NUMBERS 3 & 4: “GOD IS THE CENTER OF IT ALL!” – by Sonny Islas, Facebook video.
INTRODUCTION: In NUMBERS 1 & 2 all the men over 20 years old were counted from all the Tribes of Israel except the tribe of Levi. This was the first census – 603,550 were counted. This was a war roster really, made up of fighting men – this was to be Israel’s army, which looked forward to the conquering of the Promised Land – Canaan which was eventually renamed Israel. They went form Egypt’s slaves to God’s soldiers. This is what also happens to every Christian, we go from being slaves to sin to being soldiers of Christ! [warriors creed]
So, God began by establishing order, responsibilities, and an army; but the power was not found in the army but in The Ark of the Covenant – where God resided among them, in the form of fire by night and of cloud by day.
These tribes and armies were set up or stationed around the Tabernacle, around the Ark, around GOD Himself and from an aerial view of the camp, it looked like the cross – pointing to the cross of Christ.
God was in the center, around which every camp and Tribe faced towards Him (NUMBERS 2:2). It’s the same in the Church today, where GOD is the center of it all, we all turn our attention and eyes to Jesus our LORD. He is the center of our worship. Jesus is the reason for our weekly gathering, the reason for our evangelism, our songs, our sermons, and our services of all kinds.
Now in NUMBERS 3 & 4, (The chapters we are covering) God turns His focus to the Tribe of Levi or the Levites; now it’s the Levite’s turn to be counted (“numbered”), every male from one month old and above.
All of the other tribes were counted for war purposes, but the Levites were counted for ministry work purposes.
NUMBERS 3:1-4 (The Sons of Aaron are named)
1 Now these are the records of Aaron and Moses when the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. 2 And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he consecrated to minister as priests. 4 Nadab and Abihu had died before the LORD when they offered profane fire before the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests in the presence of Aaron their father.
[vs. 1] AARON AND MOSES: I imagine that these two brothers were very close and even inseparable. Aaron was Moses’ older brother by 3 years and was called by God to assist Moses in ministry work – starting with being Moses’ spokesperson before Pharaoh. Aaron had a rocky start in the faith (like most newbies do). He was the one who carefully crafted the golden calf for all to worship (EXODUS 32). And now we are witnessing his spiritual growth, his maturity in ministry work.
AARON: as we know, he is a type of Christ, and his name means “light bringer.” It was his responsibility to keep the lamp lit in the Tabernacle – he literally brought the light. Aaron was a “light bringer and lamp lighter” BUT Jesus is THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!” And He lights every heart that turns to and trusts in Him with truth and salvation.
Regarding Jesus’ first coming, MATTHEW 4:16 says, “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” (ISAIAH 42:6-7)
Aaron the High Priest was a blessing, but Jesus is the greatest High Priest and blessing of all!
[vs. 3] Aarons boys were considered by God as ANOINTED PRIESTS… TO MINISTER (SERVE). Anointed means: chosen, called, covered over (with oil, symbolic of the Holy Spirit), and set apart for God and His work.
In 1 JOHN 2:20 says of us, “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.” So then, we are New Testament priests/servants of the LORD who have been anointed to know the truth, live for God and work for God. We have the HOLY SPIRIT and therefore anointed of GOD.
[vs. 4] NADAB AND ABIHU HAD DIED BEFORE THE LORD WHEN THEY OFFEREND PROFANE FIRE: This tragic account is recorded in LEVITICUS 10. The two older sons of Aaron disobeyed and disrespected God in that they did ministry their own way – taking God’s clear instructions lightly – as a severe consequence God torched them on the spot.
SO ELEAZAR AND ITHAMAR MINISTERED AS PRIESTS IN THE PRESENCE OF AARON THEIR FATHER
THEY WERE CLOSELY SUPERVISED BY THEIR POPS! This way another Nadab and Abihu incident doesn’t occur again.
