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Numbers 1:49

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 1:49 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Only the tribe of Levi thou shalt not number, neither shalt thou take the sum of them among the children of Israel;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Only the tribe of Levi thou shalt not number, neither shalt thou take the sum of them among the children of Israel;
Numbers 1:49 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
46even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
47But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.
48For Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
49Only the tribe of Levi thou shalt not number, neither shalt thou take the sum of them among the children of Israel;
50but appoint thou the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all the furniture thereof, and over all that belongeth to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the furniture thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.
51And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
52And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, according to their hosts.
← Numbers 1:48Numbers 1:50 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Only thou shall not number the tribe of Levi, etc.] That is, along with the other tribes, for it might be numbered by itself, as it afterwards was, (<040343>Numbers 3:43); neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel; which confirms what is before observed: now this being the declared will of God clears Moses from all partiality to his own tribe, he doing nothing but what he had a command of God for it.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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".…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Levi - Because they were not generally to go out to war, which was the thing principally eyed in this muster, Num 1:3, Num 1:20, Num 1:45, but were to attend upon the service of the tabernacle. They that minister upon holy things, should not entangle themselves in secular affairs. The ministry itself is work enough for a whole man, and all little enough to be employed in it. Numbers 1:50”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Num 2:33, Num 26:62 Numbers 1:50”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification