Num 3:12-13, 41, 43, 45, 47-51 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 12. I have taken the Levites-instead of all the first-born ] The Levites are taken for the service of the sanctuary in place of the first-born. The first-born were dedicated to God in commemoration of his slaying the first-born of the Egyptians, and preserving those of the Israelites. Even the cattle of the Levites were taken in place of the first-born of the cattle of the rest of the tribes. See . Several reasons have been assigned why God should give this honour to the tribe of Levi in preference to all the others, but they do not seem to me to be conclusive. Their zeal in destroying those who had corrupted the worship of God in the business of the golden calf, , has been thought a sufficient reason. A better reason is, that this was the smallest tribe, and they were quite enough for the service. To have had a more numerous tribe at this time would have been very inconvenient. Aaron, says Mr. Ainsworth, being in his priesthood a type of Christ, all these rites are fulfilled in him. For unto Christ God gave children , . And they are a congregation of first-born, whose names are written in heaven , , being of God's own will begotten by the word of truth , that they should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures , , to whom he also gives the first-fruits of his Spirit, . These wait on and follow the Lamb , being first-fruits unto God and to the Lamb , ; and Christ hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father , that we may serve him day and night in his temple , .

‏ Numbers 3:12-13

Verse 12. I have taken the Levites-instead of all the first-born] The Levites are taken for the service of the sanctuary in place of the first-born. The first-born were dedicated to God in commemoration of his slaying the first-born of the Egyptians, and preserving those of the Israelites. Even the cattle of the Levites were taken in place of the first-born of the cattle of the rest of the tribes. See Nu 3:45.

Several reasons have been assigned why God should give this honour to the tribe of Levi in preference to all the others, but they do not seem to me to be conclusive. Their zeal in destroying those who had corrupted the worship of God in the business of the golden calf, Ex 32:28, has been thought a sufficient reason. A better reason is, that this was the smallest tribe, and they were quite enough for the service. To have had a more numerous tribe at this time would have been very inconvenient.

Aaron, says Mr. Ainsworth, being in his priesthood a type of Christ, all these rites are fulfilled in him. For unto Christ God gave children, Heb 2:13. And they are a congregation of first-born, whose names are written in heaven, Heb 12:23, being of God's own will begotten by the word of truth, that they should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures, Jas 1:18, to whom he also gives the first-fruits of his Spirit, Ro 8:23. These wait on and follow the Lamb, being first-fruits unto God and to the Lamb, Re 14:4; and Christ hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, that we may serve him day and night in his temple, Re 1:6; 7:15.

‏ Numbers 3:41

‏ Numbers 3:43

Verse 43. All the first-born males-were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.] Thus we find there were 273 first-born beyond the number of the Levites. These are ordered, Nu 3:46, to be redeemed; and the redemption price is to be five shekels each, Nu 3:47, about 15s. And this money, amounting to 1,365 shekels, equal to �204 15s. English, he took of the first-born of Israel, Nu 3:50. But how was this collected among 22,273 persons? Rabbi Solomon Jarchi says, "to prevent contention, Moses took 22,000 slips of parchment, and wrote on each a son of Levi, and 273 others, on which he wrote five shekels; then he mixed them in a basket, and each man took out one; those who drew the slips on which five shekels were written, paid the money; the others went free." This is a most stupid and silly tale, for such a mode of settlement never could have been resorted to by an intelligent people. It would have been much more simple to have paid it out of a general fund; and it is very likely that in this way the expense was defrayed.

This species of redeeming of men is referred to by St. Peter, 1Pe 1:18,19: "Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation, received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious (τιμιω αιματι, valuable) blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot," &c. And it is not the first-born only which are thus redeemed, for he, by the grace of God, tasted death for EVERY man; Heb 2:9. Reader, give glory to God that such a ransom has been paid for thy soul, and see that, redeemed from thy vain conversation, thy empty, fruitless, and graceless observances, on which thou hast built thy hopes of salvation, thou walk in newness of life, giving thy whole soul with thankfulness unto the Father who hath translated thee from darkness, and placed thee in the kingdom of his beloved Son. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever! Amen.

‏ Numbers 3:12-13

‏ Numbers 3:41

‏ Numbers 3:43

‏ Numbers 3:45

‏ Numbers 3:47-51