Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 4 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
1. The sonnes of Aaron, the Priests. 5. The Levites are given to the Priests, for the service of the Tabernacle, 11. Instead of the first-borne of Israel. 14. The Levites are numbred by their families. 21. The families, number and charge of the Gershonites, 27. Of the Kohathites, 33. Of the Merarites. 38. The place and charge of Moses and Aaron. 40. The first-borne of Israel are freed by the Levites. 44. The overplus are redeemed.
ANd these are the generations of Aaron, and Moses, in the day that Iehovah spake with Moses, in mount Sinai. And these are the names of the sonnes of Aaron; Nadab the first-borne, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the names of the sonnes of Aaron; the Priests, which were anointed: whose hand he filled, to minister in the Priests office. And Nadab and Abihu died before Iehovah, when they offered strange fire before Iehovah, in the wildernesse of Sinai: and they had no sonnes: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministred in the Priests office; in the sight of Aaron their father.
And Iehovah spake unto Moses, saying; Bring neere the tribe of Levi, and present it before Aaron the Priest: and they shall minister unto him. And they shall keepe his charge, and the charge of all the congregation, before the Tent of the congregation, to serve the service of the Tabernacle. And they shall keepe all the instruments of the Tent of the congregation, and the charge of the sonnes of Israel, to serve the service of the Tabernacle. And thou shalt give the Levites to Aaron, and to his sonnes: they are given are given, unto him, out of the sonnes of Israel. And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sonnes; and they shall keepe their Priests office: and the stranger that commeth nigh shall bee put to death.
And Iehovah spake unto Moses, saying; And I, behold I have taken the Levites from among the sonnes of Israel, in stead of every first-borne, that openeth the wombe, of the sonnes of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine. Because every first-borne is mine: in the day that I smote every first-borne in the land of Egypt, I sanctified unto mee every first-borne in Israel, from man unto beast: mine they shall be, I am Iehovah.
And Iehovah spake unto Moses, in the wildernesse of Sinai, saying; Muster the sons of Levi, according to the house of their fathers, according to their families; every male, from a monethmonth old and upward, shalt thou muster them. And Moses mustered them, according to the mouth of Iehovah, as hee was commanded. And these were the sons of Levi, by their names: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari. And these were the names of the sonnes of Gershon, according to their families: Libni, and Shimei. And the sonnes of Kohath, according to their families: Amtam, and Izhar; Hebron, and Vzziel. And the sonnes of Merari, according to their families, Mahli, and Mushi: these are the families of the Levites, according to the house of their fathers. Of Gershon, was the familie of Libni, and the family of Shimei: these are the families of the Gershonites. Those that were mustered of thē, by the number of every male, from a monethmonth old and upward, the mustered of them were seven thousand, and five hundred. The families of the Gershonites shall encampe behinde the Tabernacle, Seaward. And the Prince of the house of the father of the Gershonites, shall be Eliasaph, the son of Lael. And the charge of the sons of Gershon, in the Tent of the congregation shall be the Tabernacle, and the Tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging veile for the doore of the Tent of the congregation. And the tapestrie-hangings of the Court, and the hanging veile for the doore of the Court, which is by the Tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords thereof, for all the service thereof.
And of Kohath was the familie of the Amramites, and the familie of the Izharites, and the familie of the Hebronites, and the familie of the Vzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites. By the number of every male, from a monethmonth old and upward, eight thousand, and six hundred, keeping the charge of the Sanctuarie. The families of the sonnes of Kohath shall encampe on the side of the Tabernacle, Southward. And the Prince of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan, the sonne of Vzziel. And their charge shall be the Arke, and the Table, and the Candlesticke, and the Altars, and the vessels of the Sanctuary, with which they shall minister, and the hanging veile, and all the service thereof. And the Prince of the Princes of the Levites shall be Eleazar, the sonne of Aaron the Priest, having the oversight of them that keepe the charge of the Sanctuarie.
