Thematic Bible

Themes in Numbers 3

HCSB

Themes in Numbers 3

Numbers 3:1 (show verse)

These are the family records of Aaron and Moses at the time the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.

journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Aaron and his sons selected for priesthood
Sinai » A mountain in the peninsula east of the red sea » The law delivered to moses upon

Numbers 3:2 (show verse)

These are the names of Aaron’s sons: Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

Abihu » Son of aaron
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Aaron and his sons selected for priesthood

Numbers 3:3 (show verse)

These are the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests.

Aaron » Descendants of » ordained Priests » priests
Anointing » In consecration » of priests
Consecration » Of persons to special religious work
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Aaron and his sons selected for priesthood
priests » Publicly consecrated
The Surrendered life » Consecration » Of persons to special religious work

But Nadab and Abihu died in the Lord’s presence when they presented unauthorized fire before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests under the direction of Aaron their father.

Abihu » Died childless
Nadab » Son of aaron » Offers "strange" (unauthorized) fire to God, and is destroyed
Sacrilege » Instances of » Nadab and abihu offer "strange" (unauthorized) fire

Numbers 3:5 (show verse)

The Lord spoke to Moses:

journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Levites set apart

Numbers 3:6 (show verse)

“Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.

journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Levites set apart
Levites » Set apart as ministers of religion
Levites » Functions of » Had charge of the tabernacle in the encampments and on the march
the Levites » Chosen by God for service of the sanctuary
the Levites » Services of » Ministering to priests
Tabernacle » the Levites » Did the inferior service of

Numbers 3:7 (show verse)

They are to perform duties for him and the entire community before the tent of meeting by attending to the service of the tabernacle.

journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Levites set apart
Levites » Set apart as ministers of religion
Levites » Functions of » Had charge of the tabernacle in the encampments and on the march
Tabernacle » the Levites » Did the inferior service of

Numbers 3:8 (show verse)

They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting and perform duties for the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle.

journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Levites set apart
Levites » Set apart as ministers of religion
Levites » Functions of » Had charge of the tabernacle in the encampments and on the march
the Levites » Services of » Keeping sacred instruments and vessels
Tabernacle » the Levites » Did the inferior service of

Numbers 3:9 (show verse)

Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they have been assigned exclusively to him from the Israelites.

journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Levites set apart
Levites » Set apart as ministers of religion
Levites » Functions of » Had charge of the tabernacle in the encampments and on the march
Levites » Subordinate to the sons of aaron
the Levites » Given to aaron and sons
Priest » Duties of » Chiefs of levites

Numbers 3:10 (show verse)

You are to appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out their priestly responsibilities, but any unauthorized person who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”

exclusion Admission » Exclusion » From holy places (tabernacle and temple)
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Aaron and his sons selected for priesthood
Exclusion » From holy places (tabernacle and temple)
Levites » Set apart as ministers of religion
Priest » The time of moses
Priest » The time of moses » Usurpations of office of
priests » All except seed of aaron excluded from being
Rulers' » Wicked » Instances of » Exalting debased persons to the priesthood
Tabernacle » The priests » Performed all services in

Numbers 3:11 (show verse)

The Lord spoke to Moses:

journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Tribe of levi taken instead of the first-born
Levites » Set apart as ministers of religion

Numbers 3:12 (show verse)

“See, I have taken the Levites from the Israelites in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb. The Levites belong to Me,

journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Tribe of levi taken instead of the first-born
Firstborn » Levites taken instead of firstborn of the families of israel
the First-born » Of israel » Tribe of levi taken for
Levites » Set apart as ministers of religion
Levites » Substituted in the place of the firstborn children
the Levites » Taken instead of the first-born of israel
Substitution » The levites for the firstborn of the israelites

Numbers 3:13 (show verse)

because every firstborn belongs to Me. At the time I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated every firstborn in Israel to Myself, both man and animal. They are Mine; I am Yahweh.”

God's Claim's » Gives God priority of claim » Upon all the possessions of men
journey of israel through the Desert » To mount sinai » Tribe of levi taken instead of the first-born
Firstborn » Of man and beast, reserved to himself by God
the First-born » Dedicated to commemorate the sparing of the first-born of israel
God » Examples of Leadership » Claims of, upon all the possessions of men
Levites » Set apart as ministers of religion
the Levites » Taken instead of the first-born of israel
divine Ownership » First-born set apart as belonging to God
divine Ownership » Of men's possessions

Numbers 3:14 (show verse)

The Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai:

Census » The numbering of israel » By moses
Levites » Enrollment of, at mount sinai
Levites » Set apart as ministers of religion
the Levites » Numbered separately after the people from a month old

Numbers 3:15 (show verse)

“Register the Levites by their ancestral houses and their clans. You are to register every male one month old or more.”

Numbers 3:16 (show verse)

So Moses registered them in obedience to the Lord as he had been commanded:

Numbers 3:17 (show verse)

These were Levi’s sons by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Census » The numbering of israel » By moses
Gershon » Son of levi
Levites » Enrollment of, at mount sinai
Levites » Three divisions of, each having the name of one of its progenitors-gershon, kohath, and merari
the Levites » Originally consisted for three families or divisions
Merari » Head the merarite levites

Numbers 3:18 (show verse)

These were the names of Gershon’s sons by their clans: Libni and Shimei.

