Keraia
Numbers 3

Numbers 3:34

The Merarites · Numbers 3:33–37
Read Numbers 3

Translations

Modern
The number of all the males a month old or more was 6,200.
Traditional
And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.
Literal
And those numbered by the number of all the males, from a son of a month and above, were six thousand and two hundred.
Latin
…omnes generis masculini ab uno mense et supra, sex millia ducenti.

Original

Hebrew
English
The number of all the males a month old or more was 6,200.

Notes

Numbers 3:14–39

  • 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).

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.

Parallels

Numbers 4:29–33 1 Chronicles 23:21–23

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Census Deuteronomy, Book of Genealogy Numbers, Book of Tabernacle

Topics

Census: The Numbering of Israel by Moses Levites: Enrollment of, at Mount Sinai Levites: Functions of had Charge of the Tabernacle in the Encampments and on the March Levites: Place of, in Encampments and the March Levites: The Merarites Merari: Head the Merarite Levites The Levites: Families, As Numbered of Merari