The Levites are numbered and their offices distinguished. They are taken in the place of the firstborn of the children of Israel.
The Leuites are assumed to the seruice of the Tabernacle, 14. numbered by their seueral families, and their offices distinguished, 45. They are taken to God in place of the first borne of the children of Israel. The residue of the first borne, aboue the number of Leuites, are redemed with price.
1These are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the Lord spoke to Moses in mount Sinai.Questa è la discendenza d'Aronne e di Mosè nel tempo, in cui il Signore parlò a Mosè sul monte Sinai.THESE are the generations of Aaron and Moyses in the day that our Lord spake to Moyses in Mount Sinai.Hæ sunt generationes Aaron et Moysi in die qua locutus est Dominus ad Moysen in monte Sinai. 2And these the names of the sons of Aaron: his firstborn Nadab, then Abiu, and Eleazar, and Ithamar.E questi i nomi dei figliuoli d'Aronne: il primogenito di lui Nadab, di poi Abiu, ed Elcazar, e Ithamar.And these be the names of the sonnes of Aaron: his first begotten Nadab, then Abiu, and Eleazar, and Ithamar.Et hæc nomina filiorum Aaron: primogenitus ejus Nadab, deinde Abiu, et Eleazar, et Ithamar. 3These the names of the sons of Aaron the priests that were anointed, and whose hands were filled and consecrated, to do the functions of priesthood.Questi sono i nomi dei figliuoli d'Aronne sacerdoti, che furono unti, e de' quali furon ripiene, e consacrate le mani, affinché facessero le funzioni del sacerdozio.These are the names of the sonnes of Aaron the priests that were anointed, and whose handes were filled and cōsecrated, to doe the function of priesthood.Hæc nomina filiorum Aaron sacerdotum qui uncti sunt, et quorum repletæ et consecratæ manus ut sacerdotio fungerentur. 4Now Nadab and Abiu died, without children, when they offered strange fire before the Lord, in the desert of Sinai: and Eleazar and Ithamar performed the priestly office in the presence of Aaron their father.Nadab però e Abiu morirono senza figliuoli in offerendo al cospetto del Signore del fuoco straniero nel deserto del Sinai: ed Eleazar e Ithamar fecero le funzioni dei sacerdozio sotto gli occhi d'Aronne loro padre.For Nadab and Abiu died, when they offered the strange fire in the sight of our Lord, in the desert of Sinai, without children: and Eleazar and Ithamar did the function of priesthood in the presence of Aaron their father.Mortui sunt enim Nadab et Abiu cum offerrent ignem alienum in conspectu Domini in deserto Sinai, absque liberis: functique sunt sacerdotio Eleazar et Ithamar coram Aaron patre suo. 5And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:E il Signore parlò a Mosè, e disse:And our Lord spake to moyses, saying:Locutusque est Dominus ad Moysen, dicens: 6Bring the tribe of Levi, and make them stand in the sight of Aaron the priest to minister to him, and let them watch,Fa' che si appressi la tribù di Levi, e stia dinanzi ad Aronne sacerdote, affinché lo servano, o stiano di guardia,Bring the tribe of Leui, and make them stand in the sight of Aaron the priest to minister vnto him, and let them watch,Applica tribum Levi, et fac stare in conspectu Aaron sacerdotis ut ministrent ei, et excubent, 7And observe whatsoever appertaineth to the service of the multitude before the tabernacle of the testimony,E facciano in tutto le parti del popolo riguardo al culto sacro dinanzi al tabernacolo del testimonio,and obserue whatsoeuer pertaineth to the seruice of the multitude before the tabernacle of testimonie,et observent quidquid ad cultum pertinet multitudinis coram tabernaculo testimonii, 8And let them keep the vessels of the tabernacle, serving in the ministry thereof.E ne custodiscano i vasi, e nel servizio di esso (tabernacolo) siano occupati.and let them keepe the vessel of the tabernacle, seruing in the ministerie therof.et custodiant vasa tabernaculi, servientes in ministerio ejus.
9And thou shalt give the Levites for a gift,E tu offerirai i LevitiAnd thou shalt geue the Leuites for a gift,Dabisque dono Levitas 10To Aaron and to his sons, to whom they are delivered by the children of Israel. But thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons over the service of priesthood. The stranger that approacheth to minister, shall be put to death.Ad Aronne, e a' figliuoli di lui, a' quali eglino sono stati rimessi da' figliuoli d'Israele. Ad Aronne, e a' figliuoli di lui assegnerai le funzioni del sacerdozio: qualunque altro, che s'ingerisca in tal ministero, sarà messo a morte.to Aaron and to his sonnes, to whom they are deliuered of the children of Israel. But Aaron and his sonnes thou shalt appoint ouer the seruice of priesthood. The stranger, that approcheth to minister, shal die.Aaron et filiis ejus, quibus traditi sunt a filiis Israël. Aaron autem et filios ejus constitues super cultum sacerdotii. Externus, qui ad ministrandum accesserit, morietur. 11And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:E il Signore parlò a Mosè, e disse:And our Lord spake to Moyses, saying:Locutusque est Dominus ad Moysen, dicens: 12I have taken the Levites from the children of Israel, for every firstborn that openeth the womb among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine.lo ho preso da' figliuoli d'Israele i Leviti in luogo di tutti i primogeniti, che aprono i primi l'utero della lor madre, e saran miei i Leviti.I haue taken the Leuites from the children of Israel, for euerie first borne, that openeth the matrice among the children of Israel, and the Leuites shal be mine.Ego tuli Levitas a filiis Israël pro omni primogenito, qui aperit vulvam in filiis Israël, eruntque Levitæ mei. 13For every firstborn is mine: since I struck the firstborn in the land of Egypt: I have sanctified to myself whatsoever is firstborn in Israel both of man and beast, they are mine: I am the Lord.Imperocché miei sono tutti i primogeniti: da quel tempo, in cui uccisi i primogeniti nella terra di Egitto, io consacrai a me tutti i primi parti in Israele: dall'uomo fino agli animali sono miei. Io il Signore.For the first borne is mine: since I stroke the first borne in the Land of Aegypt: I haue sanctified to me whatsoeuer is first borne in Israel from man vnto beast, they are mine: I the Lord.Meum est enim omne primogenitum: ex quo percussi primogenitos in terra Ægypti, sanctificavi mihi quidquid primum nascitur in Israël: ab homine usque ad pecus, mei sunt. Ego Dominus. 14And the Lord spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai, saying:E il Signore parlò a Mosè nel deserto del Sinai, e disse:And our Lord spake to moyses in the desert of Sinai, saying:Locutusque est Dominus ad Moysen in deserto Sinai, dicens:
15Number the sons of Levi by the houses of their fathers and their families, every male from one month and upward.Novera i figliuoli di Levi secondo le case de' loro padri, e famiglie, tutti i maschi da un mese in su.Number the sonnes of Leui by the houses of their fathers and their families, euerie male from one moneth and vpward.Numera filios Levi per domos patrum suorum et familias, omnem masculum ab uno mense et supra. 16Moses numbered them as the Lord had commanded.Mosè ne fece il novero, conforme avea ordinato il Signore.Moyses numbered, as our Lord had commanded,Numeravit Moyses, ut præceperat Dominus, 17And there were found sons of Levi by their names, Gerson and Caath Merari.E questi sono i nomi de' figliuoli di Levi, Gerson, e Caath, e Merari:and there were found the sonnes of Leui by their names, Gerson and Caath and Merari.et inventi sunt filii Levi per nomina sua, Gerson et Caath et Merari. 18The sons of Gerson: Lebni and Semei.Figliuoli di Gerson Lebni, e Semei:The sonnes of Gerson: Lebni and Semei.Filii Gerson: Lebni et Semei. 19The sons of Caath: Amram, and Jesaar, Hebron and Oziel:Figliuoli di Caath Amram, e Jesaar, Hebron, e Oziel:The sonnes of Caath: Amram, and Iesaar, Hebron and Oziel.Filii Caath: Amram et Jesaar, Hebron et Oziel. 20The sons of Merari, Moholi and Musi.Figliuoli di Merari Moholi, e Musi.The sonnes of Merari: Moholi and Musi.Filii Merari: Moholi et Musi. 21Of Gerson were two families, the Lebnites, and the Semeites:Da Gerson uscirono due famiglie, quella di Lebni, e quella di Semei:Of Gerson were two families, the Lebnitical, and Semeitical:De Gerson fuere familiæ duæ, Lebnitica, et Semeitica: 22Of which were numbered, people of the male sex from one month and upward, seven thousand five hundred.Delle quali contati tutti i maschi da un mese in su fecero il numero di sette milacinquecento.of whom were numbered the people of male sexe from one moneth and vpward, seuen thousand fiue hundred.quarum numeratus est populus sexus masculini ab uno mense et supra, septem millia quingenti. 23These shall pitch behind the tabernacle on the west,Questi avranno l'alloggiamento dietro al tabernacolo ad occidente,These shal pitch behind the taberna cle on the West.Hi post tabernaculum metabuntur ad occidentem, 24Under their prince Eliasaph the son of Lael.Sotto Eliasaph, figliuolo di Lael, loro principe.vnder their prince Heliasaph, the sonne of Lael.sub principe Eliasaph filio Laël. 25And their charge shall be in the tabernacle of the covenant:E veglieranno sopra il tabernacolo dell'alleanza.And their charge shal be in the tabernacle of couenāt,Et habebunt excubias in tabernaculo fœderis,
26The tabernacle itself and the cover thereof, the hanging that is drawn before the doors of the tabernacle of the covenant, and the curtains of the court: the hanging also that is hanged in the entry of the court of the tabernacle, and whatsoever belongeth to the rite of the altar, the cords of the tabernacle, and all the furniture thereof.Avranno cura dello stesso tabernacolo, e delle sue coperte, della tenda, che si tira davanti alla porta del tabernacolo dell'alleanza, e delle cortine dell'atrio: del velo parimente, che si sospende all'ingresso dell'atrio del tabernacolo, e di tutto quel che serve al ministero dell'altare, delle corde del tabernacolo, e di tutti i suoi utensili.the tabernacle it selfe and the couer therof, the hanging that is drawne before the dores of the roofe of couenant, and the curtines of the court: the hanging also that is hanged in the entrie of the court of the tabernacle, and whatsoeuer pertaineth to the rite of the altar, the cordes of the tabernacle, and al the furniture therof.ipsum tabernaculum et operimentum ejus, tentorium quod trahitur ante fores tecti fœderis, et cortinas atrii: tentorium quoque quod appenditur in introitu atrii tabernaculi, et quidquid ad ritum altaris pertinet, funes tabernaculi et omnia utensilia ejus. 27Of the kindred of Caath come the families of the Amramites and Jesaarites and Hebronites and Ozielites. These are the families of the Caathites reckoned up by their names:La discendenza di Caath avrà le famiglie degli Amramiti, e Gesaariti, e degli Ebroniti, e degli Ozieliti. Queste sono le famiglie de' Caathiti pe' loro nomi.The kinred of Caath shal haue the peoples of the Amramites, and Iesaarites, and Hebronites, and Ozielites. These are the families of the Caithites reckened by their names:Cognatio Caath habebit populos Amramitas et Jesaaritas et Hebronitas et Ozielitas. Hæ sunt familiæ Caathitarum recensitæ per nomina sua. 28All of the male sex from one month and upward, eight thousand six hundred: they shall have the guard of the sanctuary,La somma di tutti i maschi da un mese in su, otto mila secento avranno cura del santuario,al of the male sexe from one moneth and vpward, eight thousand six hundred, they shal haue the gard of the Sanctuarie,Omnes generis masculini ab uno mense et supra, octo millia sexcenti habebunt excubias sanctuarii, 29And shall camp on the south side.E avranno alloggiamento dalla parte di mezzodì.and shal campe on the south side.et castrametabuntur ad meridianam plagam.
