Today was all about the generations of Aaron and his sons. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, the firstborn, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar who were anointed priests. Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai. They had no children. Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of Aaron their father.
Then the Lord told Moses to bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, so they could assist him. They were to guard the sanctuary and perform duties for him and for the whole congregation at the Tent of Meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle. They were to take care of all the furnishings.
The Levites were given to Aaron and his sons. Aaron and his sons were appointed priests, and anyone else who approached the sanctuary would be put to death.
The Lord spoke to Moses and said that he had taken the Levites from among the people of Israel instead of every firstborn. The Levites were the Lord’s, as all the firstborns were the the Lord’s.
Then it went on to list the sons of Levi, by father’s houses and clans. Every male from a month old and upward was listed. The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Gershon
According to the number of males from a month old and upward was 7,500. The clans of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle on the west. Their guard duty in the Tent of Meeting involved the tabernacle, the tent with its coverings, the screen for the entrance of the tent, the hangings of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and its cords. All the service connected with these was theirs.
Kohath
According to the number of males from a month old and upward was 8,600.
They were to keep guard over the sanctuary. They were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle. Their guard duty involved the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary which the priests minister, and the screen. All the service connected with these was theirs.
Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, was to be chief over the chiefs of the Levites, and to have oversight of those who kept guard over the sanctuary.
Merari
According to the number of males from a month old and upward was 6,200.
They were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle. Their appointed guard duty involved the frames of the tabernacle, the bars, the pillars, the bases, and all the accessories. Also, all the pillars around the court, with their bases, pegs, and cords. All the service connected with these was theirs.
Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp on the east side of the tabernacle, guarding the sanctuary itself to protect the people of Israel. Any outsider who came near was put to death
All those listed among the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron listed at the commandment of the Lord, by clans; all males from a month old and upward were 22,000.
The Lord told Moses to list all the firstborn males of the people of Israel from a month old and upward. That number was 22,273.
The Lord told Moses to take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel. The Levites were his. There was a redemption for the 273 people above that of the Levites. Each was worth five shekels per head. The money was given to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for those who were over. He had a total of 1,365 shekels.
Then they were to take a census of the sons who were thirty to fifty years old, all who could come on duty and do work in the Tent of Meeting. Of the 22,000 Levite males, 8,580 were of the age of service.
Kohath = 2,750
Gershon = 2,630
Merari = 3,200
The total amount of people that were able to do service in the ministry were 8,580. According to the commandment of the Lord through Moses they were listed, each with his task of serving or carrying.
It also explained the duties of each clan, with specific details for each. It said who would do what, what would be done, how it would be done, etc. This part was very detailed, but tedious to journal all of the different aspects, especially when it was repetitive of the above.