Of Merari was the familie of the Mahlites, and the familie of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari. And those that were mustered of them by the number of every male, from a monethmonth old and upward, were six thousand, and two hundred. And the Prince of the house of the father of the families of Merari shall be Zuriel the sonne of Abihail: they shall pitch on the side of the Tabernacle, Northward. And the oversight of the charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the Tabernacle, and the barres thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, & all the service thereof; And the pillars of the Court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords. And they that emcampe before the Tabernacle, foremost before the Tent of the congregation, Eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sonnes, keeping the charge of the Sanctuarie, for the charge of the sons of Israel: and the stranger that commeth nigh shall be put to death. All that were mustered of the Levites, which Moses mustered and Aaron, at the mouth of Iehovah, according to their families, every male, from a monethmonth old and upward, were two and twentie thousand.
And Iehovah said unto Moses, Muster every first-borne male of the sonnes of Israel, from a monethmonth old and upward, and take the number of their names. And thou shalt take the Levites for me, I am Iehovah; in stead of every first-borne of the sonnes of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites, in stead of every firstling among the cattle of the sonnes of Israel. And Moses mustered, as Iehovah commanded him, every first-borne among the sonnes of Israel. And all the first-borne males by the number of names, from a monethmonth old and upward, of those that were mustered of them, were two and twentie thousand, two hundred, and seventie and three.
And Iehovah spake unto Moses, saying; Take the Levites in stead of every first-borne among the sonnes of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites, in stead of their cattle: and the Levites shall be mine, I am Iehovah. And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred, and seventie and three, which are mo… than the Levites, of the first-borne of the sonnes of Israel, Thou shalt even take five shekels a peace by the poll: after the shekel of the sanctuarie, shalt thou take; the shekel is twentie gerahs. And thou shalt give the money to Aaron and to his sons, of the redeemed that are moe, among them. And Moses tooke the redemption money, of those that were moe than the redeemed of the Levites. Of the first-borne of the sonnes of Israel, tooke he the money: a thousand, three hundred, and sixty and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuarie. And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed, to Aaron and to his sonnes, according to the mouth of Iehovah, as Iehovah had commanded Moses.
Annotations.
THe generations] that is, the children of Aaron, and genealogie of the Levites, and the things that befell unto them; for so the word generations is used for accidents that fall out unto any, as is noted on Gen. 5. 1. In this and the next chapter, he sheweth the numbring of the Levites, and their order in administration: who were numbred apart, and not with the other tribes, because they were to attend the service of the Tabernacle, and encampe about it, not with the other twelve tribes, Num. 1. 49. 50. and 3. 8, 9, 10. 23. 38. And they were to be numbred after an other manner, not from twentie yeeres old, as the tribes were, Num. 1. 3. but from a monethmonth old, as touching their tale, Num. 3. 15. and from thirtie yeeres old to fifty, as touching their service, Num. 4. 3. And also, because there … inheritance given them, among the sonnes of Israel, Num. 26. 62. but the Lord was their inheritance, Deut. 10. 8, 9. Now to be numbred apart, and not with others, signified some speciall favour towards such, and care over them; as Num. 23. 9.
Aaron Aaron] the elder brother of Moses; and … Levites: therefore their names are mentioned here.
V. 3. he filled] that is, consecrated (or perfected) … the Greeke translateth. See the annotations on Ex…. 29. 9. and Levit. 8.
