Nu. 3: We Are Levites!

We've gone through and numbered the other tribes of Israel, and Levi scarcely elicited a mention. Levi had already been consecrated in Leviticus as the tribe responsible for carrying out the temple and tabernacle responsibilities. They are to be wholly given to the LORD, which makes me think that if you were born a Levite, your future was already planned out. You were relegated to the fate of the priesthood. There were grave responsibilities as well as great reward. It was a calling to a higher, cleaner lifestyle.

A lifestyle I'm not sure I'd want, ever. I'd be too lazy. I'd hate dealing with the blood. I'd hate having instant death hanging over my head for a misstep.

The Levites were counted in a different way than the other tribes, where the focus was on men of fighting age. The Levites were numbered according to every male of at least one month of age.

Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. These are their numbers.

Gershon
Belonging Clans: Libnites, Shimeites
Number of males: 7,500
Camping Place: West of the tabernacle
Leader of the families: Eliasaph
Responsibilities: Care of the tabernacle, tent, and coverings; curtains at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, and those surrounding the courtyard, tabernacle and altar; and ropes and related articles.

Kohath
Belonging Clans: Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, Uzzielites
Number of males: 8,600
Camping Place: South of the tabernacle
Leader of the families: Elizaphan
Responsibilities: Care of the ark, table, lampstand, altars, articles of the sanctuary, curtain and related articles.

Merari
Belonging Clans: Mahlites, Mushites
Number of males: 6,200
Camping Place: North of the tabernacle
Leader of the families: Zuriel
Responsibilities: Care of the frames of the tabernacle, crossbars, posts and equipment, posts, bases, tent pegs and ropes.

Moses and Aaron were to camp at the east end of the tabernacle, the entrance. Toward the sunrise. They were responsible for the sanctuary.

The Levites were taken for the LORD in place of the firstborn sons of the house of Israel. They were redeemed for those firstborn Israelites. There were 273 more firstborn males in all of Israel than there were among the Levites, and they were redeemed for 5 shekels each, and that money was given to Aaron. Did these firstborn sons not have to worry about the passover and the destroyer angel? I think not. Passover was a lasting ordinance. This was a way for the firstborn sons to remain with their families now that the Levites were God's people for carrying out his purpose when it comes to ministering and taking care of the tabernacle.