30And their prince shall be Elisaphan the son of Oziel:E il loro principe sarà Elisaphan, figliuolo di Oziel:And their prince shal be Elizaphan the sonne of Oziel:Princepsque eorum erit Elisaphan filius Oziel: 31And they shall keep the ark, and the table and the candlestick, the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary, wherewith they minister, and the veil, and all the furniture of this kind.Ed eglino avranno cura dell'arca, e della mensa, e del candeliere, degli altari, e de' vasi del santuario, che servono al ministero, e del velo, e di tutte le robe, che van con queste.and they shal keepe the arke, and table and the candlesticke, the altars, and the vessel of the Sanctuarie, wherin the ministration is, and the veile, and al such kind of implementes.et custodient arcam, mensamque et candelabrum, altaria et vasa sanctuarii, in quibus ministratur, et velum, cunctamque hujuscemodi supellectilem. 32And the prince of the princes of the Levites, Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, shall be over them that watch for the guard of the sanctuary.Ed Eleazaro, figliuolo d'Aronne sacerdote, e primo principe de' Leviti, soprintenderà a quelli che hanno la custodia dell'arca.And the prince of the princes of the Leuites, Eliazar, the sonne of Aaron the priest, shal be ouer them that watch for the custodie of the Sanctuarie.Princeps autem principum Levitarum Eleazar filius Aaron sacerdotis, erit super excubitores custodiæ sanctuarii. 33And of Merari are the families of the Moholites, and Musites, reckoned up by their names:Sotto Merari saranno le famiglie de' Moholiti, e dei Musiti, de' quali fu fatto il novero nei loro nomi:But of Merari shal be the peoples of the Moholites, and Musites, reckened by their names:At vero de Merari erunt populi Moholitæ et Musitæ recensiti per nomina sua: 34All of the male kind from one month and upward, six thousand two hundred.Tutti i maschi da un mese in su seimila dugento.al of the male kind from one moneth and vpward, six thousand two hundred.omnes generis masculini ab uno mense et supra, sex millia ducenti. 35Their prince Suriel the son of Abihaiel: their shall camp on the north side.Il loro principe Suriel, figliuolo di Abihaiel: avranno gli alloggiamenti a settentrione.Their prince Suriel the sonne of Abihaiel: they shal campe on the north side.Princeps eorum Suriel filius Abihaiel: in plaga septentrionali castrametabuntur. 36Under their custody shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars, and the pillars and their sockets, and all things that pertain to this kind of service:Saranno sotto la loro cura le tavole del tabernacolo, e le stanghe, e le colonne colle loro basi, e tutte le cose, che vanno con queste.Vnder their custodie shal be the bordes of the tabernacle, and the barres, and the pillers and their feete, and al thinges that pertaine to this kind of seruice:Erunt sub custodia eorum tabulæ tabernaculi et vectes, et columnæ ac bases earum, et omnia quæ ad cultum hujuscemodi pertinent:
37And the pillars of the court round about with their sockets, and the pins with their cords.E parimente le colonne, che circondano l'atrio, colle loro basi, e i chiodi, e le funi.and the pillers of the court round about with their feete, and the pinnes with the cordes.columnæque atrii per circuitum cum basibus suis, et paxilli cum funibus. 38Before the tabernacle of the covenant, that is to say on the east side shall Moses and Aaron camp, with their sons, having the custody of the sanctuary, in the midst of the children of Israel. What stranger soever cometh unto it, shall be put to death.Mosè e Aronne coi suoi figliuoli avranno l'alloggiamento dinanzi al tabernacolo dell'alleanza ad oriente, vegliando alla custodia del santuario in mezzo a' figliuoli d'Israele: qualunque straniero vi si accosti, sarà messo a morte.Before the tabernacle of couenant, that is to say, on the east side, shal Moyses and Aaron campe, with their sonnes, hauing the custodie of the Sanctuarie, in the middes of the children of Israel. what stranger soeuer cometh therto, shal die.Castrametabuntur ante tabernaculum fœderis, id est, ad orientalem plagam, Moyses et Aaron cum filiis suis, habentes custodiam sanctuarii in medio filiorum Israël. Quisquis alienus accesserit, morietur. 39All the Levites, that I Moses and Aaron numbered according to the precept of the Lord, by their f families, of the male kind from one month and upward, were twenty-two thousand.Tutti i Leviti di sesso mascolino da un mese in su, che furon contati famiglia per famiglia da Mosè e da Aronne secondo il comandamento del Signore, furono ventidue mila.Al the Leuites, that Moyses and Aaron numbered according to the precept of our Lord by their families in the male kinde from one moneth and vpward, were twentie two thousand.Omnes Levitæ, quos numeraverunt Moyses et Aaron juxta præceptum Domini per familias suas in genere masculino a mense uno et supra, fuerunt viginti duo millia. 40And the Lord said to Moses: Number the firstborn of the male sex of the children of Israel, from one month and upward, and thou shalt take the sum of them.E il Signore disse a Mosè: Conta i primogeniti maschi de' figliuoli d'Israele da un mese insù, e tienne registro.And our Lord said to Moyses: Number the first borne of the male sex of the children of Israel, from one moneth and vpward, and thou shalt haue the summe of them.Et ait Dominus ad Moysen: Numera primogenitos sexus masculini de filiis Israël ab uno mense et supra, et habebis summam eorum.
41And thou shalt take the Levites to me for all the firstborn of the children of Israel, I am the Lord: and their cattle for all the firstborn of the cattle of the children of Israel:E in vece di tutti i primogeniti de' figliuoli d'Israele, separerai per me i Leviti. Io sono il Signore. E i loro bestiami in vece di tutti i primogeniti de' bestiami de' figliuoli d'Israele.And thou shalt take the Leuites vnto me for al the first borne of the children of Israel, I am the Lord: and their cattel for al the first borne of the cattel of the children of Israel.Tollesque Levitas mihi pro omni primogenito filiorum Israël: ego sum Dominus: et pecora eorum pro universis primogenitis pecorum filiorum Israël. 42Moses reckoned up, as the Lord had commanded, the firstborn of the children of Israel:Mosè fece registro dei primogeniti de' figliuoli d'Israele, conforme aveva ordinato il Signore.Moyses reckened, as our Lord had commanded, the first borne of the children of Israel.Recensuit Moyses, sicut præceperat Dominus, primogenitos filiorum Israël: 43And the males by their names, from one month and upward, were twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three.E i maschi registrati pe' loro nomi da un mese in su furono ventidue mila dugentosettantatré.and the males by their names, from one moneth and vpward, were twentie two thousand two hundred seuentie three.et fuerunt masculi per nomina sua, a mense uno et supra, viginti duo millia ducenti septuaginta tres. 44And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:E il Signore parlò a Mosè, e disse:And our Lord spake to Moyses, saying:Locutusque est Dominus ad Moysen, dicens: 45Take the Levites for the firstborn of the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites for their cattle, and the Levites shall be mine. I am the Lord.Prendi i Leviti in luogo de' primogeniti dei figliuoli d'Israele, e i bestiami dei Leviti invece de' bestiami di quelli, e i Leviti saranno miei. Io sono il Signore.Take the Leuites for the first borne of the children of Israel, and the cattel of the Leuites for their cattel, and the Leuites shal be mine. I am the Lord.Tolle Levitas pro primogenitis filiorum Israël, et pecora Levitarum pro pecoribus eorum, eruntque Levitæ mei. Ego sum Dominus. 46But for the price of the two hundred and seventy-three, of the firstborn of the children of Israel, that exceed the number of the Levites,E pel prezzo de' dugento settantatré primogeniti dei figliuoli d'Israele, i quali sono sopra il numero dei Leviti,But for the price of two hundred seuentie three, of the first borne of the children of Israel, that exceede the number of the Leuites,In pretio autem ducentorum septuaginta trium, qui excedunt numerum Levitarum de primogenitis filiorum Israël, 47Thou shalt take five sicles for every head, according to the weight of the sanctuary. A sicle hath twenty obols.Prenderai cinque sicli per testa al peso del santuario. Il siclo contiene venti oboli.thou shalt take fiue sicles for euerie head, after the measure of the Sāctuarie. A sicle hath twentie oboles.accipies quinque siclos per singula capita ad mensuram sanctuarii (siclus habet viginti obolos):
48And thou shalt give the money to Aaron and his sons, the price of them that are above.E darai questo denaro ad Aronne, e a' figliuoli di lui pe' primogeniti, che sono di più.And thou shalt giue the money to Aaron and to his sonnes the price of them that are aboue.dabisque pecuniam Aaron et filiis ejus pretium eorum qui supra sunt. 49Moses therefore took the money of them that were above, and whom they had redeemed from the Levites,Prese adunque Mosè il denaro per quelli che erano di più, e pe' quali si pagava il riscatto a' Leviti.Moyses therfore tooke their money, that were aboue, and whom he redemed of the Leuites,Tulit igitur Moyses pecuniam eorum, qui fuerant amplius, et quos redemerant a Levitis, 50For the firstborn of the children of Israel, one thousand three hundred and sixty-five sicles, according to the weight of the sanctuary,Per questi primogeniti de' figliuoli d'Israele mille trecento sessantacinque sicli al peso del santuario.for the first-borne of the children of Israel, a thousand three hundred sixtie fiue sicles, according to the weight of the Sanctuarie,pro primogenitis filiorum Israël, mille trecentorum sexaginta quinque siclorum juxta pondus sanctuarii: 51And gave it to Aaron and his sons according to the word that the Lord had commanded him.E lo diede ad Aronne, e a' suoi figliuoli secondo l'ordine datogli dal Signore.and gaue it to Aaron and his sonnes, according to the word that our Lord had commanded him.et dedit eam Aaron et filiis ejus juxta verbum quod præceperat sibi Dominus.