V. 4. dyed] by a fire from the Lord, Levit. 10. 1, 2. This is mentioned againe, in Num. 26. 61. 1 Chron. 24. 1, 2. had no sonnes] the Hebrewes (as Chazkuni upon this place,) say, if they had had sonnes, those sonnes had beene before Eleazar and Ithamar: for whosoever is fore-most in inheritance, is foremost for honour (or dignitie.) in the sight of Aaron] or, before the face, that is, whiles Aaron lived; as before the face of Tharah, Gen. 11. 38. is, while Tharah lived, before the Moone and Sunne, Psal. 72. 5. 17. is, whiles they continue to give light. The Greeke translateth With Aaron. Elsewhere it is said, by the hand of Aaron, 1 Chron. 24. 19. Of these two, there were so many Priests in Davids dayes, that he distributed them into 24. courses, sixteene of Eleazar, and eight of Ithamar, 1 Chron. 24. 3. 4. The Hebrew Doctors say, Moses divided the Priests into eight wards (or courses,) foure of Eleazar, and foure of Ithamar: and so they were untill the Prophet Samuels dayes. Then Samuel and David the King parted them into 24. courses. And over every course (or ward) there was one chiefe Provost. And they went up to Ierusalem to serve by course every weeke. And every sabbath day they changed, one course went out; and the next after them, came in, &c. Maimony tom. 3. treat. of the Instruments of the Sanctuarie, chapt. 4. sect. 3. Compare 1 Chron. 9. 22. 25. 2 King. 11. 5. 7.
V. 6. present it] or, cause it to stand; speaking of the tribe. In Greeke, present them.
V. 7. his charge] Hebr. his custody (or obseruation;) that is, that which he commandeth them to obserue. See this phrase in Lev. 18. 30. … of all the congregation] the Greeke explaineth it, of the sonnes of Israel, as in v. 8. So … 2 Chron. 35. 3. serve the Lord your God, and his people Israel. It meaneth also such things, as they were charged to keepe: but the Levites now were taken in their stead. … to serve the service] in Greeke, to worke (or doe) the workes of the Tabernacle: which in Num. 8. 11. is said, to serve the service of the Lord. After, in the 8. verse, the Greeke translateth, according to all the workes of the Tabernacle. The Hebrewes write thus; The s…ed of Levi are all of them separated for the service of the Sanctuarie. And it is commanded that the Levites be prepared and readie for the service of the Sanctuarie, whether they be willing or not willing; (as in Num. 18. 23.) And the Levite, he shall serve the service of the Tent of the congregation. And the sonne of Levi which will take upon him all the Levites commandements saving one thing, they receive him not in, till he take all upon him. Maimony treat, of the Instruments of the Sanct. chap. 3. sect. 1.
V. 9. are given are given] that is, as the Greeke here, and Moses himselfe in Num. 18. 6. explaineth it, are a gift given: o…, they are wholly given. So the Ministers of the Gospell are called gifts, Ephes. 4. 8. 11. … unto him] for his helpe, in the charge and worke of the Sanctuarie: they ministring unto him, and he and his sonnes ministring before the Tabernacle, Num. 18. 2. 6.
V. 11. shalt appoint] or, constitute, set in office as Bishops, or Overseers. The Greeke explaineth it, thou shalt constitute over the Tabernacle of Testimonie. their Priests office] for every thing of the Altar, and within the veile, Num. 18. 7. the stranger] that is, whosoeuer is not of Aarons seed, as is explained in Num. 16. 40. for no man taketh the honour unto himselfe, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron, Hebr. 5. 4. So Chazkuni here expoundeth stranger to be Israelite or Levite that commeth neere to minister. And Maimony in Biath hamikdash, chap. 9. sect. 1. saith, Who is the stranger? Whosoever is not of the seed of Aaron, the males. And after, God himselfe forbiddeth the Levites to come night he vessels of the Sanctuarie and the Altar, on paine of death, Numb. 18. 3. put to death] by the magistrate, or by the hand of God, as was Korah, for presuming to doe the Priests office, Numb. 16.
V. 12. every first-borne] which (before the Levites were taken in their stead) did minister to the Lord, as is noted on Exod. 24. 5. And upon what occasion God tooke the Levites instead of the first-borne, is to be seene in Exod. 32. 26. 29. Deut. 33. 9. shall be mine] to minister before me, as the Chaldee expoundeth it.
