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Numbers 4:34

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 4:34 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by their fathers` houses,” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by their fathers` houses,
Numbers 4:34 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
31And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tent of meeting: the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof,
32and the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall appoint the instruments of the charge of their burden.
33This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tent of meeting, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
34And Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by their fathers` houses,
35from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entered upon the service, for work in the tent of meeting:
36and those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty.
37These are they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that did serve in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Jehovah by Moses.
← Numbers 4:33Numbers 4:35 →
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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
“And Moses and Aaron, and the chief of the congregation, numbered the sons of the Kohathites, etc.] Perhaps these chiefs were the same with those who were concerned with Moses and Aaron in numbering all the tribes whose names were given, (<040105>Numbers 1:5-16); the Kohathites are begun with, according to the divine direction, and then the Gershonites and Merarites in their order; and in (<040434>Numbers 4:34-48) is only an account of the numbering of each of them, as ordered by the Lord, and this account is expressed in the same terms in them all; there remains nothing to be observed but the particular sums of each of them, the number of the Kohathites from thirty years old even to fifty,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites, &c.--This enumeration was made on a different principle from that which is recorded in the preceding chapter [Num 3:15]. That was confined to the males from a month old and upward, while this was extended to all capable of service in the three classes of the Levitical tribe. In considering their relative numbers, the wisdom of Divine Providence appears in arranging that, whereas in the Kohathites and Gershonites, whose burdens were few and easier, there were but about a third part of them which were fit for service; the Merarites, whose burdens were more and heavier, had above one half of them fit for this…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:34-49 The process of numbering and recording the Levites’ names and making sure that each man understood his assignment was an important step in organizing Israel to travel and camp in the correct manner and in safeguarding the Tabernacle.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Num 4:2 Numbers 4:35”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Completion of the prescribed mustering, and statement of the number of men qualified for service in the three Levitical families: viz., 2750 Kohathites, 2630 Gershonites, and 3200 Merarites - in all, 8580 Levites fit for service: a number which bears a just proportion to the total number of male Levites of a month old and upwards, viz., 22,000. Numbers 4:49”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification