Numbers 3:39

Hebrew Bible Modern 1977

כל פקודי הלוים אשר פקד משה ואהרן על פי יהוה למשפחתם כל זכר מבן חדש ומעלה שנים ועשרים אלף:

What Does This Mean?

This verse tells us that Moses and Aaron counted all the male Levites who were at least a month old. The total number of Levites was 22,000. This was done according to God's command.

Explained for Children

Imagine you're counting all the kids in your class, but this time, you're counting all the boys from your neighborhood who are at least a month old. That's what Moses and Aaron did, but for a special group of people called Levites, and there were 22,000 of them!

Historical Background

Numbers 3 was written by Moses around 1440 BC. It details the census of the Levites, who were responsible for the tabernacle and its services. This was during the time when the Israelites were traveling in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt.

Living It Out Today

In today's context, this verse reminds us of the importance of organization and the specific roles that individuals play in a community. Just as the Levites had a specific role in serving God and the community, we too have roles that contribute to our families, workplaces, and churches.

Topics

• census
• Levites
• service
• organization
• roles
• community

Related Verses

• Exodus 38:26
• Leviticus 1:5
• Numbers 4:49
• 1 Chronicles 23:3
• Luke 2:3

Recommended Reading

Commentary Numbers Commentaries → Get This Bible Hebrew Bible Modern Study Bible →

Frequently Asked Questions

Why were only males counted?

In the ancient Near East, it was common to count males for various purposes such as military service or labor. In this case, the Levites were responsible for the tabernacle, and males were counted because of their specific roles in service.

How does this number compare to the total number of Israelites?

The number of Levites was significantly smaller compared to the total number of Israelites, which was counted separately and found to be much larger, reflecting the specific role and size of the Levite tribe.

What were the Levites responsible for?

The Levites had the responsibility of taking care of the tabernacle and all its services, including maintaining it, transporting it during the Israelites' journey, and performing the various duties related to worship.

Can you explain the purpose of the census?

The census was a way to organize the people of Israel and to ensure that each tribe and family had a clear role. For the Levites, it was to determine their specific responsibilities in maintaining the tabernacle and its services.