V. 13. I smote] in Chaldee, I killed: see Exod. 12. 29, 30. The Lord having slaine all the first-borne of Egypt, and spared the Israelites, did therefore challenge for his owne, and sanctifie to him-selfe all Israels first-borne, Exod. 13. 2. but tooke the Levites and their cattle, in stead of Israels first-borne men and cattle, Num. 3. 45. and gave them as a gift to Aaron, to minister unto him. Who being in his Priesthood a type of Christ, all these rites are in him fulfilled: For unto Christ, God gave children, Hebr. 2. 13. and they are a congregation of first-borne written in heaven, Hebr. 12. 23. being of Gods owne will begotten by the word of truth, that they should be a kinde of first-fruits of his creatures, Iam. 1. 18. to whom he also giveth the first-fruits of his Spirit, Rom. 8. 23. These wait on, and follow the Lambe (Christ) being bought from among men, and first-fruits unto God and to the Lambe, Rev. 14. 4. These were brought for an offering unto the Lord, out of all nations; and of them the Lord hath taken for Priests and for Levites, Esai. 66. 20, 21. and Christ hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father, that we may serve him day and night; in his Temple, Rev. 1. 6. and 7. 15.
V. 15. Muster] or Number, Hebr. Visit. This was done by Moses and Aaron, v. 39. and by the Princes of the congregation, Num. 4. 34. though here the commandement is directed unto Moses onelyonly house] in Greeke, houses. old] Heb. sonne of a monethmonth. Tho cause why the Levites were numbred from this age, was for that they came in place of the first-borne of Israel, whose redemption is appointed from a monethmonth old, Num. 18. 15, 16. And they were counted after the houses of their fathers, not of their mothers; for if a woman of Levi were maried to a man of Iudah, or any other tribe, her sonne was not a Levite. The Hebrew canons say; Priests and Levites and Israelites …fully goe in (that is, …) one to ano…; … which is … goeth …, &…. as it is written, ACCORDING TO THE HOVSE OF THEIR FATHERS: the house of his father, that is, his familie, and not the house of his mother. Maimony in Issure biah, c. 19. sect. 15.
V. 16. the mouth] that is, as the Chaldee expoundeth it, the word: and the Greeke saith, the voice of the Lord.
V. 17. Gershon] in Greeke Gersom (but in vers. 25. Gerson.) So Ezron, in Gen. 46. 12. is Esrom, Mat. 1. 3. Kohath] or as in Greeke, Kaath, See Gen. 46. 11. Exod. 6. 16.
V. 18. Libni] in Greeke, Lobnei and Semeei. See Exod. 6. 17.
V. 19. Hebron] or, as the Greeke also writeth it, Chebron, and Oziel. See Exod. 6. 18. Here Kohath hath foure families: so many as both his brethren had together.
V. 20. Mahli] in Greeke Moolei and M…usi. See Exod. 6. 19.
Vers. 21. Gershon] in Greeke Gedsom; mistaking D. for R. by reason of the likenesse of the letters in Hebrew. See the notes on Gen. 4. 18.
V. 23. Seaward] that is, as the Chaldee explaineth it, westward: See Num. 2. 18.
V. 24. house of the father] that is, principall house: so in v. 30. and 35. Eliasaph] in Greeke, Elisaph; by interpretation, God hath added. Lael] that is, For God.
V. 25. the charge] or the custodie; the Holy things which they were to carrie, keepe and looke unto: whereof see more in Num. 4. Tabernacle] the curtaines of the Tabernacle, Num. 4. 25. for the boords were under Meraries charge, Num. 3. 36. Tent] made of ten curtaines: see Exod. 26. 1. &c. covering] made of goats haire, Exod. 26. 7. And here is to bee understood the other coverings also made of rammes skinnes, and Tachash skinnes, Exod. 26. 14. for they belonged to the Gershonites charge, Num. 4. 25. hanging veile] whereof see Exod. 26. 36.
