Numbers 3:5

“And the Lord spake unto Moses, etc.] After he had given him the order for the numbering the children of Israel, and for the manner of their encampment and journeying: saying; as follows.”

“Bring the tribe of Levi near--The Hebrew word "bring near" is a sacrificial term, denoting the presentation of an offering to God; and the use of the word, therefore, in connection with the Levites, signifies that they were devoted as an offering to the sanctuary, no longer to be employed in any common offices. They were subordinate to the priests, who alone enjoyed the privilege of entering the holy place; but they were employed in discharging many of the humbler duties which belonged to the sanctuary, as well as in various offices of great utility and importance to the religion and morals of the people.”

“3:5-13 The Levites were appointed as assistants to the priests, who were represented by Aaron. Their ministry included sacred duties (3:7) in maintaining the Tabernacle and its furnishings (3:8; described in greater detail in 4:1-33).”

“The Levites are placed before Aaron the priest, to be his servants. Num 3:6 "Bring near:" as in Exo 28:1. The expression לפני עמד is frequently met with in connection with the position of a servant, as standing before his master to receive his commands. Num 3:7-8 They were to keep the charge of Aaron and the whole congregation before the tabernacle, to attend to the service of the dwelling, i.e., to observe what Aaron (the priest) and the whole congregation were bound to perform in relation to the service at the dwelling-place of Jehovah. "To keep the charge:" see Num 1:53 and Gen 26:5. In Num 3:8 this is more fully explained: they were to keep the vessels of the tabernacle, and to attend to…”