Here are some golden lessons to learn:
1. Do ministry God’s way or else!
2. We all serve under the supervision of, not Aaron, but Jesus:
2 TIMOTHY 4:1,2 says,I’m 100% sure that Aaron had a really good father-and-son talk with Eleazar and Ithamar and told them “Son, please, don’t follow in your older brother's footsteps – you two honor the LORD and me.” and
“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”
3. No one is indispensable. Nadab and Abihu were replaced by Elazar and Ithamar – just like that.
Even though I’m the pastor of SHINE BRIGHT Church, I’m well aware that I’m not indispensable. God has no problem removing me if I don’t take my responsibilities seriously. No one here is indispensable. God will always raise up another. He’s never left without one who will take Him seriously. In Scripture, even among the times of rampant unfaithfulness, the LORD was never without a remnant of faithful followers!
NUMBERS 3:5-13 (The Levites are to serve under Aaron and his two sons AND they replace the firstborn of all the families in Israel as those who would minister to the LORD)
5 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 6 "Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him. 7 "And they shall attend to his needs and the needs of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of meeting, to do the work of the tabernacle. 8 "Also they shall attend to all the furnishings of the tabernacle of meeting, and to the needs of the children of Israel, to do the work of the tabernacle. 9 "And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are given entirely to him from among the children of Israel. 10 "So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall attend to their priesthood; but the outsider who comes near shall be put to death." 11 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 12 "Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be Mine, 13 "because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the LORD."
The Levites were set apart for all the ministry work that had to do with the Tabernacle. Verse 10 says “BUT THE OUTSIDER WHO COMES NEAR SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH” In other words no one but the Levites are allowed to work the Tabernacle and all that it entails. In 1 CHRONICLES 13 David’s man Uzzah tried to stop the Ark from falling on the ground, so he touched it and God stuck him dead. Why?
Because NUMBERS 4:5-6 makes it clear that the Levites, namely the Kohathites, are the only ones who can carry it, and NO ONE is to touch the Ark of the Covenant.
NUMBERS 3:14-39 (Here is where the Levites are both counted and stationed around the Tabernacle)
14 Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying: 15 "Number the children of Levi by their fathers' houses, by their families; you shall number every male from a month old and above." 16 So Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded. 17 These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 18 And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei. 19 And the sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 And the sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their fathers' houses. 21 From Gershon came the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimites; these were the families of the Gershonites. 22 Those who were numbered, according to the number of all the males from a month old and above, of those who were numbered there were seven thousand five hundred. 23 The families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle westward. 24 And the leader of the fathers' house of the Gershonites was Eliasaph the son of Lael. 25 The duties of the children of Gershon in the tabernacle of meeting included the tabernacle, the tent with its covering, the screen for the door of the tabernacle of meeting, 26 the screen for the door of the court, the hangings of the court which are around the tabernacle and the altar, and their cords, according to all the work relating to them. 27 From Kohath came the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites; these were the families of the Kohathites.
28 According to the number of all the males, from a month old and above, there were eight thousand six hundred keeping charge of the sanctuary. 29 The families of the children of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle. 30 And the leader of the fathers' house of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31 Their duty included the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, the screen, and all the work relating to them. 32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the leaders of the Levites, with oversight of those who kept charge of the sanctuary. 33 From Merari came the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites; these were the families of Merari. 34 And those who were numbered, according to the number of all the males from a month old and above, were six thousand two hundred. 35 The leader of the fathers' house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. These were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle. 36 And the appointed duty of the children of Merari included the boards of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, its utensils, all the work relating to them, 37 and the pillars of the court all around, with their sockets, their pegs, and their cords. 38 Moreover those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tabernacle of meeting, were Moses, Aaron, and his sons, keeping charge of the sanctuary, to meet the needs of the children of Israel; but the outsider who came near was to be put to death. 39 All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, by their families, all the males from a month old and above, were twenty-two thousand.
One thing I would consider a great privilege if I were a Levite at that time is that the Levites were stationed on every side of the Worship Tent BUT the Levites were set up closer than the rest.
The purpose for this was of course easy access; it’s always a blessing when you live near your job. Also, they were protected by the Armies of Israel, and they were to protect the holy things, but even more than these two reasons, God chose to bring them closer. In one sense they were closer to the visible and earthly presence of God than the rest as God resided in the middle of the tent.
The Levites also remind me of those in the Church universal who are closest to God, most dedicated to Him – closer to the Ark/Christ if you will. We as the New Testament priesthood are near and can see GOD in His glorious grace but the world at large is at a distance because of their unrepentant sin.
