The Levites substitution for the firstborn

Topic: Responsibility
Passage: Numbers 3:38–51

October 30, 2022

Commentary

Moses, Aaron, and his sons were to make sure that the Israelites worshiped in the proper way (vv. 38-41). So they obeyed the LORD and counted the Levites by their clans. Here are the requirements made of the Levites for the first-born:

  1. The first-born were numbered from a month old (vv. 42-43). Those certainly were not recognized who, though first-born, had become heads of families themselves, but those only that were born since their coming out of Egypt, when the first-born were sanctified (Ex. 13:2). If there were 22,000 first-born males, we may suppose as many females, and all these brought forth in the first year after they came out of Egypt when there were abundance of marriages made among the Israelites. They were not discouraged by the present distress, but married in faith, expecting that God would shortly visit them with mercy, and that their children, though born in bondage, should live in liberty and honor.
  2. The number of the first-born, and that of the Levites, by special providence, were similar; thus, when he divided the nations, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel (Deut. 32:8). Known unto God are all his works beforehand, and there is an exact proportion between them, and so it will appear when they come to be compared. The Levites’ cattle are said to be taken instead of the firstlings of the cattle of the children of Israel, with all their possessions.
  3. The small number of first-born which exceeded the number of the Levites (273 in all) were to be redeemed, at five shekels apiece, and the redemption-money given to Aaron; for it would not do well to have them added to the Levites. It is probable that in the exchange they began counting with the eldest of the first-born, and so downward, so that those who were to be redeemed with money were the 273 youngest of the first-born. This process was more likely than to think it was determined by lot or that the money was paid out of a public fund.

Application

I am not the first-born in my family but this does not excuse me from having a responsibility to those who are new in the faith. I need to always have someone who is discipling me and I always need to be discipling someone else.

Numbers 3:38– 51 (NET)

38 But those who were to camp in front of the tabernacle on the east, in front of the tent of meeting, were Moses, Aaron, and his sons. They were responsible for the needs of the sanctuary and for the needs of the Israelites, but the unauthorized person who approached was to be put to death. 39 All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered by the word of the Lord, according to their families, every male from a month old and upward, were 22,000.

40 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Number all the firstborn males of the Israelites from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. 41 And take the Levites for me—I am the Lord—instead of all the firstborn males among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites.” 42 So Moses numbered all the firstborn males among the Israelites, as the Lord had commanded him. 43 And all the firstborn males, by the number of the names from a month old and upward, totaled 22,273.

44 Then the Lord spoke to Moses: 45 “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn males among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. And the Levites will be mine. I am the Lord. 46 And for the redemption of the 273 firstborn males of the Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, 47 collect five shekels for each one individually; you are to collect this amount in the currency of the sanctuary shekel (this shekel is twenty gerahs). 48 And give the money for the redemption of the excess number of them to Aaron and his sons.”

49 So Moses took the redemption money from those who were in excess of those redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the firstborn males of the Israelites he collected the money, 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. 51 Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses.