The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 4 · Section 44 – Section 46
SECT. XLIV.
IN the next place we have ſet down the Families and Kindreds of Aaron and Moſes. Aaron is mentioned in the firſt place, becauſe his Sons as being Prieſts had the Preheminence of Moſe's Poſterity, who were but ordinarily Levites. And though there be no particular mention of Moſe's Sons, yet they are included among the Cohathites, of which Family Moſes was, verſ. 27. The Lord orders Moſes to give the Levites to Aaron and his Sons, to aſſiſt them in their Miniſtration at the Sanctuary, and in that Service and Worſhip which God had given in charge to Aaron and the whole Congregation to perform, and they were to have the Sacred things of the Tabernacle under their Cuſtody and Charge, which the Children of Iſrael muſt have been charged with, had not the Levites been ſeparated to take that Charge upon them in their behalf. But though the Levites were given to the Prieſts to be helpful, and ſubſervient to them in things that were fit for them to do, yet in thoſe things that peculiarly belonged to the Prieſts Office (y)V. 10. The Levite in reſpect of the Prieſts peculiar Office was a ſtranger.they might not intermeddle upon pain of death. The Lord further declares, That He had taken the Levites to be His in ſtead of all the firſt-born Males of the Children of Iſrael, (z)That is, in ſtead of all the firſt-born Males that were now at preſent among them. For all the firſt-born Males after this both of Man and Beaſt were to be redeemed or given to the Prieſts, Numb. 18.15.[Exod. 13.2.] and therefore orders Moſes to number all the Male-Levites from one Month old and upwards; which was done according to their Families. For the Sons of Levi being Gerſhon, Cohath and Merari, of them the three Families of the Levites deſcended. The whole number of the Male-Levites thus reckoned, was found to be 22300.(a)So much thoſe three ſums make, mentioned Numb. 3. v. 22, 28, 34. But taking out their firſt-born (namely, ſuch firſt-born as were born to them from the time of their coming out of Egypt, when God did firſt Challenge the Firſt-born to be His, in remembrance of his ſlaying all the Firſt-born among the Egyptians, ſee Exod. 13.2.) which were upon that account the Lords as they were the Firſt-born, and were not therefore to be reckoned among thoſe that were to be given to Him in ſtead of the Firſt-born of the other Tribes; I ſay, taking out theſe Firſt-born, which were 300, then the number of the Levites given to the Lord amounted only to 22000.*The number of the Male-Levites reckoned from 30 years old to 50 was but 8580. Numb. 4.48. All which were aſſumed to the Service of God in lieu of the Firſt-born of all the reſt of the Children of Iſrael. (b)V. 41. 'Tis ſaid the Cattel of the Levites ſhall be taken in ſtead of all the Firſtlings of the Cattel of the Children of Iſrael, that is,] As the Levites were taken for the firſt-born of the Iſraelites, ſo the Levites Cattel were taken in exchange for the firſt-born of the Iſraelites Cattel.And becauſe the number of the Firſt-born-Males of all the Children of Iſrael, in the twelve Tribes, exceeded this number of the Male-Levites 273, ſee Numb. Ch. 3. verſ. 43. therefore was there laid upon them for every of thoſe ſupernumerary Heads, five Shekels a man by way of Redemption, (which was the price they afterwards paid for the Redemption of the Firſt-born, Numb. 18.15, 16.) and it was given to Aaron and his Sons. And 'tis like that it was either decided by lot who among them ſhould pay this Redemption-Money, and who not, or it was paid in common by them all.