V. 26. tapestrie hangings] whereof see Exod. 27. 9. &c. hanging veile] mentioned in Exod. 27. 16.
V. 28. of the Sanctuarie] Hebr. of the sanctifie, or holinesse: meaning the holy things; as the Greeke saith, of the Holies: what they were, is expressed in v. 31. See Num. 4. 4. 15. and 10. 21. Here the families of the Levites may be viewed by their numbers;
1. Of the Gersonites 7500.
2. Of the Kohathites 8600.
3. Of the Merarites 6200.
By their situation when they camped about the Tabernacle;
1. Gersonites, behinde westward, v. 23.
2. Kohathites; Southward, v. 29.
3. Merarites, Northward, v. 35.
And to make up the square, Moses and Aaron with the Priests encamped formost Eastward, v. …8.
By their charges, for there was committed unto the care and cariage of the
1. Gersonites, the Tent, coverings, veile, hanging of the court, &c.
…. Koha…, the Arke, Table, Altars, and Instruments of the Sanctuary.
3. Merarites, the boords, barres, pillars, sockers, &c.
Among these families of Levi, wee may observe the speciall prerogatives of Kohath the second sonne:
1. Hee excelleth in multitude of families, or chiefe fathers, having foure, when as each of his brethren had but two.
2. He excelleth in multitude of children, having 8600. that is, 1100 moe than his elder brother Gerson, and 2400. moe than Merari.
3. Of him came Moses the king, Aaron the priest, and Marie the prophetesse; and so all the Priests were of this familie; Exod. 6. 18. 20. Num. 26. 58, 59.
4. His families have the chiefest place about the Sanctuary, the South quarter, next unto Moses, Aaron and the priests, Num. 3. 29.
5. They have the charge of the most holy things within the Sanctuarie, as the Arke, Table, Candlesticke, Altars, &c. Num. 3. 31.
6. Whereas the tribe of Levi had 48. cities allowed them in Canaan, Kohaths posterity had 23. of them; for the Priests had 13. cities, and the other Kohathites ten; and so he had in a manner a double portion, as much as both his brethren, Ios. 21.
7. Of the Prince of these Kohathites Elizaphan (Num. 3. 30.) there were 200. Levites to helpe home with the Arke in Davids daies, (no such mention being made of the other two princes,) besides 312. Kohathites of other families: when of Gershon and Merari, there were not so many: 1 Chron. 15. 5.—8, 9, 10.
V. 29. Southward] the south is in Psal. 89. 13. called the right side; and in this place it hath a name in Hebrew derived also of the right hand; because so it is when men stand with their faces to the East: see the notes on Num. 2. 3.
V. 30. Elizapham. sonne of Vzziel] hee was of the fourth and youngest familie of the Kohathites, yet preferred to be the prince over them. This (as the Hebrewes thinke) was offensiue to Korah who was of the second familie of Izhar; and occasioned him to rebell. See the notes on Num. 16. 1. Elizaphan is by interpretation, My God hath stored …p; and Uzziel, God is my strength.
V. 31. all the service thereof] in Greeke, all the …ks of them.
V. 32. of the princes] the Greeke saith, over the princes; and the Chaldee addeth, appointed over the princes. of the Levites] Hebr. of Levi, whose name is put for all his posteritie, as the Greeke and Chaldee translate Levites. So Aaron, is used for the Aaronites; 1 Chron. 12. 27. Eleazar] by interpretation The helpe of God. having the oversight] or, the Bishop, having the Bis… office; which hath the name in Hebrew, of Uisitation; in Greeke, of Overseeing: and so this word is translated by the holy Ghost, Episcopee, that is, a Bishops office or charge, in Act. 1. 20. from Psal. 109. 7. And in Num. 4. 16. the Greeke translateth it Episcopos, Bishop. So in Ezek. 44. 11. having charges (that is, Bishops) at the gat: of the house; where the Greeke translateth it Porters. In Thargum Ionathan it is explained thus: Hee inquired by Urim and Thummim, under his hand were they appointed that keepe the custodie of the Sanctuarie. As Aaron the high Priest figured Christ, Heb. 5. 1. 4. 5. so Eleazar in this office being Prince of Princes, shadowed the office of our Lord Iesus, who is the Prince of the Kings of the earth, Rev. 1. 5. the Archpastor, 1 Pet. 5. 4. the great Pastor of the sheepe, Hebr. 13. 20. and Bishop of our soules, 1 Pet. 2. 25. And hence arose the distinction of the high Priest, and the second priest, as in 2 King. 25. 18. And when Aaron was dead, and Eleazar high priest in his place, Num. 20. 26. 28. then Phinehas Eleazars sonne, was Governour over the Levites, 1 Chron. 9. 20.
