Keraia
Numbers 3

Numbers 3:38

Moses and Aaron · Numbers 3:38–39
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Translations

Modern
Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.
Traditional
But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
Literal
And those who were to camp before the face of the tabernacle on the east, before the face of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons, keeping charge of the sanctuary to meet the needs of the sons of Israel; and the outsider who came near was to be put to death.
Latin
Castrametabuntur ante tabernaculum fœderis, id est, ad orientalem plagam, Moyses et Aaron cum filiis suis, habentes custodiam sanctuarii in medio filiorum Israël. Quisquis alienus accesserit, morietur.

Original

Hebrew
English
Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.

Notes

Numbers 3:38

The best campsite east of the tabernacle was for Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons.

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.

People

Aaron: Moses' brother, first high priest of Israel Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt

Glossary

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

Topics

Census: The Numbering of Israel by Moses Levites of the Amramites, Aaron and his Family Were Set Apart As Priests Levites: Enrollment of, at Mount Sinai