3:1
3:4
Haydock
Presence; or as it is expressed, (1 Paralipomenon 24:9,) under the hand of Aaron, by his direction, and in quality of his assistant, (Calmet) while he lived, Eleazar succeeded him in the high priesthood; (Josue 24:33,) and his children possessed that dignity, till the posterity of Ithamar came in under Heli, (Numbers 25:13.) (Haydock)
3:6
Calmet
To him, and to the other priests, who had to perform the higher offices. The Levites did not approach near the altar, except when they had to carry it and the tabernacle. (Calmet)
3:7
Haydock
And. Hebrew, "They shall watch over him, and over all the congregation," to assist the priests in their sacred office, and to take care that the people behave respectfully. (Haydock)
Menochius
All were bound to prevent any sacrilegious abuse. (Menochius)
3:10
To whom. Samaritan and Septuagint, "to me." They must serve God in the persons of his priests. They are called a gift, people bestowed, as the Nothnim, to serve in the meanest functions; and hence the Nathineans take their name. The Gabaonites were employed by Josue in this quality, Josue 9:23.
Calmet
Over. Hebrew, "they shall retain," etc. They shall permit no stranger to interfere. Cuneus (Rep. 2:11,) observes, that if a Levite undertook to do the office allotted to another, he was to be slain, after sentence had been passed by the judge. (Calmet)
3:12
Calmet
Mine. God claimed the first-born, on account of having spared them, Exodus 12:23. He requires that all the males shall be redeemed, except those of the tribe of Levi, whom he claims as his peculiar portion, as the price of the redemption of those who were living in Egypt, when the destroying angel passed by. This honour was wholly gratuitous, though the Levites deserved to obtain a confirmation of it by their zeal, Exodus 32:29 and Deuteronomy 33:9. God seems to have revealed to Moses the destination of Aaron's family, long before they were appointed to exercise the functions of the priesthood, Exodus 19:22, 24, and 24:1. (Calmet)
3:15
Menochius
Month; at which time the first-born were to be redeemed, chap 18:16. (Menochius)
Calmet
If only those of 20 years of age had been counted, they could not have amounted to nearly an equal number with the first-born of all the other tribes. (Calmet)
3:17
Menochius
Names. These had been long ago dead. (Menochius)
3:22
3:26
Calmet
Thereof. The Gersonites had the care of the veils round the court, and of the cords and gates. The priests guarded the tabernacle, ver. 32. The sons of Caath carried the altars, (ver. 31,) and the Merarites took care of the cords, which were attached to the pillars of the court, ver. 37. Hebrew may be translated "(among the vessels of) the tabernacle, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the sanctuary, (or tabernacle of the congregation) and the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is beside the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords belonging to the service of the tabernacle." (Calmet)
Whatsoever, in the Vulgate, must only be referred to the curtains.
3:28
Menochius
Sanctuary, with respect to the things mentioned, ver. 31. (Menochius)
Calmet
The Samaritan copy observes, that they also carried the brazen laver, as we find they did, (Numbers 4:14.) All these things were folded up in the violet curtains of the sanctuary, while the ark was covered with the veil which hung before it, (Numbers 4:5.) Some pretend that the number here specified ought to be 830, to obviate a difficulty [in] ver. 39. But this amendment has no solid foundation. (Calmet)
3:32
Calmet
Eleazar had authority over the Levites, as his father had over the priests also. Thus we find princes of the priests, different from the sovereign pontiff. (Matthew 2:4.; Matthew 16:21.; Luke 3:2.) Eleazar had also a particular charge of the Caathites, ( Numbers 4:16,) and was to take care that they handled the sacred vessels with due respect. (Calmet)
3:38
Sons, the children of Aaron. Those of Moses were among the Levites, 1 Paralipomenon 23:13. They did not remain with their father.
St. Augustine
In the, etc. Hebrew, "to guard the," etc., in order to supply for the rest of the Israelites, ver. 9. (St. Augustine, q. 4.)
3:39
Year of the World 2514, Year before Christ 1490.
Kennicott
And Aaron; a word omitted in the Samaritan and Syriac, and in the oldest Hebrew manuscript, and marked in the printed copies as dubious. (Kennicott)
Haydock
Thousand. If we collect the different sums, we shall find other 300; so that the Levites would be 27 more than the first-born of the other tribes, though Moses says (ver. 43-46) that they were fewer by 273. Some say that the 28th verse has been corrupted, (Calmet) or the 22nd, where we read 500 instead of 200. (Haydock)
Lyranus
Others observe, that in the 22,000, the first-born of the Levites and the priests of Aaron's family are not included, and these might amount to 300 men. (Lyranus)
Calmet
But Bonfrere rightly observes that this number is too small, as only one is allowed for 74 people. He thinks that the first-born, who were heads of families, are omitted, and those also who were born before the angel destroyed the Egyptians. On this supposition, however, 22,000 will appear too great a number to be produced by the Levites in the space of a year, when some were too young, and others too old, to have children, and others had children already before that event. We may, therefore, either admit the solution of Lyranus, or confess that some fault has crept into the number, though this must be very difficult, since Moses argues in the sequel on the supposition of its certainty. (Calmet)
Worthington
St. Jerome hence infers, that these numbers are full of mystery; Origen (hom. 4,) says, that the exact number, 22,000, may signify the perfection which God requires from those whom he takes into his service, as there are just 22 Hebrew letters, and 22 patriarchs, from Adam to Jacob, the father of the Israelites. (Worthington)
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Menochius
Cattle. These were kept by the Levites, and were not intended for sacrifice. (Menochius)
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Calmet
Levites, omitting the 300, as [in] ver. 39. For each of these 273, five sicles were to be paid, the price of the redemption of a child who had been vowed, Leviticus 27:6. The money was to be paid either by those who were counted last, or by a tax laid upon all the people, or it was determined by lot who should pay it. The Scripture is silent on this head. (Calmet)
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As none but Leuites might serue in the tabernacle: so none but of Aarons stock might do the office of Priest hood.
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One chiefe Monarch in the Church to whom al other Superiors are subordinate.
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Moyses is stil counted, and hath chiefe place and office among the Priestes, which were absurde, saieth S. Augustin (in Psal 98.) if he were not a priest.
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The sonnes of Moyses were with him so long as he liued, but after his death they serued the Priests, as other Leuites did, and were numbred with the Caathites. 1. Paral. 23. v. 12.
3:39
39. Tvventie tvvo thousand.] Immediatly before were numbered of Gersonites •hy 300 are 〈…〉 in the 〈…〉 summe o• the Leuites. (v. 22.) 7500. of Caathites (v. 28.) 8600 and of Merarites (v. 34.) 6200. which make in al 22300. VVhy then are 300. left out of the total summe? especially seing by and by (v. 43.) a smaler, and other odde numbers of 273. are expressed, and therupon inferred (v. 46.) that the first borne of the Israelites did so much exceede the Leuites. VVheras if the whole number of Leuites had bene also expressed in the general summe, as it is contained in the three particular summes, the Leuites should exceede the first borne of Israelites by the number of 27. For answere to this difficultie, some suppose that the first borne of the Leuites were iust 300. and therfore so manie supplying only their owne places, there remained iust twentie two thousand to supplie the places of the first borne of other Israelites, and so the Leuites were sewer then those for whom they were taken vnto Gods seruice, by the number of 273. But that the first borne of Leuites were neither more nor sewer then 300. is not euident by the text. Howsoeuer therfore this doubt Perfect numbers signifie perfection. be solued, sure it is, by S. Hieroms iudgement (cited in the argument) that these numbers are mystical. And the iust number of 22. thousand Leuites may signifie ( 〈…〉 Or• •n, homil. 4. in Num.) perfection, required in those that are designed to the particular seruice of God; as there be also iust 22. Hebrew letters; and 22. Patriarches from Adam to Iacob, from whom the Israelites descended.
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This number exceedeth the 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 the 〈…〉.
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St Ambrose of Milan † AD 397 On the Duties of the Clergy 1.50
259. The duty of the Levites is no light one, for the Lord says of them: “Behold I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel, instead of every first-born that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel. These shall be their redemption, and the Levites shall be Mine. For I hallowed unto Me all the first-born in the land of Egypt.”
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Early Popes (Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals) The Epistles of Pope Fabian 2.2
… He commanded the Levites also to be under them in their ministries. Whence He speaks to Moses in these terms: “And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.”
3:39
St Jerome † AD 420 The Books of Samuel and Kings 1
… And it is certain that Esdras, the scribe and teacher of the law, after the capture of Jerusalem and the restoration of the temple by Zerubbabel, invented other letters which we now use, although up to that time the Samaritan and Hebrew characters were the same. In the
3:45
Early Popes (Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals) The Epistles of Pope Fabian 2.2
… “Take the Levites instead of the first-born 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.”
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Origen † AD 254 Origen's Commentary on Matthew 13.13
Moreover to the saying, “They that received the half-shekel came to Peter,” you will adduce from Numbers that, for the saints according to the law of God, is paid not a half-shekel simply, but a sacred half-shekel. For it is written, “And thou shalt take five shekels per head, according to the sacred half-shekel.”
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1. THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS (that is, these are the sons) OF AARON AND MOSES. — It is a metonymy, by which the act is put for the effect, namely generation for the thing produced and begotten. In a similar way generation is taken in Proverbs XXX, 12 and 13, Exodus I, 6, Psalm XII, 8. OF AARON AND MOSES. — You will say: Here only the sons of Aaron are numbered; therefore it is wrongly added to Moses. I answer that the sons of Moses are also numbered here, namely among the Levites: for the Levites, called Amramites, who are numbered in verses 27 and 28, were Moses and Aaron (for these are the sons of Amram) with their sons: of whom Aaron with his descendants obtained the priesthood; but the descendants of Moses with the rest of the Levites Caathites were numbered. See I Paralipomenon XXIII, 13 and 14, for which reason Aaron is also placed before Moses here as more worthy than him, because he was a priest and pontiff, and because his family was elected by God and raised to the priesthood; but the family of Moses was numbered among the Levites, because it was descended from a Gentile mother, namely Sephora the Midianite, says the author of the book On the Wonders of Holy Scripture, chapter XXV, which is found in St. Augustine, volume III. Where note, and see partly the wonderful election of God, partly how often descendants degenerate from their parents: for Moses was a prince and legislator, but his descendants were ignoble Levites, whereas on the other hand the descendants of Aaron succeeded their father in the priesthood and pontificate.
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3. WHOSE HANDS WERE FILLED AND CONSECRATED. — And to fill here signifies to consecrate. See Canon 32. For to fill the hands is to consecrate the hands to the priesthood: to consecrate, for in the consecration of the hands of newly ordained priests they were filled, both with gifts and sacrifices, and with the anointing of oil; hence among the Hebrews to fill the hand is to consecrate a priest. This phrase the Latin interpreter imitates, III Kings XIII, 33: "Whosoever," he says, "was willing, filled his hand" (that is, anointed it with oil), "and became a priest." Similar passages are II Paralipomenon XIII, 9, and elsewhere. See the passages cited from Exodus VIII, 26.
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6. APPLY. — Hebrew הקרב hacreb, that is, cause to approach, draw near, apply. This is the election and separation of the Levites, made by the command of God, for the ministry of the tabernacle and the service of the priests. Hence it is evident how delirious is the fiction of Plutarch in the Symposia, that the Levites were priests of Bacchus, whom the Hebrews worshipped, and abstained from pork in his honor, and were called Levites, not from Levi the patriarch, but from Lysios, or rather from Evios, which are names of Bacchus.