Census » The numbering of israel » By moses
Gershon » Son of levi
Levites » Enrollment of, at mount sinai
Levites » Gershonites and their duties
the Levites » Families as numbered » Of gershom
Libni » Son of gershon
Shimei » Also called shimi » Son of gershon

Numbers 3:19 (show verse)

Kohath’s sons by their clans were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

Amram » Father of moses » Head of one of the branches of levites
Census » The numbering of israel » By moses
Gershon » Son of levi
Hebron » Son of kohath
Kohath » Father of the kohathites, one of the divisions (shifts) of the levites
Levites » Enrollment of, at mount sinai
Levites » Gershonites and their duties
the Levites » Families as numbered » Of kohath

Numbers 3:20 (show verse)

Merari’s sons by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the Levite clans by their ancestral houses.

Census » The numbering of israel » By moses
Gershon » Son of levi
Levites » The merarites
Levites » Enrollment of, at mount sinai
Levites » Gershonites and their duties
the Levites » Families as numbered » Of merari

Numbers 3:21 (show verse)

The Libnite clan and the Shimeite clan came from Gershon; these were the Gershonite clans.

Census » The numbering of israel » By moses
Gershon » Son of levi
Levites » Enrollment of, at mount sinai
Levites » Functions of » Had charge of the tabernacle in the encampments and on the march
Levites » Gershonites and their duties
the Levites » Families as numbered » Of gershom
Libni » Son of gershon » Descendants called libnites

Numbers 3:22 (show verse)

Those registered, counting every male one month old or more, numbered 7,500.

Numbers 3:23 (show verse)

The Gershonite clans camped behind the tabernacle on the west side,

Census » The numbering of israel » By moses
Gershon » Son of levi
Levites » Enrollment of, at mount sinai
Levites » Functions of » Had charge of the tabernacle in the encampments and on the march
Levites » Gershonites and their duties
Levites » Place of, in encampments and the march
the Levites » Encamped round the tabernacle
Tabernacle » the Levites » Pitched their tents around

Numbers 3:24 (show verse)

and the leader of the Gershonite family was Eliasaph son of Lael.

Census » The numbering of israel » By moses
Eliasaph » Son of lael
Gershon » Son of levi
Levites » Enrollment of, at mount sinai
Levites » Functions of » Had charge of the tabernacle in the encampments and on the march
Levites » Gershonites and their duties
Levites » Place of, in encampments and the march
the Levites » Had chiefs or officers over them

Numbers 3:25 (show verse)

The Gershonites’ duties at the tent of meeting involved the tabernacle, the tent, its covering, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting,

Numbers 3:26 (show verse)

the hangings of the courtyard, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and the altar, and the tent ropes—all the work relating to these.

Numbers 3:27 (show verse)

The Amramite clan, the Izharite clan, the Hebronite clan, and the Uzzielite clan came from Kohath; these were the Kohathites.

Altar » Of incense » Carried by kohathites
Amram » Father of moses » Head of one of the branches of levites
Census » The numbering of israel » By moses
Kohath » Father of the kohathites, one of the divisions (shifts) of the levites
Levites » Enrollment of, at mount sinai
Levites » Functions of » Had charge of the tabernacle in the encampments and on the march
Levites » Place of, in encampments and the march
Levites » appointed » In charge of » Ark of covenant » Tabernacle furnishings
Levites » kohathites
the Levites » Families as numbered » Of kohath

Numbers 3:28 (show verse)

Counting every male one month old or more, there were 8,600 responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.

Altar » Of incense » Carried by kohathites
Census » The numbering of israel » By moses
Levites » Enrollment of, at mount sinai
Levites » Functions of » Had charge of the tabernacle in the encampments and on the march
Levites » Place of, in encampments and the march
Levites » appointed » In charge of » Ark of covenant » Tabernacle furnishings
the Levites » Families as numbered » Of kohath

Numbers 3:29 (show verse)

The clans of the Kohathites camped on the south side of the tabernacle,

Numbers 3:30 (show verse)

and the leader of the family of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.

Altar » Of incense » Carried by kohathites
Ark » In the tabernacle. Called the ark » Carried by kohathites
Census » The numbering of israel » By moses
Elizaphan » A levite
Levites » Enrollment of, at mount sinai
Levites » Functions of » Had charge of the tabernacle in the encampments and on the march
Levites » Place of, in encampments and the march
Levites » appointed » In charge of » Ark of covenant » Tabernacle furnishings
the Levites » Had chiefs or officers over them

Numbers 3:31 (show verse)

Their duties involved the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the sanctuary utensils that were used with these, and the screen

—and all the work relating to them.

Altar » Of incense » Carried by kohathites
Ark » In the tabernacle. Called the ark » Carried by kohathites
Census » The numbering of israel » By moses
Levites » Enrollment of, at mount sinai
Levites » Functions of » Had charge of the tabernacle in the encampments and on the march
Levites » Place of, in encampments and the march
Levites » appointed » In charge of » Ark of covenant » Tabernacle furnishings
Shewbread » Table of » Table of, used in the tabernacle
Tables » Of shewbread, used in the tabernacle

Numbers 3:32 (show verse)

The chief of the Levite leaders was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest; he had oversight of those responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.

