Numbers 3:10

The war with Og, king of Bashan, Deu 3:1, Deu 3:2. He is defeated, Deu 3:3. Sixty fortified cities with many unwalled towns taken, Deu 3:4, Deu 3:5. The utter destruction of the people, Deu 3:6. The spoils, Deu 3:7; and extent of the land taken, Deu 3:8-10. Account of Og's iron bedstead, Deu 3:11. The land given to the Reubenites, Gadites, and half tribe of Manasseh, Deu 3:12, Deu 3:13. Jair takes the country of Argob, Deu 3:14. Gilead is given unto Machir, Deu 3:15. And the rest of the land possessed by the Reubenites and Gadites, Deu 3:16, Deu 3:17. The directions given to those tribes, Deu 3:18-20. The counsel given to Joshua, Deu 3:21, Deu 3:22. Moses's prayer to God for permission to go into the promised land, Deu 3:23-25; and God's refusal, Deu 3:26. He is commanded to go up to Mount Pisgah to see it, Deu 3:27; and to encourage Joshua, Deu 3:28. They continue in the valley opposite to Beth-peor, Deu 3:29.

THE LEVITES' SERVICE. (Num. 3:1-51) These . . . are the generations of Aaron and Moses, &c.--This chapter contains an account of their families; and although that of Moses is not detailed like his brother's, his children are included under the general designation of the Amramites (Num 3:27), a term which comprehends all the descendants of their common father Amram. The reason why the family of Moses was so undistinguished in this record is that they were in the private ranks of the Levites, the dignity of the priesthood being conferred exclusively on the posterity of Aaron; and hence, as the sacerdotal order is the subject of this chapter, Aaron, contrary to the usual style of the sacred history, is mentioned before Moses. in the day that the Lord spake with Moses in mount Sinai--This is added, because at the date of the following record the family of Aaron was unbroken.

And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons,.... To the priestly office; this was done before, but is renewed for the confirmation of it, and repeated to put them in mind of it, that they be careful to execute it, as follows: and they shall wait on their priest's office, to do what was peculiar to it, both in the holy and in the most holy place, at the altar, and within, the vail, where the Levites had nothing to do; and this is observed that the priests might take notice, that by the gift of the Levites to them, they were not excused from doing any part of service which was proper to them as priests; for they were given them that they might more readily attend their office, and be wholly employed in it; just as, under the Gospel dispensation, deacons were appointed to take care of the secular affairs of the church, that the apostles might give up themselves to the word of God and prayer, Act 6:2, and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death; that comes nigh to perform any part of the priest's office peculiar to him as to offer sacrifice, burn incense, &c. whether he be a common Israelite, or even a Levite, as Korah was; any that was not a priest was reckoned a stranger, and so to be put to death for intruding into the office, as the above mentioned person was: so Aben Ezra interprets it of anyone that came nigh to a priest, to be with him or join with him in the execution of his office, whether an Israelite or a Levite, he shall die: the Targum of Jonathan adds, by flaming fire before the Lord.

This chapter and the next are concerning the tribe of Levi, which was to be mustered and marshalled by itself, and not in common with the other tribes, intimating the particular honour put upon them and the particular duty and service required from them. The Levites are in this chapter considered, I. As attendants on, and assistants to, the priests in the temple-service. And so we have an account, 1. Of the priests themselves (Num 3:1-4) and their work (Num 3:10). 2. Of the gift of the Levites to them (Num 3:5-9), in order to which they are mustered (Num 3:14-16), and the sum of them taken (Num 3:39). Each particular family of them is mustered, has its place assigned and its charge, the Gershonites (Num 3:17-26), the Kohathites (Num 3:27-32), the Merarites (Num 3:33-39). II. As equivalents for the first-born (Num 3:11-13). 1. The first-born are numbered, and the Levites taken instead of them, as far as the number of the Levites went (Num 3:40-45). 2. What first-born there were more than the Levites were redeemed (Num 3:46, etc.).

3:10 The sanctuary was sacred (1:51; 3:38; 18:7); it was not to be approached by the unqualified (cp. 3:4).