Tropologically, the Levites signified the ecclesiastical state of the clergy of the new law: hence they kept watch between the tabernacle and the camp; because ecclesiastics by their office are mediators between God and the people. Their sacred mysteries are beautifully signified by their very names in verse 17. For Levi in Hebrew is the same as added and assumed, namely by God for the ministry of the tabernacle. Gerson is the same as sojourner. For ecclesiastics ought to conduct themselves as pilgrims and sojourners of the earth, inasmuch as they are citizens of the saints and members of the household of God. Caath is the same as grieving and mourning; for from קהת cas, that is, he grieved, is formed מקהת kehat, that is, Caath, by the change of kindred letters, namely aleph and he, and caph into coph: for ecclesiastics ought to mourn the sins of the people; hence also they are clothed in dark, that is, mourning, garments. Merari is the same as bitterness: for ecclesiastics ought continually to turn over in their minds death and other last things, which are bitter, and from this to stir themselves up to the affliction and mortification of the flesh. Lebni is the same as brightness, namely chastity and purity of life. Semei is the same as hearing and obedience. Amram is the same as exalted people, which says: Our conversation is in heaven. Jesaar is the same as midday or meridian, which namely fully receives the rays of the sun of justice, namely Christ, and his grace; for, as it is said in Proverbs IV, 18: "The path of the just, as a shining light, goeth forward and increaseth even to perfect day." Hebron is the same as society, namely social love and discipline. Oziel is the same as my God is my strength. Moholi is the same as choir, namely of those singing psalms. Musi is the same as touching, or taking away, namely sins in the Sacrament of penance. Eleazar is the same as God is my helper. Ithamar is the same as where is the palm? because ecclesiastics look to and await the prize in heaven. Thus Rabanus here, folio 33, and in the two following pages, and in part Rupertus.
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7. LET THEM KEEP WHATEVER PERTAINS TO THE WORSHIP OF THE MULTITUDE BEFORE THE TABERNACLE, — that is to say, the Levites shall encamp around the tabernacle, so that they may guard it and its vessels, by which the whole multitude of the people worships God. In Hebrew it is, that they may keep the keeping of it, namely of Aaron, and the keeping of all the congregation, which namely Aaron and the whole congregation of the people ought to keep. As if to say: The Levites ought to serve the tabernacle for the people and for Aaron the high priest, and guard it, as is explained in what follows. The Levites therefore performed in the worship of God and the tabernacle what the whole people ought to have done; but because the people could not do it themselves, hence in place of the people the Levites were chosen who would perform the same thing in an orderly, honest, decent and reverent manner. Secondly, some understand by the keeping of the congregation the keeping of the people. For priests and Levites are guardians and preservers both of the people and of the tabernacle, so that they might take care that the people conduct themselves decently and reverently in the sight of the tabernacle and of God. It was therefore their duty to keep watch, lest anything be done by the people against the honor and will of God, lest it be entangled in false opinions, lest it fall into deceptions or superstitions; but on the contrary to teach it by what rite, worship, piety and integrity God ought to be honored. In priests therefore the whole keeping of the people is placed, because all the good and evil of the people depend on religion: which if it be right and pious, produces innumerable goods; but if corrupted and perverted, innumerable evils. This is what the Lord says, Isaiah chapter LXII, verse 6: "Upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen, all the day and all the night they shall never hold their peace;"; and Canticles chapter I, 6: "They made me keeper of the vineyards;"; and chapter V, verse 7: "The watchmen found me."
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9 and 10. AND THOU SHALT GIVE THE LEVITES AS A GIFT TO AARON AND HIS SONS (that is to say, thou shalt offer the Levites to Aaron and the priests, that they may serve them, and this freely and without price; for the priests are not sufficient for all the ministries of the tabernacle: wherefore the Levites are given to them as a help) THEY ARE DELIVERED (in Hebrew, given given, or delivered: they are delivered, that is, absolutely given and granted to Aaron, or rather are to be given; for they were not yet actually given, but were about to be given in perpetuity) FROM THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, — so that by this gift made to Aaron, they might redeem their firstborn from God, as is evident from verse 45. The Levites therefore were what Deacons now are among priests: wherefore the Levite Lawrence is called so, because he ministered to the holy Sixtus as a Deacon.
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10. AND AARON AND HIS SONS THOU SHALT CONSTITUTE OVER THE SERVICE OF THE PRIESTHOOD, — so that namely they may discharge the sacred functions of the priesthood, which in the old law were four: namely first, to sacrifice; second, to burn incense; third, on each sabbath to set forth on the table before God the shewbread; fourth, daily in the evening to light the lamps.
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12. I HAVE TAKEN, — I have decreed to take, and already in fact I take and shall take to myself the Levites. FOR EVERY FIRSTBORN THAT OPENETH THE WOMB, — who is born first from the mother. See Exodus XIII, 12.
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13. FOR EVERY FIRSTBORN IS MINE. — "MINE is," not only by creation, but properly by redemption and deliverance, whereby I delivered your firstborn from the angel striking the firstborn of the Egyptians, Exodus cap. XII, 23. Again, "mine is" by the just and equitable exaction of this commandment of mine, I who am the absolute Lord of all. I HAVE SANCTIFIED TO MYSELF WHATSOEVER IS FIRSTBORN IN ISRAEL. — "I have sanctified," that is, to be sanctified to me, that is to be offered and consecrated, I have appointed and decreed.
Note: God here demands the Levites in place of the firstborn of the Hebrews owed to him, and chooses the tribe of Levi for the priesthood and the service of himself in the tabernacle, and this first, on account of the zeal with which this tribe avenged the injuries of God, by slaying the idolaters of the golden calf, Exodus cap. XXXII, verses 26 and 29; and this is what is said to Levi and the Levites in Deuteronomy XXXIII, 9: "Who said to his father and to his mother: I know you not; and to his brethren: I know you not; and they have not known their own children: these have kept thy word, and observed thy covenant, etc. let them put incense in thy wrath and a whole burnt offering upon thy altar." Second, because the tribe of Levi was smaller than the others, and therefore could easily be maintained by the people; which was altogether necessary to be done, since it was deprived of all inheritance: and on the other hand it was sufficient for discharging the ministries of the tabernacle. For these reasons therefore the right of the priesthood, which was owed to Reuben as the firstborn of Jacob, in punishment for the incest committed by him, was transferred to Levi; just as the right of the kingdom and primacy among the brethren was transferred from the same Reuben to Judah; and the right of the double inheritance, which properly was the right of primogeniture, was transferred to Joseph, namely to Ephraim and Manasseh the sons of Joseph, as is evident from I Paralipomenon V, verses 1 and 2.
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15. Number the sons of Levi, etc., every male from one month and upward. — "From one month," so that by this means a greater number of Levites might be had, which should nearly correspond to the number of the firstborn of Israel, to whom the Levites are substituted by God; but elsewhere the Levites are numbered from the 25th or 30th year, because there the matter concerns their ministry in the tabernacle, which children could not discharge, nor, even if they could, would it be equal or fitting.
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17. AND THE SONS OF LEVI WERE FOUND BY THEIR NAMES, GERSHON, AND KOHATH, AND MERARI. — "Were found," not in life, but in this census and numbering; wherefore in Hebrew it is, and these were the sons of Levi. For they had already long since died: for they had entered with their grandfather Jacob into Egypt, 217 years before; for the Hebrews lived in Egypt for 215 years: but this census of the Levites took place in the second year after the departure of the Hebrews from Egypt; and no one at that age lived so long, indeed Kohath alone lived 133 years, as is said in Exodus VI, 18.