The Levites being thus numbred, and their Places and Order how they ſhould pitch about the Tabernacle being preſcribed, now the time when they ſhould enter upon their Office is appointed. At the age of 25 years they were to enter as Novices and Subſervients in ſome inferiour Offices and Miniſtrations of the Tabernacle, [Ch. 8.24.] but they were not to enter into a full execution of their Office till the age of 30, and then they were to continue in it till 50: and though after 50 they were to be exempted from the harder and moſt laborious Services of the Tabernacle (ſuch as removing and carrying the holy things thereof); yet ſtill they were to be aſſiſtant to their Brethren as Overſeers, to ſee that the Work was done; and beſides they were ſtill to be imployed in teaching and inſtructing the people; And in their ſeveral Cities (as being well experienced in the judicial Laws) they Were to judge of matters brought before them. See Numb. 8. from 23. to the end.
The time of their entring upon their Office being thus ordered, in the next place to prevent confuſion and ambition among them, each Family of the Levites hath its particular Service(c)V: 3. All that enter into the Hoſt,] i. e. qui ingrediuntur in coetum vel turmam mimiſtrantium in Tabernaculo, nempe ut operentur in eo. appointed.
1. The Charge of the Sons of Gerſhon were, (1.) The ten Curtains of fine twined Linnen, blue, purple and ſcarlet. (2ly,) The eleven Curtains of Goats hair that were laid over them. (3ly,) The covering of Ram-skins died red. (4ly,) The covering of Badgers-skins which lay over all, and the Hangings for the door of the Tabernacle, and for the Courts, Ch. 3.25, 26. and Ch. 4.25, 26.
2. The Charge of the Sons of Kohath was the Ark (d)V. 6. Shall put in the ſtaves thereof,] viz. into the Caſes or Coverings prepared for them, that ſo the Levites might not touch ſo much as the Staves of the Ark uncovered. For the Staves were not to be taken out of the Rings of the Ark, Exod. 25 15.and the Table of Shewbread, (e)V. 7. And the continual bread ſhall be thereon,] intellige, cum ad quietem terrae promiſſionis pervenerint. In deſerto enim ſicut non fiebant Sacrificia in Feſtis aut Sabbatis, ut clare dicitur Acts 7.42. & Amos 5.25. ita nec offerebantur panes, quod erat genus quoddam Oblationis aut Sacrificij, nec thus, aut vinum, quod adjungi ſolebat: illa enim omnia deerant in deſerto, ut conqueruntur, Numb. 21.5. Nam multis annis manſerunt in locis prorſus inhabitatis ab omnibus gentibus ſeperati. Janſen.and the golded Candleſtick, and the Altars, and all the moſt holy things. When the Tabernacle was to be taken down and removed, the Prieſts only were to do it, and wrap up the moſt holy things in coverings of blue or ſcarlet, and to put coverings of Badgers-skins over them (which are called the Clothes of Service, Exod. 31.10.) and then to deliver them to the Kohathites to bear them on their Shoulders, (f)The Ark indeed was ſometimes carried by the Prieſts, ſee Deut. 31.9. ſo when they paſſed over Jordan, Joſh. 3.6. and compaſſed the Walls of Jerico, Joſh. 6.6. but ordinarily this Service was performed by the Levites, ſee Deut. 31.25. eſpecially till the number of the Prieſts was more increaſed.who might not otherwiſe touch them upon pain of death. So that though their Office was moſt honourable, becauſe they had the charge of the moſt holy things, yet it was alſo perillous and burdenſome, Ch. 3.31. Ch. 4.15.
3. The Charge of the Sons of Merari were the boards of the Tabernacle, the Bars, the Pillars, the Scockets, Pins, Cords and Veſſels thereof, and the Pillars of the Court, &c. Ch. 3.36, 37. & Ch. 4.31, 32.
Eleazar, the eldeſt Son of Aaron, was to be Chief over the chief of the Levites, viz. the Kohathites that had the Charge of the moſt holy things, and his Brother Ithamar over the Gerſhonites and Merarites. To the inſpection and care alſo of Eleazar was committed the Oil for the Lights, the ſweet Incenſe, the daily Meat-offering, and the anointing Oil, and the over-ſight of the Tabernacle, and to appoint the Kohathites, every one to his ſeveral burden. And Moſes and Aaron are charged that all the holy things of the Sanctuary ſhould be ſo covered that the Kohathites might neither ſee nor touch what they ſhould not, which if they ſhould do, they would be in danger of being cut off, and to die for it.(g)Uzzah, though a Levite, for ſuch a tranſgreſſion was ſmitten dead, 2 Sam. 6.6, 7.