Census » The numbering of israel » By moses
Eleazar (eleazer) » Son of aaron » After the death of nadab and abihu is made chief of the tribe of levi
The high priest » The deputy of » Had oversight of the levites
Levites » Enrollment of, at mount sinai
Levites » Functions of » Had charge of the tabernacle in the encampments and on the march
Levites » Place of, in encampments and the march
Levites » appointed » In charge of » Ark of covenant » Tabernacle furnishings
Levites » The chief over the kohathites was the oldest son of the ruling high priest
the Levites » Were all under control of the high priest's deputy
Priest » The function he served was superior to that of other priests » A second priest, under the high priest
Priest » Duties of » Chiefs of levites
Priest » The function he served was superior to that of other priests » The title appears after the institution of the office

Numbers 3:33 (show verse)

The Mahlite clan and the Mushite clan came from Merari; these were the Merarite clans.

Census » The numbering of israel » By moses
Levites » The merarites
Levites » Enrollment of, at mount sinai
Levites » Functions of » Had charge of the tabernacle in the encampments and on the march
Levites » Place of, in encampments and the march
the Levites » Families as numbered » Of merari
Merari » Head the merarite levites

Numbers 3:34 (show verse)

Those registered, counting every male one month old or more, numbered 6,200.

Numbers 3:35 (show verse)

The leader of the family of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they camped on the north side of the tabernacle.

Abihail » Father of zuriel
Census » The numbering of israel » By moses
Levites » The merarites
Levites » Enrollment of, at mount sinai
Levites » Functions of » Had charge of the tabernacle in the encampments and on the march
Levites » Place of, in encampments and the march
the Levites » Had chiefs or officers over them
the Levites » Encamped round the tabernacle
Merari » Head the merarite levites
Tabernacle » the Levites » Pitched their tents around
Zuriel » A merarite

Numbers 3:36 (show verse)

The assigned duties of Merari’s descendants involved the tabernacle’s supports, crossbars, posts, bases, all its equipment, and all the work related to these,

Numbers 3:37 (show verse)

in addition to the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes.

Numbers 3:38 (show verse)

Moses, Aaron, and his sons, who performed the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites, camped in front of the tabernacle on the east, in front of the tent of meeting toward the sunrise. Any unauthorized person who came near it was to be put to death.

exclusion Admission » Exclusion » From holy places (tabernacle and temple)
Census » The numbering of israel » By moses
Exclusion » From holy places (tabernacle and temple)
Levites » Enrollment of, at mount sinai
Levites » Of the amramites, aaron and his family were set apart as priests

Numbers 3:39 (show verse)

The total number of all the Levite males one month old or more that Moses and Aaron registered by their clans at the Lord’s command was 22,000.

Census » The numbering of israel » By moses
Levites » Enrollment of, at mount sinai
the Levites » Numbered separately after the people from a month old

Numbers 3:40 (show verse)

The Lord told Moses: “Register every firstborn male of the Israelites one month old or more, and list their names.

Numbers 3:41 (show verse)

You are to take the Levites for Me—I am Yahweh—in place of every firstborn among the Israelites, and the Levites’ cattle in place of every firstborn among the Israelites’ cattle.”

Census » The numbering of israel » By moses
Firstborn » Redemption of
Firstborn » Levites taken instead of firstborn of the families of israel
the First-born » Of israel » Tribe of levi taken for
Levites » Substituted in the place of the firstborn children
the Levites » Taken instead of the first-born of israel
Substitution » The levites for the firstborn of the israelites

Numbers 3:42 (show verse)

So Moses registered every firstborn among the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him.

Numbers 3:43 (show verse)

The total number of the firstborn males one month old or more listed by name was 22,273.

Numbers 3:44 (show verse)

The Lord spoke to Moses again:

Firstborn » Redemption of
Firstborn » Levites taken instead of firstborn of the families of israel
Levites » Substituted in the place of the firstborn children
the Levites » Taken instead of the first-born of israel

Numbers 3:45 (show verse)

“Take the Levites in place of every firstborn among the Israelites, and the Levites’ cattle in place of their cattle. The Levites belong to Me; I am Yahweh.

Numbers 3:46 (show verse)

As the redemption price for the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites,

Firstborn » Redemption of
the First-born » Of israel » Price of redemption for
Priest » Benefits of » Of the firstborn
Redemption » Redemption money paid to priests

Numbers 3:47 (show verse)

collect five shekels for each person, according to the standard sanctuary shekel—20 gerahs to the shekel.

Firstborn » Redemption of
the First-born » Of israel » Price of redemption for
Gerah » Also a coin equivalent to about three cents american money and three half-pence english money
Money » Of the jews regulated by the standard of sanctuary
Money » Pieces of mentioned » Gerah the twentieth of a shekel
Priest » Benefits of » Of the firstborn
Redemption » Redemption money paid to priests
Shekel » A weight, equal to twenty gerahs