NUMBERS LESSON 4
We will begin this lesson in Numbers 3:1 "These also [are] the
generations of Aaron and Moses in the day [that] the LORD spake with
Moses in mount Sinai."
Moses and Aaron were the beginning of separation from the twelve
tribes. This would be setting the Levitical tribe aside to substitute
for the firstborn of each family. Moses and Aaron were the beginning
of the chosen tribe. This tribe was set aside to serve the Lord and
His tabernacle. Moses was the first, and the nearest, to God. His was
not a service in the temple, but was to oversee the spiritual
beginning. He was in direct contact with God. In fact, Moses gave
instructions to Aaron about his service as high priest. Aaron was the
first of the high priests to serve in the tabernacle. Verse 1 has to
do with their families and service. Moses communed with God on Mount
Sinai.
Numbers 3:2 "And these [are] the names of the sons of Aaron;
Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar."
The high priest's sons were priests in the temple. They were
trained to take over as high priest at their father's death. These 4
sons were in line for the priesthood.
Numbers 3:3 "These [are] the names of the sons of Aaron, the
priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the
priest's office."
Not only was Aaron anointed as high priest, but his sons were
anointed and set aside for God's work, as well. The word "consecrated"
means hand upon. This just means that they had been dedicated to the
service of God by the laying on of hands. This was a very honored
position, to serve the Lord in the priest's office.
Numbers 3:4 "And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they
offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and
they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the
priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father."
Many believe the strange fire was speaking of them coming into
the tabernacle drinking alcohol. Nadab and Abihu were the oldest, and
had been set aside by God to work in the tabernacle. Fire came from
the altar and killed them. They left no children. Leviticus 10:1 "And
Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer,
and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange
fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not." Leviticus 10:2 "
And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they
died before the LORD." I Chronicles 24:2 "But Nadab and Abihu died
before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and
Ithamar executed the priest's office." We see that the two younger
brothers took their places, when they were killed.
Numbers 3:5 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
This is said so many times, to show us the line of command. God
spoke to Moses, and Moses to Aaron.
Numbers 3:6 "Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them
before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him."
The entire tribe of Levi was set aside to serve God. This would
be the time for them to find out exactly what the Lord had for them to
do. They would not be in the dark. God would specifically tell them
what to do.
Numbers 3:7 "And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of
the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to
do the service of the tabernacle."
This "charge" is like their service assignment. Each person would
be told specifically what his duties would be.
Numbers 3:8 "And they shall keep all the instruments of the
tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of
Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle."
The Levites were to care for even the tiniest things in the
tabernacle. They were responsible for all the utensils and the
furniture. This is not a request, but a command.
Numbers 3:9 "And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to
his sons: they [are] wholly given unto him out of the children of
Israel."
This is saying emphatically that no Levite is to be left out of
this charge. Just as the firstborn of all the families had belonged to
God, now the Levites, who took the firstborn's place, belong totally
to God.
Numbers 3:10 "And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they
shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh
shall be put to death."
The Levites were to help with the physical part of the ministry,
but Aaron and his sons were to perform the services. They, alone, had
been called to the priesthood. This honor would go from generation to
generation of Aaron's family.
Numbers 3:11 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
This, again, is reminding us that the message came from the LORD
to Moses, and then down the chain of command.
Numbers 3:12 "And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among
the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the
matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be
mine;"
In Egypt, the last plague was the death of the firstborn of all
the Egyptians. God spared the firstborn of the Hebrews, who had the
blood over the doorpost of their houses. The firstborn of all Hebrews
belonged to God. Rather than having one son of each family serve in
the temple, God allowed them to buy their firstborn back with a silver
shekel. "Silver" means redemption. God called the Levites to serve,
instead of the firstborn son.
Numbers 3:13 "Because all the firstborn [are] mine; [for] on the
day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed
unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall
they be: I [am] the LORD."
It was the firstborn of the people and the cattle that God took
on that night in Egypt. Exodus 12:29 "And it came to pass, that at
midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from
the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of
the captive that [was] in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of
cattle."
Numbers 3:14 "And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of
Sinai, saying,"
The message that came from God through Moses, to Aaron and the
people, was absolute.
Numbers 3:15 "Number the children of Levi after the house of
their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and
upward shalt thou number them."
The children of Levi were numbered from one month of age, instead
of twenty years old. These were to be set aside for God, when they
were babies. II Timothy 3:15 "And that from a child thou hast known
the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus." They were to be raised from
infancy to serve the LORD.
Numbers 3:16 "And Moses numbered them according to the word of
the LORD, as he was commanded."
Moses did exactly as God had instructed him to do.
Numbers 3:17 "And these were the sons of Levi by their names;
Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari."
It is interesting that the number of sons he had were three. We
will see their families become peoples, such as the Kohathites. Moses
was actually from the tribe of Kohath.
Numbers 3:18 "And these [are] the names of the sons of Gershon by
their families; Libni, and Shimei."