For the holy fire, that was always to be kept alive upon the Altar; 'tis like, when the Tabernacle was removed, 'twas put into ſome Pot or Veſſel, and ſo preſerv'd ſtill with ſupply of wood.
Numb. Ch. 3. whole Chapter.
Numb. Ch. 4. whole Chapter.
SECT. XLV.
THe Levites thus ſet apart, were with all due Solemnity conſecrated to God and his Service. But leſt they ſhould think themſelves equal to the Prieſts, they are neither Conſecrated at the ſame time, nor with the ſame Ceremonies. The Conſecration of the Prieſts took up ſeven days, [ſee Exod. 29.35. Levit. 8.33.] but this of the Levites was done in one day. The manner of it was thus, 1. Moſes was to take the Levites, and to cleanſe them, which was to be done by ſprinkling the water of purifying upon them, (which was made with the aſhes of the red Heifer, (h)Therefore directions for making this water were given before this time, though not mentioned by Moſes till the 19. Ch. of this Book.mentioned, Ch. 19.) and then to ſhave off all their hair, which was another ſign of Purification, [ſee Levit. 14.8, 9. & Numb. 6.9.] and to waſh their Clothes. By which Rites was ſignified what great holineſs and purity God requires in thoſe that are to be imployed in Sacred Functions. 2ly, The whole Congregation being there aſſembled, and the Levites being brought before the Lord, ſome of the chief(i)Non omnes, ſed omnium nomine Principes; vel ſorte primo-geniti, in quorum loco erant Levitae. of the Children of Iſrael, in the Name of the reſt, were to put their hands (k)Which Rite was obſerv'd in the Ordination of Officers both in the Old T. and the N. Numb. 27.23. Act. 6.6. & 13.3. and in Benedictions, Gen. 48.17.upon them, thereby teſtifying that they did now freely offer them to the Lord, to be wholly ſet apart for his Service. 3ly, Then Aaron was to preſent them*V. 11. And Aaron ſhall wave the Levites before the Lord] Hac elevatione ſignificabatur eos totius orbis Domino offerri a populo in munus, ut ſcil. loco totius populi Deo miniſtrarent. Vide Janſen. Jubentur Levitae ſe convertere ad omnes mundi plagas ut indicarent ſe illi Deo ſervituros, qui in omnibus mundi plagis erat Potens. Freidlib. to the Lord, which poſſibly he did by making them turn themſelves towards the four Quarters of Heaven, thereby ſignifying they were offered up to the Service of the great God of the whole World, ſee Exod. 29.24. (4ly, Aaron and his Sons were to offer two young Bullocks, one for a Burnt-Offering, the other for a Sin-Offering, to make atonement for them. The Levites themſelves were alſo to lay their hands on the heads of the Bullocks, by that Rite, teſtifying their Faith in the M…ſſias, prefigured by thoſe Sacrifices, by whom they expected forgiveneſs of ſins, and Sanctification for the work of their Miniſtry. 5ly, Then Moſes was to preſent the Levites unto Aaron, giving them unto him, and his Sons the Prieſts, for perpetual Aſſiſtants and under-Miniſters. Theſe things being performed, the Levites were to go into the Court of the Prieſts, (for into the Tabernacle it ſelf they might not enter) and to do there the Service(l)V. 19. And do the ſervice of the Children of Iſrael,] that is, the Service which elſe they themſelves muſt have performed by their firſt-born, if God had not taken the Levites in their ſtead. belonging to them; and to be ſubſervient to the Prieſts, when they offered thoſe Sacrifices, whereby atonement was made for the ſins of the people: that ſo all things being done according to the appointment of God, he might be pleaſed with the people, and ſend no Plague(m)See an example of ſuch a Plague, 2 Chron. 26.16. in Uzziah. upon them, which otherwiſe he would do, if they themſelves intermeddled with theſe holy Services. All theſe things were done according as here enjoyned. And ſo the Levites entred upon the actual execution of their Office.