V. 35. Zuriel] in Greeke Souriel, which signifieth God is my Rocke. Abihail] or Abichail, as the Greeke pronounceth it: by interpretation, The fathers strength.
V. 36. the oversight of the charge] that is, as the Chaldee expoundeth it, that which shall be committed to the charge (or custodie) of the sonnes of Merari. the service thereof] in Greeke, the workes of them. And because these things were heavy to beare, the Lord allowed them foure wagons, according unto their service, for to ease the cariage, Num. 7. 5.—8.
Vers. 38. foremost] or, as the Greeke translateth it, Eastward: see Num. 2. 3. Moses, and Aaron] The Hebrewes (as Baal hatturim vponupon this place) doe observe, that here is a pause (or, distinction) betweene Moses and Aaron; to teach that Moses (pitched) in one place, by himselfe; and Aaron and his sonnes in another place by themselves. Thus Moses a Levite of Kohath, was King in Ieshurun, Deut. 33. 5. and Aaron his brother, Priest: as for Moses two sonnes, Gershon and Eliezer (Exod. 18. 3, 4.) here is no mention of them, neither in Num. 26. neither had they any prerogative, but were among the other Kohathites, and named of the tribe of Levi, that is, common Levites, 1 Chron. 24. 14. the charge] or, the custodie, the watch of the Sanctuarie: the Levites being assistants under them, Num. 18. 2, 3. Of the watch which was wont to be kept in the Sanctuary, see the annotations on Num. 15. 8. the stranger] that is, any saving Aaron and his sonnes; see verse 10.
Vers. 39. and Aaron] in the Hebrew, there are many extraordinary pricks over the name of Aaron, for speciall cause: R. Sol. Iarchi saith they were to signifie that Aaron himselfe was not among the number of the Levites, none of the 22000. here mentioned. Observe Aarons dignitie; Hee was the elder brother unto Moses the King. Exod. 7. 7. Hee was by mariage brother to Naasson Prince of Iudah, for hee had to wife Elisabeth his sister, Exod. 6. 23. Hee was joyned with Moses, in the government of Israel, Psal. 77. 20. He had the prerogative to sacrifice for the whole Church, 1 Chron. 23. 13. But Christ our King and Priest after the order of Melchisedek, farre excelleth him, H…b. 7. and 8. chap. two and twentie thousand] This summe accordeth not with the former particulars; for there were of Gershon, 7500. of Kohath, 8600. of Merari, 6200. which make in all 22. thousand and three hundred. But Aaron and the Priests, as also the first-borne of the Levites, were the Lords after a peculiar manner, Exod. 13. 2. and therefore deducted from the rest, which were all taken in stead of the first-borne of Israel. So there were so many thousand Levites, as there are Hebrew letters: because they were aboue others, to apply the studie of Gods Law, Deut. 33. 10. which because they did not according to their dutie, God so disposed that Iehozadak the Priest, in the 22. generation after Aaron, was caried captive with the people into Babylon, 1 Chron. 6. 3.—15. And here againe Gods providence appeareth, that the Levites increase should be by just thousands, and the Priests and first-borne of Levi, by hundreds: without any broken number, such as was among the first-borne of Israel, vers. 43. See the notes on Num. 1. 25. Againe, whereas the least of all the other tribes of Israel, from twenty yeeres old and upward, had 32000. and 200. (Num. 1. v. 34, 35.) and the greatest, 54000. and 600. (v. 27.) here the Levites which were counted from a monethmonth old and upward, were but 22000. so the Lords portion was the least. Yea of these 22. thousand, there were found but eight thousand five hundred and fourescore, that were fit for to doe service in the Sanctuary, Num. 4. 47, 48. so small was the number of those that served God in his ministerie, in comparison with the campes of Israel.
