44 soul abhorred my statutes. And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them Den. 4. 29-31; 2 Ki utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God. 45 But I will 'for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, " whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt " in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the LORD. 46 These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses. Laws respecting vows and tithes. 13 23; Ne. 9. 31; Ro. 11. 2. & Jer. 14. 21; Exe. 16 60-62. Ge. 17. 7, 8; Ex 2 24; Ro. 11. 28 ch. 22. 3; 25 38; EL. 20. 2. "Ps. 98, 3; Ese. 20. 9, 14, 22 ch. 27. 34; Deu. & 1: 12 1: 33. 4; John 1. 17. P eh. 25. 1. 28. 20-22; Judg. 11. 30, 31, 39; 1 Sam. 1. 11, 28, 27 AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, 2 and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall Num. 6. 2: see Ge 3 be for the LORD by thy estimation. And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty 4 shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary. And if it be a female, then Ex. 30. 13. 5 thy estimation shall be thirty shekels. And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels, 6 and for the female ten shekels. And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for 7 the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver. And if it be from sixty years old and above; if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, 8 and for the female ten shekels. But if he be poorer than thy estimation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to his ability that vowed shall the priest value him. 9 And if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the LORD, all that any 10 man giveth of such unto the LORD shall be holy. He shall not alter it, nor change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good: and if he shall at all change 11 beast for beast, then it and the exchange thereof shall be holy. And if it be any unclean beast, of which they do not offer a sacrifice unto the LORD, then he shall 12 present the beast before the priest: and the priest shall value it, whether it be 13 good or bad: as thou valuest it, who art the priest, so shall it be. But if he ' vers. 15, 19. will at all redeem it, then he shall add a fifth part thereof unto thy estimation. 14 And when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto the LORD, then the priest shall estimate it, whether it be good or bad: as the priest shall estimate it, 16 15 so shall it stand. And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then het ver. 13. ver. 13 if he sanctify his field after the jubilee, then the priest shall reckon unto him "ch. 25. 15, 16, 50–52. the money according to the years that remain, even unto the year of the jubilee, 19 and it shall be abated from thy estimation. And if he that sanctified the field will in any wise redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy 20 estimation unto it, and it shall be assured to him. And if he will not redeem the field, or if he have sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed any 21 more. But the field, when it goeth out in the jubilee, shall be holy unto the ch. 25. 10, 28, 31. LORD, as a field devoted; "the possession thereof shall be the priest's. ver. S b ch. 25. 10, 25. 22 And if a man sanctify unto the LORD a field which he hath bought, which is 23 not of the fields of his possession; then the priest shall reckon unto him the worth of thy estimation, even unto the year of the jubilee: and he shall give thine 24 estimation in that day, as a holy thing unto the LORD. In the year of the deh. 5. 2 jubilee the field shall return unto him of whom it was bought, even to him to 25 whom the possession of the land did belong. And all thy estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall be the shekel. Only the firstling of the beasts, which should be the LORD's firstling, no man 27 shall sanctify it; whether it be ox, or sheep: it is the LORD's. And if it be of. 13212; 220: an unclean beast, then he shall redeem it according to thine estimation, and shall add a fifth part of it thereto: or if it be not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to thy estimation. 26 1 Intimating that the nation should still continue in existence; as we see at this day. 2 Heb., 'separate a vow.' This was the solemn dedication of a man's person, or child, or any part of his property, to the service of God. See Gen. xxviii. 20, 22; Judg. xi. 30, 31; 1 Sam. i. 11, 28. This law is generally understood as providing a redemption price, which might Ex. 30. 13: Num. 3 47; 18 16; Exe. 45. 12 18. Dea. 15. 19. vers 11-13 be substituted for the person or property so consecrated. Some, however, suppose that this amount of money was to be paid in addition to the offering of the person, as a visible declaration of his having devoted himself to God. 3 As firstlings were to be sacrificed (Exod. xiii. 15), it would have been a mere mockery to make them the subject of a vow. 28 Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be 29 sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD. None devoted, which shall be devoted of men,1 shall be redeemed; but shall surely be put to death. 2 Num. 18. 21, 24; 2 7.5-9. see Jer. 33. 13: Eze. 20. 37; Mic. 7. 14. 30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit Ge. 14. 20; 28. 22: 31 of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD. 