Keraia
Numbers 3

Numbers 3:12

The Duties of the Levites · Numbers 3:5–13
Read Numbers 3

Translations

Modern
“Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb. The Levites belong to Me,
Traditional
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;
Literal
“And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from the midst of the sons of Israel, instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the sons of Israel. And the Levite shall be unto Me,
Latin
Ego tuli Levitas a filiis Israël pro omni primogenito, qui aperit vulvam in filiis Israël, eruntque Levitæ mei.

Original

Hebrew
English
“Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb. The Levites belong to Me,

Notes

Numbers 3:11–13

  • every firstborn Israelite: These belonged to God because God spared them when the Egyptian firstborn sons died (3:13; see Exodus 11–12).

  • I have taken the Levites: God chose the Levites to serve as substitutes for the firstborn sons.

Numbers 3:5–13

God chose the Levites to be assistants for the priests, represented by Aaron. They had a number of holy duties in their ministry service. They performed holy tasks to maintain the Tent of Meeting and its items (3:7,8; explained more in 4:1–33).

Numbers 3:1–4:49

Israel's priests and Levites had duties like moving, assembling, protecting, and maintaining the Tent of Meeting. The way God organized the tribes highlighted his concern for these priestly tasks.

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Levi: Son of Jacob; progenitor of the Levites

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Deuteronomy, Book of Firstborn Genealogy Numbers, Book of Priests and Levites Tribe of Levi

Topics

Christian Minister: Call of Firstborn: Levites Taken Instead of Firstborn of the Families of Israel Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Tribe of Levi Taken Instead of the First-Born Levites: Set Apart As Ministers of Religion Levites: Substituted in the Place of the Firstborn Children Substitution: The Levites for the Firstborn of the Israelites The First Born of Israel: Tribe of Levi Taken For The Levites: Taken Instead of the First-Born of Israel