Keraia
Numbers 3

Numbers 3:39

Moses and Aaron · Numbers 3:38–39
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Translations

Modern
The total number of Levites that Moses and Aaron counted by their clans at the LORD’s command, including all the males a month old or more, was 22,000.
Traditional
All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the Lord, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.
Literal
All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of YHWH, by their clans, all the males from a son of a month and above, were two and twenty thousand.
Latin
Omnes Levitæ, quos numeraverunt Moyses et Aaron juxta præceptum Domini per familias suas in genere masculino a mense uno et supra, fuerunt viginti duo millia.

Original

Hebrew
English
The total number of Levites that Moses and Aaron counted by their clans at the LORD’s command, including all the males a month old or more, was 22,000.

Notes

Numbers 3:39

22,000: The numbers for each clan totaled 22,300 (3:22, 28, 34). See the study note on 3:28.

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 Levi: Son of Jacob; progenitor of the Levites Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt

Glossary

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

Topics

Census: The Numbering of Israel by Moses Levites: Enrollment of, at Mount Sinai The Levites: Numbered Separately After the People from a Month Old