'And if a man will at all 32 redeem aught of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever " passeth under ver. 13 33 the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD. He shall not search whether it be good or bad, " neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed. 34 These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai. 1 This means not devoted by men, but devoted from among men; such as, the Canaanitish nations (Deut. vii. 2, 24), the city of Jericho (Josh. vi. 17), and the Amalek ites (Deut. xxv. 19; 1 Sam. xv. 3). n ver. 10. ch. 26. 46. 2 Referring to the usual method of numbering and separating cattle. THE FOURTH BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED NUMBERS. THIS book derives its title from the numberings of the people of Israel, recorded in ch. i.-iv., xxvi. The first of these was made at Sinai, in the beginning of the second year after their departure from Egypt; the second was made thirty-eight years afterwards, in the land of Moab, just before their entrance into Canaan. The repetition of the census, and the mode in which it was taken, tended to promote attention to the family registers; and, by distinguishing those of pure Hebrew descent, to prevent admixture with their vicious and idolatrous neighbours. It also especially served to show the lineage of the Messiah, the promised Seed of Abraham.' The second numbering is, moreover, particularly connected with one of the chief events of this history-that eriminal unbelief which excluded a whole generation of the Israelites from the promised land; delaying their occupation of it for thirty-eight years, and suddenly arresting the extraordinary increase of the nation; so that they were less numerous at the end of this period than they had been at the beginning. We see in this history, on the one hand, the unceasing and tender care of the Almighty over his chosen people during their wanderings; and, on the other, the murmurings and rebellions by which they offended their heavenly Protector, drew down upon them repeated marks of his just displeasure, and provoked him to say that they should not enter into his rest,' because of their unbelief. See Heb. iii. 19. All these things happened unto them for ensamples, and were written for our admonition' (1 Cor. x. 1-11). This book may be divided into five principal sections: I. THE NUMBERING OF THE ISRAELITES: their classification according to their descent; the arrangement of the camp; the numbers and offices of the Levites; and the redemption of the first-born (ch. i.—iv.) II. VARIOUS LAWS AND OBSERVANCES: viz., the purification of the camp; the trial of jealousy (v.); the Law concerning Nazarites (vi. 1-21); form of blessing (22-27); the offerings of the princes (vii.); the consecration of the Levites (viii.); the passover, the pillar of cloud and of fire, and the silver trumpets (ix., x. 1-10). III. THE JOURNEY FROM SINAI TO THE BORDERS OF CANAAN. The people leave Sinai, and resume their jour ney (x. 11-36); they despise the manna, lust for flesh, and are punished (xí.); Aaron and Miriam murmur at Moses (xii.); the spies, and their report (xiii.); the rebellion of the people, and the consequent rejection of that generation (xiv.) IV. TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN THE TURNING BACK OF THE ISRAELITES FROM THE BORDERS OF CANAAN, AND THEIR RETURN THITHER ABOUT THIRTY-SEVEN YEARS AFTERWARDS: including, various ordinances (xv.); the rebellion and death of Korah and his party (xvi.); the budding of Aaron's rod (xvii.); the duties and the portion of the priests and Levites (xviii.); the law of the water of purification (xix.) V. CONCLUSION OF THE MARCH THROUGH THE WILDERNESS, AND COMMENCEMENT OF THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN. The people come to the desert of Zin; at Kadesh they murmur for water, and are supplied from the smitten rock (xx. 1-13); a passage through Edom is refused (14-21); Aaron dies, and is succeeded by Eleazar (22-29); defeat of Canaanites in the south; renewed murmurings of the people; the fiery serpents, and the serpent of brass (xxi. 1-9); further journeys; and victories over Sihon and Og (10-35); Balaam and his prophecies (xxii.-xxiv.); the Israelites are ensnared by the Midianites, and are punished (xxv.); the second numbering of the people on the plains of Moab (xxvi.); the law of inheritance of daughters (xxvii. 1-11); Moses is warned of his death, and Joshua appointed his successor (12-23); laws concerning offerings and vows (xxviii.-xxx.); victory over the Midianites (xxxi.); the partition of the conquered land east of Jordan (xxxii.); recapitulation of the stations in the wilderness (xxxiii.); the boundaries of the promised land (xxxiv.); the cities of the Levites, and cities of refuge (xxxv.); law respecting heiresses (xxxvi.) Numbering of the Israelites by families, the Levites being excepted. 1 AND the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, 'in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second 2 year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, "Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house 1 The result of this census (ver. 46) had been stated by anticipation, Exod. xxxviii. 26. From the number of males above the age of twenty, it may be inferred that a eh. 10. 11, 12; Ex. b Ex. 2. 22. the total was nearly two millions. The persons numbered would be fit for labour as well as war, constituting the effective strength of the nation. of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; 3 from twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: 4 thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies. And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers. ch. 14. 