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23. These shall pitch their tents behind the tabernacle. — The descendants therefore of Gershon, or the Gershonites pitched their camps behind the tabernacle and the court, to the West, the Merarites to the North, the Kohathites to the South, Moses moreover and Aaron to the East. Note: Here Moses the prince and Aaron the pontiff are commanded to act together, because, as Rupert says, "priestly sanctity has need of the fasces of leaders and consuls and the swords of kings, and nothing is safer when they agree with each other, nothing more pernicious when they disagree." Hence Constantine the Great the Emperor said that he was "a Bishop outside the Church," because he took care as much as he could that the Church be preserved and propagated, and yet did not usurp ecclesiastical duties. And St. Augustine, tract. 51 in John, teaches that each father of a family in his house ought to exercise "the office of a Bishop, so that for Christ and for eternal life he may admonish, teach, exhort, reprove all his own," etc.
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25. AND THEY SHALL HAVE WATCHES IN THE TABERNACLE. — Watches here are taken metonymically for custody, which is made by watching. Again, custody is taken metonymically for the thing to be guarded. The sense therefore is: "They shall have watches," that is they shall guard, or they shall have to guard those things which follow, namely "the tabernacle itself and its covering," etc. This sense is evident from the Hebrew. Whence verse 32, our Interpreter calls these guardians of the tabernacle the watchers of the custody of the sanctuary.
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26. THE TABERNACLE ITSELF AND ITS COVERING, THE VEIL WHICH IS DRAWN BEFORE THE DOOR OF THE ROOF OF THE COVENANT. — The tabernacle here is called the innermost veil of the tabernacle, composed of ten curtains, which immediately covered and veiled the tabernacle boards themselves all around, concerning which Exodus XXVI, 1 and 6; but the covering of the tabernacle here is called another threefold veil, superimposed upon the former veil of ten curtains, namely first a covering of haircloth, second a covering of skins of rams dyed red, third a covering of violet, concerning which Exodus XXVI. All therefore the veils of the tabernacle the Gersonites carried in the departure of the camps. THE VEIL (that is the curtain) WHICH IS DRAWN BEFORE THE DOOR OF THE ROOF, — that is of the tabernacle, which is covered and veiled on all sides; for Moses here speaks of the veil which was at the entrance of the tabernacle, and it was as it were its door. AND THE VEIL ALSO WHICH IS HUNG IN THE ENTRANCE OF THE COURT OF THE TABERNACLE. — The former veil, that is the curtain, was of the tabernacle itself; but this is of the court, which was before the tabernacle: the custody of both is here committed to the Gersonites.
AND WHATEVER PERTAINS TO THE RITE OF THE ALTAR. — "Whatever," namely of the veils; for here only the veils surrounding the altar are treated, as is evident from the Hebrew, Chaldean and Septuagint. For this was among other reasons the purpose of the court and its veils, namely that they should serve the altar of holocausts and its rite, that is its worship, and that they should cover it on all sides. Therefore the sense is not distorted in our version, as the Abulensian complains; for our Interpreter, when he says whatever, leaves it to be understood from the preceding context of curtains or veils. For the matter concerns the Gersonites who guarded and carried no vessels of the altar (for this was the ministry of the Caathites), but only veils, as is evident both from this place and from the following chapter, verse 24.
For it should be noted that the ministries of the Levites were thus divided by God, that the Caathites should guard and in the departure of the camps should carry the sacred vessels themselves, such as the bronze laver, the ark of the covenant wrapped in the veil which hung before the Holy of Holies, the two altars, namely one of incense, the other of holocausts, the candlestick and the table with its utensils, as is evident verse 31. But the Merarites and Gersonites should guard and in the departure of the camps should carry the parts of the tabernacle and court themselves; but the Merarites the solid parts, namely the boards, columns, bases, pegs and bars, as is evident verse 36; the Gersonites however the coverings themselves, the soft ones, namely the veils and curtains with their cords, as is evident this verse 26. Where note that the Caathites were superior to the other Levites, and guarded and carried the sacred vessels, because Aaron and Moses descended from Caath through Amram: whence also Eleazar, the elder son of Aaron, presided over the Caathites, as is evident the following chapter, verse 16.
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28. THEY SHALL HAVE WATCHES, — that is they shall have the custody of the sanctuary, as regards the vessels which follow. It is evident from the Hebrew: see what is said verse 25.
3:31
31. AND THE VEIL, — which is spread before the Holy of Holies; for the ark had to be wrapped in this and carried by the Caathites, as I said verse 26. For all other veils, not by the Caathites, but by the Gersonites were carried, as was said there.
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37. PEGS WITH CORDS. — By cords understand those by which the columns of the tabernacle were stretched and fastened, as Josephus explains: for the Merarites guarded and carried these; for other cords, by which the veils were fastened to pegs fixed in the ground, and the curtains were hung, the Gersonites guarded and carried, as is evident verse 26; therefore there is no contradiction here: for the cords of the columns belonged to the Merarites, but the cords of the veils and curtains belonged to the Gersonites.
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39. ALL THE LEVITES TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND. — In total there were 22,300; for the Gersonites were 7,500, the Caathites 8,600, the Merarites 6,200, which combined make 22,300. You will say: How therefore are only 22 thousand numbered here? I answer: This is done because these 22 thousand were substituted in place of the same number of firstborn of the Israelites, as is evident verse 41. The remaining three hundred therefore among the Levites were firstborn, and accordingly are numbered among the firstborn, not among the Levites in this redemption, inasmuch as they also, as firstborn, ought to be redeemed, not to redeem others. Moses and Aaron are also numbered here; for he says, "all the Levites." For Aaron was not the firstborn of Amram his father, because Mary the sister of Aaron was older than he, as is gathered from Exodus II, 7. For she was already a grown girl when Moses was born; then Aaron was only three years old, for Aaron was older than Moses by only three years.
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41. THOU SHALT TAKE THEIR CATTLE, — that is to say, Thou shalt separate from the cattle of others the cattle of the Levites, not that they may be sacrificed, or taken away by others, but that they may be dedicated to me together with the Levites themselves and may be mine, just as the Levites themselves are mine.
Note: Henceforth in the desert the Israelites did not redeem their firstborn to God, but only in the land of Chanaan; for the ceremonial laws were not observed there except at Sinai, concerning which see more at cap. V, 2. But the Levites never redeemed their firstborn, because they themselves were ministers, and as it were the peculiar possession of God; whence they received the firstborn and tithes of others in place of God. See cap. V, at the beginning.
