NUMBERS LESSON 5
We will begin this lesson in Numbers 3:33 "Of Merari [was] the
family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these [are]
the families of Merari."
In the last lesson, we had begun the genealogy of the Levites.
This is a continuation of that.
Numbers 3:34 "And those that were numbered of them, according to
the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, [were] six
thousand and two hundred."
The tribe of Merari had a very small group of males numbered from
1 month old upward. They numbered 6,200.
Numbers 3:35 "And the chief of the house of the father of the
families of Merari [was] Zuriel the son of Abihail: [these] shall
pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward."
This, again, is speaking just north of the tabernacle, and
between the tabernacle, and the tribe of Dan. Only the Levites were
allowed to camp near the tabernacle.
Numbers 3:36 "And [under] the custody and charge of the sons of
Merari [shall be] the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof,
and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels
thereof, and all that serveth thereto,"
These were the boards that were used with the curtains. This
tribe of Merari had nothing to do with the curtains. It was their duty
to carry the boards. They, also, were in charge of the sockets, which
held the curtains together. They not only carried the boards, but were
responsible for them being erected, when they stopped and set up the
tabernacle.
Numbers 3:37 "And the pillars of the court round about, and their
sockets, and their pins, and their cords."
This is speaking of the smaller items, they were responsible for.
The tabernacle could not be put together without these items that
connected them.
Numbers 3:38 "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."
The eastern gate was a place of prominence. This is where the
entrance to the tabernacle was located. Moses, Aaron, and their
families were responsible for the tabernacle and the people. Since
Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's sons would be in the tabernacle often, it
was necessary for them to be on this side. The tabernacle is like our
church today. Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's sons are like the ministerial
staff. This would even include the board of directors. Notice,
however, you could not have a church without those who took care of
the physical preparation of the church for services.
Numbers 3:39 "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."
We can easily see from the 22,000 males from 1 month old and
upward, that the Levites were by far the smallest of the tribes. If we
added the three groups together of the Levites who were counted, we
would have 22,300. This is not a serious discrepancy. This is just an
error in addition by someone. It is a possibility that the 300 were
firstborn of the ministering staff, and were not counted.
Numbers 3:40 "And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the
firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and
upward, and take the number of their names."
We remember the firstborn belong to God. They must be purchased
back from God. This counting was to determine the tax of the silver
shekel as redemption money.
Numbers 3:41 "And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I [am] the
LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and
the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the
cattle of the children of Israel."
The Levites were not just in the service to the Lord, but
belonged to Him in the fullest sense. Even their cattle were taken for
the tabernacle instead of being their own private property. This paid
for the firstborn cattle of the twelve tribes.
Numbers 3:42 "And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all
the firstborn among the children of Israel."
Since this was a matter of the tabernacle, Moses took care of the
counting.
Numbers 3:43 "And all the firstborn males by the number of names,
from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were
twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen."
This is the firstborn of all of the tribes, and not just of the
Levites. Those numbered were 22,273. This is a terribly short number
for the firstborn of so large a group of people. Either this was for
the babies who were firstborn, or there should be a larger number.
If this were all the firstborn of all the Israelites, they would have
to have an average of 70 people in one family. Possibly, this is
speaking of the young males who are not fathers themselves. This is
one of those mysteries of the Bible, that we will not know absolutely.
Numbers 3:44 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
We see, again, that The LORD is still speaking to Aaron and the
people through Moses at this point.
Numbers 3:45 "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among
the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their
cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I [am] the LORD."
This is the law of substitution. Jesus became our substitute on
the cross. We deserved the penalty of the cross, and Jesus paid the
penalty in full for us. The Levites, here, are the substitute for the
firstborn males of Israel.
Numbers 3:46 "And for those that are to be redeemed of the two
hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children
of Israel, which are more than the Levites;"
We see from this, that there was not an error in counting the
firstborn. We just did not understand what age group were counted.
The Levites were almost the same number as the firstborn of all
Israel. This is saying there were 273 more than the Levites.
Numbers 3:47 "Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the
poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take [them]: (the
shekel [is] twenty gerahs:)"
A shekel is 10 dwt. In this case, this is silver. 5 shekels would
be 50 dwt. of silver. The price of redemption of one male would be 50
dwt of silver. "Silver" means redemption. The number 50 is the number
of jubilee, or set the captives free. You can see the spiritual
significance of this. Each person redeemed had to pay 5 shekels of
silver.
Numbers 3:48 "And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd
number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons."
This appears that the 50 dwt. of silver for each firstborn over
the number of the Levites {273} should be given to Moses and Aaron
personally.
Numbers 3:49 "And Moses took the redemption money of them that
were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:"
This amounted to 13,650 dwt. of silver that was given to Moses
and Aaron personally.
Numbers 3:50 "Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he
the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five [shekels],
after the shekel of the sanctuary:"
This was paid in silver coins called shekels. They received 1,365
shekels for the redemption money.
Numbers 3:51 "And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed
unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the
LORD commanded Moses."
This, again, does not specifically say what they did with this
money they received from Moses. We can, possibly, safely assume this
money was used in the service in the sanctuary. Moses, we know, did
not keep any for his own personal use out of this specific money, We
do know, there were expenses incurred in operating the tabernacle.
The families of the Levites were compensated by God for their service
to Him. Aaron and his family lived off the offerings made in the
tabernacle.
Numbers 5 Questions
1. How many were numbered of the tribe of Merari?
2. Who was chief of the tribe of Merari?
3. Where was the tribe of Merari to camp.
4. What were they in charge of?
5. Who encamped at the east of the tabernacle?
6. How is the tabernacle like our church today?
7. What was the total number of Levites numbered?
8. The firstborn of Israel were to be numbered from what age?
9. Why were they numbering the firstborn?
10. The Levites were not just in the service of the LORD, but in fact,
____________ to Him.
11. Why did Moses do the counting?
12. How many firstborn were counted?
13. What size family would the Israelites have to have, for this to be
an accurate accounting of all the firstborn of Israel?
14. What law is verse 45 speaking of?
15. What is the very best example of this law in the Bible?
16. How many more of the firstborn were there, than the Levites?
17. What was the price of redemption?
18. The shekel is ______ _______.
19. A shekel is _________ dwt.
20. How many dwt. of silver was the price of redemption?
21. "Silver" means __________.
22. Who got the silver for the extra firstborn?
23. How many dwt. of silver was given to Moses and Aaron.
24. What did Moses do with the silver?
25. What can we safely assume the silver was used for?
Home