NUMBERS 1:53 says,Again the Levites' duties were to care for the Tabernacle and serve the people in a spiritual way. In relation to the local church, I see those who work in ministry (whether it’s pastoral ministry or music ministry or children’s ministry or the usher ministry etc.) we’re like the Levites who served the rest of Israel, spiritually speaking. The Levites were in charge of the Tabernacle like those who serve in ministry are in charge of the local church and all of its ministerial needs.
“but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony.”
NUMBERS 3:40-51 (Levites are dedicated instead of the Firstborn)
40 Then the LORD said to Moses: "Number all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and above and take the number of their names. 41 "And you shall take the Levites for Me-I am the LORD-instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the children of Israel." 42 So Moses numbered all the firstborn among the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded him. 43 And all the firstborn males, according to the number of names from a month old and above, of those who were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three. 44 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 45 "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. The Levites shall be Mine: I am the LORD. 46 "And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who are more than the number of the Levites, 47 "you shall take five shekels for each one individually; you shall take them in the currency of the shekel of the sanctuary, the shekel of twenty gerahs. 48 "And you shall give the money, with which the excess number of them is redeemed, to Aaron and his sons." 49 So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those who were redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 51 And Moses gave their redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.
David Guzik writes of the exchange – the first born for the Levites: All the firstborn males, according to the number of names: However, there were 22,273 firstborn sons in Israel; and there were only 22,000 Levite males (NUMBERS 3:39). The extra 273 were given a monetary value (five shekels for each one individually), and the money was given to the tabernacle as redemption money.
NUMBERS 4
This chapter deals with the duties of the Kohathites, the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari; then it concludes with a census of the Levites.
(Note: the following notes in chapter Four are compiled by me, James Fire)
The Duties of the Kohathites (the sons of Kohath)
NUMBERS 4:1-4
1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: 2 "Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the children of Levi, by their families, by their fathers' house, 3 "from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting. 4 "This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of meeting, relating to the most holy things:
The name “Kohath” means to ally oneself to, or ally. We have allies on one another as saints; fellow workers that are intent on building the kingdom of GOD by the Gospel – increasing the population in GOD’s kingdom as they surrender to the LORD Jesus and receive salvation from sin, death, judgment, and hell.
It’s vital to understand that the kingdom is not a one man show – we all have our part in participation: it might be a big part, or a small part: be that as it may. If we remain faithful to the LORD in our calling, He will increase our ‘work load’ or diminish it (and perhaps even remove it) if we prove unfaithful in the work.
Just as no one member of the Kohathites could bear the burden alone, neither can we the saints of the church to the work alone: our first and foremost Ally is the LORD Jesus Himself – we are His co-workers, yoked together with Him. Then there is the body of Christ, our allies within the church that we labor together with in “the most holy things”!
NUMBERS 4:5-6
5 "When the camp prepares to journey, Aaron and his sons shall come, and they shall take down the covering veil and cover the ark of the Testimony with it. 6 "Then they shall put on it a covering of badger skins and spread over that a cloth entirely of blue; and they shall insert its poles.
The ark of the Testimony that contained the Law, and that will also contain the manna in clay jars, along with Aaron’s rod that budded! This is where the sacrificial blood was sprinkled: on the Mercy Seat, which covered over the Law. Note that this is covered over with blue cloth.
We saw some interesting symbolism in Leviticus regarding the Tabernacle and the coverings of blue, purple, and scarlet – and we see the same representations here: blue speaks of heaven sent: the Law was given by the GOD of Heaven and the ultimate Sacrifice (not the animals, whose blood was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat), the LAMB of GOD likewise came down from heaven, and died for our sins. These are covered over with badger skins – rather unattractive to be sure.
Our LORD Jesus in His flesh had nothing about Him physically that would attract others (we tend to be attracted to very good looking people, don’t we?); what attracted us all to the LORD was (and is!) His magnificent heart of love, grace and truth!
NUMBERS 4:7-8
7 "On the table of showbread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the pans, the bowls, and the pitchers for pouring; and the showbread shall be on it. 8 "They shall spread over them a scarlet cloth and cover the same with a covering of badger skins; and they shall insert its poles.