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46. AT THE PRICE, — that is to say, For redemption. For God here commands that Levites be given and consecrated to God in place of the firstborn of Israel, and since the number of the firstborn exceeded the number of the Levites by 273 persons: for the Levites were precisely 22 thousand, but the firstborn of Israel were 22 thousand, and moreover 273, hence God commands that these 273 be redeemed at a price, namely five shekels paid for each head. Moreover, which of the firstborn of Israel were to be exchanged with the Levites, and which were to be redeemed at a price, was decided by lot; whence Abulensis, following Rabbi Solomon, thinks that Moses wrote as many tablets as there were firstborn of Israel, but on 273 tablets he wrote five shekels; he then mixed them together, and commanded that each firstborn should take one from them, and that one upon whom fell a tablet on which five shekels were written should pay those same shekels to Aaron, and thus redeem himself.
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48. AND THOU SHALT GIVE TO AARON THE PRICE OF THOSE WHO ARE OVER, — who exceed the number of the Levites, and who therefore ought to redeem themselves at a price.
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50. FOR THE FIRSTBORN OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, — who namely exceeded the number of the Levites, and therefore were not exchanged with them, but redeemed at a price, that is to say, The money of the 273 firstborn redeeming themselves amounts to 1365 shekels.
Machine translation from the Latin, not reviewed.
3:1
… priest together with his brothers and Aaron (Ex. 28:1, 4, 29); he supervised the making of the sacred furnishings (Ex. 38:21). When Nadab and Abihu were struck down for their ritual offense, Eleazar and I. assumed all the priestly functions (Lev. 10; Num. 3:1-4; 26:60).
3:2
… negligence caused his death and that of his brother Abihu: they used profane fire for their censers, instead of taking it from the sacred fire that burned continually (ibid. 6:12 f.; 9:24); a fire that came out from the ark devoured them (ibid. 10:1-5; Num. 3:2 ff.; 26:60 f.).
3:9
Nathinei (Hebr. Nēthānīm; Septuagint Nēthānīm, rarely Nēthānīm and Nēthānīm; Vulg. Nathinae)
… The name is connected with the root nāthān "to give" (a nominal formation with passive sense, qāṭīl), whence today it is usually translated "oblates," "offered" for sacred service, as were the Levites themselves (called nēthānīm "given," passive participle, in Num. 3:9; 8:16, 19). There is no record of them in the period before the exile; it is known, however, that they existed in Babylon, whence a group returned with Ezra to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:7; …
3:10
All the sons of Israel were consecrated to divine worship; they are therefore called "a kingdom of priests (mamīšēhēh bōhānîm: Ex. 19:6). Among all, Yahweh "chose" the tribe of Levi and within it the family of Aaron (Num. 3:10), to which he assigned the hereditary priesthood. …
3:11
For human firstborn Yahweh sanctioned redemption (Ex. 13:13; 34:20) fixed at 5 silver shekels (Num. 3:47; 18:15 ff.); the substitution of the Levites, at the time of their establishment, took the place of redemption for an equal number of Israelite firstborn (Num. 3:11 ff., 41-51). On that occasion, the Lord assigned the sum of the redemption to the priests, who along with the Levites were exempt from that law. The firstborn of animals had to be immolated …
3:12
Levites (Heb. Lēwī, pl. Lēwījīm; Gr. Lēwījī, pl. -ai)
… Sinaitic covenant, young first-born sons acted with him as representatives of the "priestly people" (Ex. 24:5), perhaps as assistants to the priests, who are not named here but appear already to exist (Ex. 19:22-24). These functions were later replaced (cf. Num. 3:12-13; hence the prescriptions concerning the "redemption" in Num. 3:40-51; cf. vv. 14-39) by members of the Levite tribe (Num. 2-3), which had already supplied the priests with the …
3:13
… This consecration was linked to the destruction of the Egyptian firstborn (ibid. 13:14 ff.; Num. 3:13; 8:17).
… Although he was for the most part young (Iud. 17:5-18:20), the priest was honored with the title of "father" (ibid. 17:10; 18:19). Moses "set apart" the sons of Levi, consecrated to God in place of the firstborn of Israel who belonged to God (Ex. 22:29; Num. 3:13; 8:18) to make of them a special body of priests (Ex. 32:26-29); among the Levites (v.) he chose Aaron (v.) and his sons and consecrated them priests (Ex. 28-29, 39; Lev. 6-10. …
3:19
1. Son of Kohath the Levite (Ex. 6:18, 22; Num. 3:19).
3:20
MOHOLI. - 1. Firstborn of Merari (v.) and grandson of Levi (Ex. 6:19; Num. 3:20; 1 Chron. 6:4, 14 [Vulg. 19, 29]; 23:21; 24:26, 28); he was the ancestor of the great Levitical family of the Moholites (Num. 3:33 ff.; 26:58; 1 Chron. 24:26, 28, 31; Ezra 8:18). The …
3:21
… This G. is the ancestor of the Levitical family of the Gershonites, assigned to the service of the Tabernacle during the desert period (Num. 3:21 ff.; 4:21 ff.; 7:7) and who later take part in the possession of the cities of the Levites (Josh. 21:6, 27).
3:24
Eliasaph (Heb. 'Eljasaph "God Increases")
2. Son of Lael, chief of the family of Gershon (Num. 3:24). Angelo Penna
3:30
ELISAPHAN. - 1. Levite, son of Uzziel, head of the family of the Kohathites (Num. 3:30) at the time of the census of the people of Israel around Sinai. …
3:33
His descendants (1 Chron. 5:27; 6:1-4, 29-34 [Vulg. 6:1, 16-19, 44-48]) constituted the least numerous group of the Levites (about 6,200); in the desert they were assigned to transporting the wooden parts of the Tabernacle (Num. 3:33-37; 4:29-33; 26:57), for which they had 4 carts and 8 oxen (Num. 7:8).
MOHOLI. - 1. Firstborn of Merari (v.) and grandson of Levi (Ex. 6:19; Num. 3:20; 1 Chron. 6:4, 14 [Vulg. 19, 29]; 23:21; 24:26, 28); he was the ancestor of the great Levitical family of the Moholites (Num. 3:33 ff.; 26:58; 1 Chron. 24:26, 28, 31; Ezra 8:18). The name is often used as a patronymic (Heb. …
3:40
Levites (Heb. Lēwī, pl. Lēwījīm; Gr. Lēwījī, pl. -ai)
… the "priestly people" (Ex. 24:5), perhaps as assistants to the priests, who are not named here but appear already to exist (Ex. 19:22-24). These functions were later replaced (cf. Num. 3:12-13; hence the prescriptions concerning the "redemption" in Num. 3:40-51; cf. vv. 14-39) by members of the Levite tribe (Num. 2-3), which had already supplied the priests with the family of Aaron (Ex. 28-29; cf. Lev. 8-9) and to which Moses himself belonged.
3:47
For human firstborn Yahweh sanctioned redemption (Ex. 13:13; 34:20) fixed at 5 silver shekels (Num. 3:47; 18:15 ff.); the substitution of the Levites, at the time of their establishment, took the place of redemption for an equal number of Israelite firstborn (Num. 3:11 ff., 41-51). On …
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · original Douay-Rheims (Douay 1609-10), transcription by EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Public domain.