Numb. Ch. 8. from verſ. 5.(n)For the four firſt Verſes of this Chapter. See the Paraphraſe on Exod. 25. v. 37, &c. to 23.
SECT. XLVI.
MOſes having now fully finiſhed the erection of the Tabernacle, and ordered all things thereunto belonging, and having ſince numbred the people, and placed the Tribes and the Levites in their ſeveral ſtations about the Tabernacle; and having Conſecrated the Levites, and appointed them to their particular Charges, the Princes before mentioned (Ch. 1.4.) that were ſet over the numbring of the people brought their Offerings for the carriage of the Tabernacle in their Marches and Removes; viz. Every two of theſe Princes offered one covered Waggon, ſix in all; and every Prince an Ox, twelve in all. Moſes hereupon gave two Waggons and four Oxen to the Gerſhonites for their Service, and four Waggons and eight Oxen to the Merarites for theirs, becauſe under their Cuſtody and Charge were the boards and heavy things of the Tabernacle [ſee Chap. 3.36.] and therefore twice as many Oxen and Waggons were allotted to them. To the Cohathites, becauſe the Charge of the moſt holy things belonged unto them (which they were to carry upon their Shoulders) they had no Waggons aſſigned them. Theſe things being done, the twelve Princes, the Heads of their Tribes brought their great and ſplendid Offerings for the more ſolemn and magnificent dedicating of the Altar. Indeed Moſes firſt offered Burnt-Offerings and other Sacrifices thereon ſeven days together, for the Conſecrating of the Prieſts [Levit. 8.] which was in the firſt month of the ſecond year, and the next day after Aaron and his Sons offered Sacrifices thereon for himſelf and the people in general, ſee Levit. 9.7. But now in the ſecond month of the ſecond year, when the Tribes were all placed about the Tabernacle, the Princes brought their Offerings twelve days together. And becauſe theſe were the firſt Offerings that were offered for any particular Tribes, they were ſaid to be offered for the dedicating of the Altar; that is, for the more ſolemn dedicating of it to thoſe holy Ʋſes and Services to which it was at firſt ordain'd; and they were ſaid to be offered not on the day it was firſt, but on the day it was moſt fully and completely anointed and dedicated. Theſe Offerings being to be offered not altogether, but on twelve days ſucceſſively, upon the firſt day Nahſhon (from whom David, and according to the Fleſh our Lord and Saviour came) made his Offering for the Tribe of Judah, which was one Silver Charger of an 130 Shekels for the uſe of the Altar of Burnt-Offering, one Silver Bowl of 70 Shekels, both full of fine Flower mingled with Oil for a Meat-Offering, one Spoon of ten Shekels of Gold full of Incenſe, one young Bullock, one Ram, one Lamb of the firſt year for a Burnt-Offering; one Kid of the Goats for a Sin-Offering, and for a Sacrifice of Peace-Offerings two Oxen, (o)Of theſe the Princes with the Prieſts did eat, and ſo kept a Feaſt of joy before the Lord for his great mercy to them.five Rams, five He-Goats, five Lambs of the firſt year. This was the noble Offering of Nahſhon, and every one of the Princes of the other Tribes, each one on his day in his order offered the like Offering both for kind and quantity. After all theſe things were thus done, Moſes went into the Tabernacle to receive further Directions from the Lord; and the Lord ſpake unto him from the Mercy-Seat according as he had promiſed(p)See Exod. 25.21. to do.
Numb. Ch. 7. whole Chapter.