Numbers 3:32

Aaron’s third son, Eleazar, led the Levites as an administrator. He was like an executive secretary, while his father did other tasks. He had "oversight of the entire tabernacle" (4:16–20). Eleazar had a key role during Israel’s time in the wilderness. He later became the high priest after his father (see 16:37–39; 19:3–6; 20:25–28; 26:1–3).

Aaron and Moses, sons of Amram, were descendants of Kohath (see Exodus 6:18, 20, 26). They were caretakers of the Most Holy Place and its very holy furnishings (described in Numbers 3–4). The Kohathites were the most respected of the three clans.

• This first phase of a two-part registration of the tribe of Levi summarized each family's special duties. 4:1–33 describes this in more detail (see 4:34–49 for the second phase). This count did not relate to military duties, so it included male Levites from the age of one month (3:40–41).

• Three family groups descend from the three sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. These clans, often called the Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites, later inherited the "cities of refuge" (Joshua 21). They also had various important roles in the Jerusalem temple (2 Chronicles 29:3–17).

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.