The LORD Jesus Christ declared that He is the Bread that the Father sent down from heaven, and so here again we see the table that carried the showbread wrapped in blue (“heaven-sent”) cloth. The utensils are placed on top of this, and then overall, a scarlet cloth covers everything. Scarlet of course represents the atonement, and the LORD Jesus declared at the Last Supper “This is my body, broken for you” referring to the bread that He then broke and divided among His twelve.
NUMBERS 4:9-10
9 "And they shall take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand of the light, with its lamps, its wick-trimmers, its trays, and all its oil vessels, with which they service it. 10 "Then they shall put it with all its utensils in a covering of badger skins and put it on a carrying beam.
The Lampstand with its seven branches represents the Light of the World, the LORD Jesus and the perfect revelation that He is (seven being the number of perfection or completion). This, along with the accoutrements were all covered with blue cloth. This revelation of Jesus Christ was granted when He came down from heaven, was born of the virgin Mary, dwelled among us, and we beheld His glory, that of the only begotten of the Father – full of grace and truth. The revelation of Christ taught us of the grace and truth of GOD, not either or, but both!
NUMBERS 4:11-12
11 "Over the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth and cover it with a covering of badger skins; and they shall insert its poles. 12 "Then they shall take all the utensils of service with which they minister in the sanctuary, put them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering of badger skins, and put them on a carrying beam.
The golden altar represents the prayers of the priests, among them, the High Priest – and these speak of the intercessions made by our own High Priest, which assuredly were heard by Heaven’s Court, and answered by the Holy and Heavenly Father! Thus this too is covered in blue cloth.
NUMBERS 4:13-14
13 "Also they shall take away the ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it. 14 "They shall put on it all its implements with which they minister there-the firepans, the forks, the shovels, the basins, and all the utensils of the altar-and they shall spread on it a covering of badger skins and insert its poles.
These ashes from the altar: these ashes came from the various sacrifices, particularly the burnt offering of which nothing remained; it was burned entirely so that just ashes were left. This burnt offering represented complete surrender and commitment to GOD. This was performed in order to renew the relationship between GOD and man (See LEV 1 and LEV 6:8-13). These were offered every morning and evening (EXOD 29:38-42); every Sabbath (NUM 28:9-10); at Passover (NUM 28:19), and on other Feast Days (notes taken from GOT QUESTIONS: What is a burnt offering?
One would assume these ashes would be covered by a scarlet cloth, but we see in the text that its actually a purple cloth; purple representing kingly or royal representation. Our Holy King, Who is entirely surrendered to the will of the Father and whose commitment to Him is absolute. He offered Himself freely on our behalf!
NUMBERS 4:15
"And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is set to go, then the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them; but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These are the things in the tabernacle of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry.
So that the Kohathites could carry these sacred objects, they were covered over with various color cloths, overlaid with another covering of badger skins.
The LORD Jesus was touched by others – many times by those seeking healing, and yet He was touched in a body prepared for Him – in the likeness of sinful flesh, but without sin. Only those seeking truth would perceive the glory of His heart and testify of His Deity, He Who is the Word of Life (1 JOHN 1:1).
NUMBERS 4:16
"The appointed duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest is the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the daily grain offering, the anointing oil, the oversight of all the tabernacle, of all that is in it, with the sanctuary and its furnishings.
The name Eleazer means “helper”. Just as the Holy Spirit is seen as Scripture: Helper, Comforter (JOHN 14:16). We are not alone in the work of GOD: we have our own “Eleazer” Who guides us into all truth (JOHN 16:13), thus enabling us in effective ministry! Consider that in the book of ACTS, the Holy Spirit is most prominent in the ministry accomplished through the church: today, we the body of Christ represents ‘ACTS 29’! That is, a continuation of the first Twenty Eight chapters as the Holy Spirit is (or should be!) the same Who empowered the early church we read about in the Acts of the Apostles!
NUMBERS 4:17-20
17 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: 18 "Do not cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites; 19 "but do this in regard to them, that they may live and not die when they approach the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint each of them to his service and his task. 20 "But they shall not go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, lest they die.
