The Levites were specifically set apart before Aaron so they could serve at the tent of meeting and protect it from intruders. Their service was a gift to the people. In todays passage we consider tjheir task and how it relates to Jesus’ own special calling and commission.
The book of Numbers begins with instructions for travel. In this chapter we see more detailed instructions for the priesthood, specifically the families of Moses and Aaron.
3 These are the generations of Aaron and Moses at the time when the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. 2 These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he ordained to serve as priests. 4 But Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of Aaron their father. (Num 3:1–4)
‘Generations’. As we have seen in Genesis, the ‘toledoth’ expression marks of the account of this particular family.
‘Serve as priests’. This family line has been exempted from military service, which is why they were not numbered in the census. They have the specific role of serving as priests. Their role spelled out in detail is in leviticus comes under the large umbrella concept of worship. It includes offering sacrifices, prayer and teaching.
(Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. 2012. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA Logos Bible Software)
5 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.
7 They shall keep guard over him and over the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, as they minister at the tabernacle. 8 They shall guard all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and keep guard over the people of Israel as they minister at the tabernacle.
9 And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are wholly given to him from among the people of Israel. 10 And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood.
But if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death.” (Num 3:5–10)
‘Keep guard’. A big part of their role is to protect the tent of meeting and its furnishings from intruders. They could either pollute these objects or steal them.
‘Set them before’, ‘Wholly given’. The levites as a tribe were wholly given over to the service of the tabernacle. That means this was to be their sole service and duty. It also implies they were seen as a gift to God and the people.
‘Put to death’. The purity of the sanctuary was to be taken seriously. They were to respond with lethal force should someone enter the holy area without the proper procedure and authorisation.
11 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the people of Israel. The Levites shall be mine, 13 for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for my own all the firstborn in Israel, both of man and of beast. They shall be mine: I am the LORD.” (Num 3:11-13)
‘Firstborn’. As a result of Israel’s exodus from Egypt the LORD had a claim on all firstborn (Ex 13.2,11-16). Instead of firstborn from every tribe and family, the LORD took the whole tribe of Levi for this service.
We see here there was a practical use to the LORD claiming the firstborn as his and requiring a redemption price for it. The continued upkeep for the Priestly service and Temple / Tabernacle depended on it.
Story of Israel
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The Levites belong to the Lord, who has given them to the priests as assistants in place of the Israelite firstborn, whom he consecrated to himself along with firstborn animals when he spared them when he struck the firstborn in Egypt (3:11–13; cf. Ex. 13:2, 11–16). Rather than using the firstborn of every tribe for lifelong service to the sanctuary, which would take people away from their families, God has chosen one tribe to maintain and guard the sacred precincts. (Roy Gane, Leviticus, Numbers, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2004), 513.)
Story of Jesus
Jesus fulfills both roles of firstborn (Col 1.15-20) and priest (Heb 2.17). In the gospel we see Jesus performing this role in various ways (e.g. teaching Mt 5.1f; prayer Jn 17.1f), of which his death on the cross is the most important (Jn 11.51-52).
In our passage today, the Levites were set apart for ministry in the tabernacle. In the gospel, Jesus is called by God into his own calling and commission.
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.
4 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mk 1:9–15)
The Levites were specifically set apart before Aaron so they could serve at the tent of meeting and protect it from intruders. Their service was a gift to the people. In todays passage we consider tjheir task and how it relates to Jesus’ own special calling and commission.
