Numbers 4:23
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from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
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 Num 4:1-3, Num 4:21-23, Num 4:29 and Num 4:30).
Open source ↗In the former chapter an account was taken of the whole tribe of Levi, in this we have an account of those of that tribe who were in the prime of their time for service, betwixt thirty and fifty years old. I. The serviceable men of the Kohathites are ordered to be numbered, and their charges are given them (v. 2-20). II. Of the Gershonites (Num 4:24-28). III. Of the Merarites (Num 4:29-33). IV. The numbers of each, and the sum total at last, are recorded (Num 4:34, etc.).
Open source ↗Cross-references
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men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,
in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
These were the descendants of Levi by their families—the heads of families, registered individually by name—those twenty years of age or older who worked in the service of the house of the LORD.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
For according to the final instructions of David, the Levites twenty years of age or older were counted,
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?
The Levites thirty years of age or older were counted, and the total number of men was 38,000.
For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.