29; Ex 30.14 5 And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you. Of the tribe of 6 Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur. Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zuri7 shaddai. Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab. Of Issachar; Nethaneel the 9 son of Zuar. Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon. Of the children of Joseph : 10 of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of 11 Pedahzur. Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni. Of Dan; Ahiezer the son 13 of Ammishaddai. Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran. Of Gad; Eliasaph the son 15 Deuel. Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan. These were the renowned of the ch. 214, he is called 16 congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel. 17 And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names: 18 and they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, 19 by their polls. As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai. 20 And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to forth to war; those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred. 1 21 go Reuel. 5 ch. 7. 2; 1 Chr. 27. 16 ▲ Ex. 18 21, 25 i eh. 2. 10, 11 keb. 26. 7. Of the children of 'Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the ch. 2. 12, 13 house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all 23 that were able to go forth to war; those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred. 24 26 0 ch. 26. 14. "ch. 2. 14, 15 • ch. 26. 18. Of the children of "Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old 25 and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty. Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house P ch. 2. 3, 4 of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and 27 upward, all that were able to go forth to war; those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred. 28 Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years 29 old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were 'fifty and four thousand and four hundred. ? ch. 26. 22; 2 San. ch. 26. 25. 30 Of the children of 'Zebulun, by their generations, after their families, by the ch. 2 7,8 339 333 of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were "fifty and seven thousand and four ch. 26. 7. hundred. 33. 17. 32 Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, by their gene-ch. 2 18, 19; Deu rations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth 33 to war; those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred. 34 Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years 35 old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred. 36 y Deu. 33. 17. ach. 2. 21; 26. 34 & Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after their families, by the ch 2 22, house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years 37 old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred. 38 eh. 26. 41: Judg. 20. 44-46; 2 Chr. 17.17. Of the children of "Dan, by their generations, after their families, by the house deh. 2. 25, S of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and 1 All the suma being hundreds, except one fifty, it is probable that numbers less than fifty were omitted. ⚫ ch. 26. 43. ch. 26. 47. 39 upward, all that were able to go forth to war; those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred. 40 Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the eh. 2. 27, 28. house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years 41 old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were & forty and one thousand and five hundred.ɛ 42 Of the children of "Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty 43 years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were 'fifty and three thousand and four hundred. 44 eh. 2. 29, 30. í ch. 26. 50. These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and ch. 26. 64. the princes of Israel, being twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers. 45 So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to 46 war in Israel; even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand eh. 2 32; 26. 51; and three thousand and five hundred and fifty. Ge. 13 16; Ex. 12. 37; 38. 26. I eh. 2. 33: see eh. 3; 4; 26 57, 62; 1 Chr. 6:21. 6. eh. 3 5-11; 4. 15, 25 -27, 33; Ex. 38. 21, Ac. 7. 44. Peh. 4. 5-33; 10. 17, 21. 47 But 'the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among 48 them. For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying, "Only thou shalt not 49 number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of "ch. 2. 33; 26. 62. 50 Israel: "but thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, 51 and shall encamp round about the tabernacle. And when the tabernacle setteth eh. 2. 17: 323-39, forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger2 that cometh nigh shall be 52 put to death. And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, 'every man by 53 his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts. But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: "and the Levites shall 54 keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony. And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they. Arrangement of the camp, and order of march. 2 AND the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Every man of the 2 children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off [over against] about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.a 3 9 eh. 3. 10, 38: 18. 22; ver. 50. # eh. S. 19; 16. 46; ch. 1. 52, Jos. 3. 4. Ge. 49. 