The name "Libni" means white. "Shimei" means a renowned one.
Numbers 3:19 "And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram,
and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel."
We know from previous lessons, that Amram and Jochebed were the
parents of Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. "Izehar" means anointing.
"Hebron" means community, and just such a city is to be found in the
mountains of Judah. "Uzziel" means God is strength. We can see that
even their names reveal their calling to serve God.
Numbers 3:20 "And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli,
and Mushi. These [are] the families of the Levites according to the
house of their fathers."
"Merari" means bitter, or sad. "Mahli" means weak and sickly.
These were one group of those of Levi.
Numbers 3:21 Of Gershon [was] the family of the Libnites, and the
family of the Shimites: these [are] the families of the Gershonites.
They grew into tribes of people.
Numbers 3:22 "Those that were numbered of them, according to the
number of all the males, from a month old and upward, [even] those
that were numbered of them [were] seven thousand and five hundred."
Compared to the other tribes, we can see how small in number they
were. From 1 month old upwards, there were 7,500 males of the tribe of
Gershon.
Numbers 3:23 "The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind
the tabernacle westward."
They pitched westward, but it was between the tabernacle and the
tribes of Ephraim. The front of the tabernacle looked eastward, so
they were just behind the tabernacle.
Numbers 3:24 "And the chief of the house of the father of the
Gershonites [shall be] Eliasaph the son of Lael."
"Lael" means belonging to God. This is not the same Eliasaph,
who was head of the tribe of Gad.
Numbers 3:25 "And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the
tabernacle of the congregation [shall be] the tabernacle, and the
tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation," Numbers 3:26 "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."
This family was to be in charge of the tabernacle itself. The
tent was cared for by them. This would include all of the tapestry and
the hides. This was the outward tabernacle. Inside it included the
caring of the curtains at the door and the curtain at the altar. The
physical tabernacle was their charge.
Numbers 3:27 "And of Kohath [was] the family of the Amramites,
and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites,
and the family of the Uzzielites: these [are] the families of the
Kohathites."
Amram was from the tribe of Kohath. The Amramites were a people
founded upon him. Each of the leaders of the people used his name, and
started a tribe.
Numbers 3:28 "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."
This comes to 8,600 males from 1 month old upward, who were of
the tribes of Kohath. They were in charge of the things of the
sanctuary. From this tribe, came the high priest and the priests.
Numbers 3:29 "The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on
the side of the tabernacle southward."
The tabernacle faces east. These of the tribe of Kohath needed
ready access to the tabernacle. They were close to the tabernacle on
the south side. They were between the tabernacle and the tribes of
Reuben.
Numbers 3:30 "And the chief of the house of the father of the
families of the Kohathites [shall be] Elizaphan the son of Uzziel."
This leader, Elizaphan, was chosen of the younger branch.
Numbers 3:31 "And their charge [shall be] the ark, and the table,
and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary
wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service
thereof."
They took care of the things in the holy place and the most holy
place. The Ark, Candlestick, Table, and even the Altars symbolized
Jesus in some way. This was a very favored task, to care for these
holy things.
Numbers 3:32 "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."
The order in the sanctuary leadership was Aaron {high priest},
Eleazar {his son} the priest, and then those who were in charge of the
holy things. Everything the Levites did must meet with the approval of
Eleazar.
Numbers 4 Questions
1. Moses and Aaron were the beginning of separation from the _______
_________.
2. What was the Levitical tribe a substitute for?
3. The Levitical tribe was set aside for what purpose?
4. What position did Moses have?
5. Who was the first of the high priests?
6. Moses communed with God on _________ ________.
7. Who were the sons of Aaron?
8. What were the sons of Aaron consecrated to do?
9. Which two sons of Aaron did God kill?
10. Why did He kill them?
11. Who took their places as priests?
12. What do many believe the strange fire to be speaking of?
13. What part of the tribe of Levi was dedicated to God's work?
14. What is the "charge", in verse 7, saying?
15. What was their charge?
16. What will happen to the stranger, who comes into the holy place?
17. Where would the next generation of priests come from?
18. Quote Numbers chapter 3 verse 12.
19. What was the last plague in Egypt?
20. Why were the Hebrews spared?
21. How could the Hebrews purchase back their firstborn?
22. Quote Exodus chapter 12 verse 29.
23. What was the age of the youngest male to be counted of the tribe
of Levi?
24. Who were the sons of Levi?
25. Moses was actually from what tribe?
26. What does "Libni" mean?
27. Who were the parents of Aaron, Moses, and Miriam?
28. How many were numbered of the tribe of Gershon?
29. Which side of the tabernacle did the tribes of Gershon camp on?
30. What did the tribe of Gershon take care of?
31. What tribe was Amram from?
32. How many were numbered of the tribe of Kohath?
33. Where did the tribes of Kohath camp?
34. What were they in charge of?
35. What was the order of the leadership in the sanctuary?
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