Numbers 1:47

“But the Levites, etc.] The tribe of Levi were excepted from this muster, they being employed in a kind of warfare, and therefore not to be engaged in another: after the tribe of their fathers, were not numbered among them: the rest of the tribes; the reason follows.”

“But the Levites . . . were not numbered among them--They were obliged to keep a register of their own. They were consecrated to the priestly office, which in all countries has been exempted customarily, and in Israel by the express authority of God, from military service. The custody of the things devoted to the divine service was assigned to them so exclusively, that "no stranger"--that is, no person, not even an Israelite of any other tribe, was allowed, under penalty of death, to approach these [Num 16:40]. Hence they encamped round the tabernacle in order that there should be no manifestation of the divine displeasure among the people. Thus the numbering of the people was subservient to…”

“When a census of the tribe of Levi takes place. Numbers 3:15; Numbers 26:62, “all” the males are counted from a month old and upward, and not, as in the other tribes, those only who were of age for service in the field. Numbers 1:48 had spoken - Render spake. The formal appointment is only now made, in reward for their zeal Exodus 32:26-29, though reference to their future office appears previously in Leviticus 25:32 ff, and they had already acted as assistants to the priests (compare Exodus 38:21). return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Numbers 1". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible".…”

“1:47-54 The tribe of Levi did not serve in Israel’s army with the other tribes. This section of Numbers describes the organization of Levites for service in the Tabernacle, which was their primary responsibility.”

“Num 1:3, Num 1:50, Num 2:33, 3:1-51, 4:1-49, 8:1-26, Num 26:57-62; 1Chr. 6:1-81, Ch1 21:6 Numbers 1:49”