While the Kohathites were blessed to minister in and about the Tabernacle – the house of GOD – they were not to see those things that the priests of Levi saw. This speaks of those who are sanctified of the LORD, Who see and understand the LORD and His heart in deeper ways, because these have sought after GOD in deeper ways. This isn’t exclusive to a select group of people based upon lineage (as is seen here) but based on those who seek GOD with their whole heart, for these shall find Him and see Him in ways that others can’t (until they likewise begin to seek GOD wholeheartedly!)
The sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari
NUMBERS 4:21-26
21 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 22 "Also take a census of the sons of Gershon, by their fathers' house, by their families. 23 "From thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, you shall number them, all who enter to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting. 24 "This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and carrying: 25 "They shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle and the tabernacle of meeting with its covering, the covering of badger skins that is on it, the screen for the door of the tabernacle of meeting, 26 "the screen for the door of the gate of the court, the hangings of the court which are around the tabernacle and altar, and their cords, all the furnishings for their service and all that is made for these things: so shall they serve.
Gershon means “refuge”. Just as these men carried the curtains and badger skins that covered the Tabernacle, the Dwelling Place of GOD – Where the people of Israel met with the Almighty; we New Testament saints seek our Refuge in Christ, and we resort to Him and find that Dwelling Place of glory, of peace, of rest!
NUMBERS 4:27-28
27 "Aaron and his sons shall assign all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, all their tasks and all their service. And you shall appoint to them all their tasks as their duty. 28 "This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of meeting. And their duties shall be under the authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
Ithamar means “coast of the palm tree”. The palm tree is often used an example of the righteous (PSALM 92:12). Ithamar was portrayed as a righteous priest to whom was given the oversight of the Tabernacle. Those who are clothed in the robe of righteousness are considered the bride of the LORD, a place not only of honor, but also authority.
NUMBERS 4:29-33
29 "As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families and by their fathers' house. 30 "From thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, you shall number them, everyone who enters the service to do the work of the tabernacle of meeting. 31 "And this is what they must carry as all their service for the tabernacle of meeting: the boards of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, 32 "and the pillars around the court with their sockets, pegs, and cords, with all their furnishings and all their service; and you shall assign to each man by name the items he must carry. 33 "This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, as all their service for the tabernacle of meeting, under the authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
Merari means “bitter”. These men were assigned to carry the boards and bars, pillars, sockets, pegs and cords. These were the framework and foundation on which the various curtains and coverings were laid.
Ministry in the LORD is the greatest blessing! There are times however, when one is involved in the ministry that we must deal with the inner workings of our own heart: things of the sin nature that must be dealt with, or dealings with another likewise involved in such ministry.
The foundation and ‘frame work’ of ministry must be free of ‘rubble’ – those things of the flesh that will interfere with that wise master builder who has laid the chief cornerstone and is careful about how they build upon it.
Nehemiah when he inspected the ruins of Jerusalem, knew that a lot of rubble had to be cleared away if they were to rebuild the holy city. Likewise, let’s be sure that we clear any rubble of carnality from our lives, so that we build wisely on the Cornerstone of Christ our Salvation.
Dying to self, crucifying flesh is indeed a bitter business, but there is blessing afterwards in resurrection power!
NUMBERS 4:34-36
34 And Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families and by their fathers' house, 35 from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tabernacle of meeting; 36 and those who were numbered by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty.
Census of the Levites:
NUMBERS 4:37-49
37 These were the ones who were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all who might serve in the tabernacle of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 38 And those who were numbered of the sons of Gershon, by their families and by their fathers' house, 39 from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tabernacle of meeting 40 those who were numbered by their families, by their fathers' house, were two thousand six hundred and thirty. 41 These are the ones who were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all who might serve in the tabernacle of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of the LORD. 42 Those of the families of the sons of Merari who were numbered, by their families, by their fathers' house, 43 from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tabernacle of meeting
44 those who were numbered by their families were three thousand two hundred. 45 These are the ones who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 46 All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel numbered, by their families and by their fathers' houses, 47 from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, everyone who came to do the work of service and the work of bearing burdens in the tabernacle of meeting- 48 those who were numbered were eight thousand five hundred and eighty. 49 According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, each according to his service and according to his task; thus were they numbered by him, as the LORD commanded Moses.
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