Numbers 4:1

And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:1-3 The middle-aged men of the tribe of Levi, all from thirty years old to fifty, were to be employed in the service of the tabernacle. The service of God requires the best of our strength, and the prime portion of our time, which cannot be better spent than to the honour of Him who is the First and Best. And the service of God should be done when we are most lively and active. Those do not consider this who put off repentance to old age, and so leave the best work to be done in the worst time.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This redemption money (see the marginal references) would perhaps be exacted from the parents of the "youngest" children of the 22,273 Numbers 3:43. The cattle of the Levites was doubtless taken in the gross as an equivalent for the first-born cattle of the other tribes, which of course, no less than the first-born of men, belonged to the Lord; and in future would have to be redeemed Numbers 18:15; Deuteronomy 15:19.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 4

Nu 4:1-49. Of the Levites' Service.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

NUMBERS CHAPTER 4.

God commands the Levites to be numbered from thirty till fifty years, fit for the service of the tabernacle; their charge, Numbers 4:1-16. Of the Kohathites, Numbers 4:17-20. Of the Gershonites, Numbers 4:21-28. Of the sons of Merari, Numbers 4:29-33. The number of each, Numbers 4:34-45. Of all in general, Numbers 4:46-49.

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And the Lord spake unto Moses, and unto Aaron,.... After they had taken the number of the Levites, and made an exchange of the firstborn of Israel for them; and now they are ordered to number them a second time, and take out from them such as were fit for service:

saying; as follows.

Geneva Study Bible

And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1–20. The Kohathites and their duties.

THE DUTIES OF THE LEVITES (chapter 4). Numbers 4:1

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Rules of Service, and Numbering of the Levites Qualified for Service. - After the adoption of the Levites for service at the sanctuary, in the place of the first-born of Israel, Moses and Aaron mustered the three families of the Levites by the command of God for the service to be performed by those who were between the ages of 30 and 50. The particulars of the service are first of all described in detail (vv. 4-33); and then the men in each family are taken, of the specified age for service (vv. 34-49). The three families are not arranged according to the relative ages of their founders, but according to the importance or sacredness of their service. The Kohathites take the lead, because the holiest parts of the tabernacle were to be carried and kept by this family, which included the priests, Aaron and his sons. The service to be performed by each of the three Levitical families is introduced in every case by a command from God to take the sum of the men from 30 years old to 50 (see Numbers 4:1-3, Numbers 4:21-23, Numbers 4:29 and Numbers 4:30).