8 33. And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of 4 Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six 5 hundred. And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar : 6 and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar. And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and 7 four hundred. Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be 8 captain of the children of Zebulun. And his host, and those that were numbered 9 thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred. All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth. ch. 10. 14 10 On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of 11 Shedeur. And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and 12 six thousand and five hundred. And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son 13 of Zurishaddai. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty 14 and nine thousand and three hundred. Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain 15 of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and 16 fifty. All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. “And they shall set forth in the second rank. 1 Not to officiate in it, but to take charge of it. 2 One who is not a Levite. See refs. 3 That is, from God; who will not suffer the profaners of his worship to go unpunished. The preventing of sin is the preventing of wrath. Deuel, ch. 1. 14; 7. 42, 47, 10. 20, 4 ch. 10. 18. 4 The tribes were to pitch around the tabernacle. It is the oriental usage to place the monarch and his chief officers in the centre of the camp. There are very various opinions respecting the ensigns of the tribes; but nothing is known with certainty about them. 17 18 Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards. ⚫ ch. 1. 53; 10. 17, 21. On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son 19 Ammihud. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty 20 thousand and five hundred. And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the 21 captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand 22 and two hundred. Then the tribe of Benjamin; and the captain of the sons of 23 Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni. And his host, and those that were 24 numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred. All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward ch. 10. 22 in the third rank. 25 The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two 27 thousand and seven hundred. And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of 28 Ocran. And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one 29 thousand and five hundred. Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the 30 children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan. And his host, and those that 31 were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred. All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with eh. 10. 25. their standards. 32 8 These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts 33 were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty. But 'the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded 34 Moses. And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers. 1 3 : A ch. 1. 46; 11. 21: jeh. 24. 2, 5, 6. The priests and Levites; their selection, offices, and number according to their families. THESE also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD 2 spake with Moses in mount Sinai. And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; 3 Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the names of EL 6 23. the sons of Aaron, 'the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to 4 minister in the priest's office. And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father. Ex. 28 41; 40 13, ch. 1. 49-53; & 6; 18. 2. see ch. 1. 50; 8. 11, 15, 24, 26. 5,6 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, " Bring the tribe of Levi near, and 7 present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the 8 tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle. And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge 9 of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. And thou shalt eh. 8. 19; 18. &. give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him 10 out of the children of Israel. And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. 11, 12 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; 13 because all the firstborn are mine; "for on the day that I smote all the firstborn 1 Thus the host of Israel was fully organized, and a regular gradation of officers established, which insured strict order. 2 In this enumeration of the Levites, observe: (1.) The family of Aaron, as priest, stands first; whilst the sons of Moses are not mentioned, as they were simply Levites. (2.) All the males from a month old are reckoned, as consecrated to God. It appears, however, afterwards, that little more than a third part of them were fit to be em ch. 18. 7: Ro. 12 7: VT. 41, 45; eb. & 16; 18 6 fch. & 16; Ex. 13 2: Le. 27. 2; Lk. 221 ch. 8. 17: Ex. 12. 29; 13 12, 15. ployed in the service of the tabernacle. See ch. iv. 47, 48. (3.) The tribe is divided into the three families of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; to each of which a separate work is assigned. (4.) This tribe was much smaller than any other, and did not amount to the number of the firstborn males of the whole nation at that time, in whose stead it was taken for the peculiar service of God. The redemp tion of the overplus of the first-born is specially provided for in ver. 46. |