And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
Moses numbered all the firstborn males among the children of Israel in obedience to what the Lord had commanded him. The counting belonged to the arrangements for the sanctuary and its service, set within the description of the divisions of the sons of Levi. The firstborn had been consecrated to God in memory of Israel's deliverance from the final judgment in Egypt. The priesthood was transferred to the Levites because of their faithfulness at the golden calf.
The Israelites still had to redeem their firstborn, and the redemption proceeds went to the Levites. The Aaronic priesthood assigned to the tribe of Levi was established by law for its appointed age, until the type met its antitype. The verse stands in the opening numbering of Israel, which gives definite numbers with a sameness across the tribes, and its tribal numbers are to be compared with the numbering at the close of the forty years to show how the tribes have gained and lost.
Moses numbered all the firstborn males among the children of Israel in obedience to what the Lord had commanded him. The counting belonged to the arrangements for the sanctuary and its service, set within the description of the divisions of the sons of Levi. The firstborn had been consecrated to God in memory of Israel's deliverance from the final judgment in Egypt. The priesthood was transferred to the Levites because of their faithfulness at the golden calf.
The Israelites still had to redeem their firstborn, and the redemption proceeds went to the Levites. The Aaronic priesthood assigned to the tribe of Levi was established by law for its appointed age, until the type met its antitype. The verse stands in the opening numbering of Israel, which gives definite numbers with a sameness across the tribes, and its tribal numbers are to be compared with the numbering at the close of the forty years to show how the tribes have gained and lost.