gideoni, was the head. "Abidan" meant "my father is judge".
(12) "Of Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai;"
From the tribe of Dan, Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai, was the head. "Ahiezer" meant "my brother is help".
(13) "Of Asher, Pagiel the son of Ocran;"
From the tribe of Asher, Pagiel, the son of Ocran, was the head, "Pagiel" meaning "event of God" or "accident of God".
(14) "Of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel;"
From the tribe of Gad, Eliasaph, the son of Deuel, was head. "Eliasaph" meant "God is gatherer" or "God has added".
(15) "Of Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan."
Finally, from the tribe of Naphtali, Ahira, the son of Enan, was head. Interestingly, "Ahira" meant "brother of wrong" or "my brother is evil"; however, I can find no reference for the reason for his name.
(16) These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.
The preceding list of heads of tribes named the most eminent among the children of Israel, princes of their father's tribes. The congregation of Israel being divided into thousands according to tribes, each prince was head of thousands of people.
(17) And Moses and Aaron took these men who had been expressed by name, (18) And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.
As instructed by God, Moses and Aaron took the heads of each tribe and assembled all of the congregation together on that first day of the second month. The people declared their pedigrees, of what tribe, family, and house they were, and each "poll" (head) was counted and listed by name, that was twenty years and older, and I assume, also able-bodied enough for war.
(19) As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.
Moses did as the Lord had commanded him, and he numbered the armies of the Lord as instructed there in the wilderness of Sinai.
Once again I have reached the total number of labels allowed and will continue this chapter in the next post:
The Numbering of the Israelites, Part 3
The Numbering of the Israelites, Part 1
In the last post (part 1) God was instructing Moses and Aaron to take a census of the able-bodied men from twenty years and older who would be able to go to war. They were to take each head of the twelve tribes to assist them in this census, and the instructions continued from the last post as follows:
(10) "Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud; of Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur;"
Previously noted was that the tribe of Levi was not counted among the twelve tribes fit for armies as the Levites were the priests. However, there were still twelve tribes as the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, each became heads of their tribes. In Genesis 48:5, Jacob or Israel, adopted, so to speak, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own children, making them heads of tribes as his own sons would be, having a distinct portion of the promised land. At the time of the census, Elishama, the son of Ammihud, was the head of the tribe of Ephraim; and Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur, was the head of the tribe of Manasseh. "Elishama" meant "my God has heard"; "Gamaliel" meant "reward of God". To be noted is that the insertion of Joseph here is not in birth order. Dr. John Gill, in his Exposition of the Entire Bible, sometimes referencing the Jewish biblical scholar, Aben Ezra, explained it this way:
"...first the children of Leah, beginning with Reuben, the firstborn; and the rest, Simeon and Judah, are ranked according to their birth; Levi being omitted, because that tribe was not now numbered...and then Issachar and Zebulun; after those the children of Rachel, because of her honour and glory above the handmaids, as Aben Ezra remarks; who further observes, that it begins with Ephraim, following Jacob our father, that is, because of the blessing of Jacob, who preferred Ephraim the younger to Manasseh the elder; and here Ephraim and Manasseh are set before Benjamin, because they were in the place of Joseph; and after that the account goes on with Dan, because, he was the firstborn of the handmaids; and after him Asher, though the second son of Zilpah, is placed before Gad, the first son, because, says the same Aben Ezra, the Lord knew that he would be the head of those that encamped by the standard of Dan, and so is placed next to him; and after him Gad, who was the firstborn of Leah's handmaid; and Naphtali last of all, the second son of Bilhah: this order seems to be designed to suit with their encampments, and the form of them."
(11) "Of Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni;"
From the tribe of Benjamin, Abidan, the son of Gideoni, was the head. "Abidan" meant "my father is judge".
(12) "Of Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai;"
From the tribe of Dan, Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai, was the head. "Ahiezer" meant "my brother is help".
(13) "Of Asher, Pagiel the son of Ocran;"
From the tribe of Asher, Pagiel, the son of Ocran, was the head, "Pagiel" meaning "event of God" or "accident of God".
(14) "Of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel;"
From the tribe of Gad, Eliasaph, the son of Deuel, was head. "Eliasaph" meant "God is gatherer" or "God has added".
(15) "Of Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan."
Finally, from the tribe of Naphtali, Ahira, the son of Enan, was head. Interestingly, "Ahira" meant "brother of wrong" or "my brother is evil"; however, I can find no reference for the reason for his name.
(16) These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.
The preceding list of heads of tribes named the most eminent among the children of Israel, princes of their father's tribes. The congregation of Israel being divided into thousands according to tribes, each prince was head of thousands of people.
(17) And Moses and Aaron took these men who had been expressed by name, (18) And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.
As instructed by God, Moses and Aaron took the heads of each tribe and assembled all of the congregation together on that first day of the second month. The people declared their pedigrees, of what tribe, family, and house they were, and each "poll" (head) was counted and listed by name, that was twenty years and older, and I assume, also able-bodied enough for war.
(19) As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.
Moses did as the Lord had commanded him, and he numbered the armies of the Lord as instructed there in the wilderness of Sinai.
Once again I have reached the total number of labels allowed and will continue this chapter in the next post:
The Numbering of the Israelites, Part 3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)