Vers. 40. Muster] or Number. monethmonth old] Hebr. sonne of a monethmonth.
Vers. 41. for me] or, unto me, as the Chaldee expounds it, thou shalt bring neere the Levites before me. every first-borne] or, all the first-borne, which being appointed unto the Lords service, the Lord taketh the Levites to serve him in their stead. This was for the first-borne males of man and beast which the Israelites now had: all the first-borne that came after this, were to be redeemed, or given to the Priest, Num. 18. 15. See the notes on verse 12. and 13.
Vers. 43. and seventie and three] Gods speciall providence appeareth againe in this number of the first-borne, that it should be so neere unto the number of the Levites taken in their stead: whom God destinated from the womb unto his service, and made the summes of them so neere. A like worke of God is observed by Moses in Deut. 32. 8. how he had appointed the borders of the peoples, according to the number of the sonnes of Israel. And whereas six hundred thousand men and moe (Num. 1. 46.) had but 22. thousand and 273. first-borne males in all their families, it appeareth that the farre greater number of Israels first-borne were females, who by reason of their sex were not fit to serve God in his sanctuary. Which figured the small number of Gods elect, among the many that are called, Mat. 22. 14. Rom. 9. 6, 7, 8. For the elect are such as doe serve God day and night in his Temple, Revel. 7. 15. and are Priests unto God, Rev. 5. 10.
Vers. 45. shall be mine] which the Chaldee explaineth, shall minister before me.
Vers. 46. those that are to be redeemed] Hebr. And the redeemed; or, as the Greeke translateth it, And the redemptions (or ransomes.) So after in vers. 48, 49, 51. Here the overplus of the first-borne of man, is reckoned, and the summe of their ransome vers. 50. but the overplus of cattle is not reckoned.
Vers. 47. five shekels a peece] Heb. five five shekels: which the Greeke translateth five shekels by the head. These five shekels (the price set here, and in Num. 18. 16.) was the value set in Lev. 27. 6. from a monethmonth old to five yeeres old; and it was the least of all the valuations: so that God burdened the Israelites with the ransomes as little as might be. twentie gera…s] or, twentie pence; the gerah was a peece of silver that weighed sixteene barley graines: so the shekel weighed 320. graines; see the notes on Exod. 30. 13.
Vers. 48. the money] Hebr. the silver: so in vers. 49, 50, 51. of the redeemed] understand, the money of those that are redeemed: or, as the Greeke translateth, the redemptions of those that are moe.
Vers. 50. Of the first-borne] in Hebrew, B… chor the First-borne is singular, as spoken of one; but translated in Greeke plurally, as implying all. And this seemeth to be taken, not of particular persons (as, of them that were last numbred, or any other) for so the burden should have lien vnequally upon a few: but of the church in generall. Or, to cut off contention, it was done by lot, as R. Solomon Iarchi saith, he brought 22000. scrolles or papers (according to the number of the Levites, vers. 39.) and on every of them was written, A son of Levi: and 273. papers, (according to the number of the First-borne Israelites moe than the Levites, vers. 46.) and on every of them was written, Five shekels; they mingled them and put them in a basket; then said he unto them, come draw your papers according to your lot.
Vers. 51. of them that were redeemed] the Greeke translateth, the silver, the ransomes of them that were overplus: this was given to Aaron, because the Levites were given to him, vers. 9. and when Levites failed, this money was in their stead, not the first-borne themselves, but their ransomes, for which the other Levites supplied their place and service. This redeeming of men by silver, fore-shadowed a better redemption by Christ; as it is written, Yee know that yee were not redeemed … corruptible things, as silver and gold, &c. but with the pretious bloud of Christ, 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19. according to the mo…th] that is, the word, as the Chaldee translateth; and the Greeke, by the voice of the Lord.