1-3,21-23,29,30,34-49

Calvin's Commentaries, Vol. 5: Harmony of the Law, Part III, tr. by John King, [1847-50], at sacred-texts.com

Numbers 4

Numbers 4:1-3, 21-23, 29, 30, 34-49

1. And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

1. Loquutus est Jehova ad Mosen et Aharon, dicendo:

2. Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,

2. Tolle summam filiorum Cehath e medio filiorum Levi, per familias suas, per domos patrum suorum.

3. From thirty years old and upward, even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

3. Ab eo qui natus est triginta annos et supra, usque ad eum qui natus est quinquaginta annos, quotquot ingrediuntur congregationem, ut faciant opus in tabernaculo conventionis.

21. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

21. Loquutus est Jehova ad Mosen, et Aharon dicendo:

22. Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families:

22. Tolle summam filiorum Gerson, ipsos quoque per domos patrum suormn, et per familias suas:

23. From thirty years old and upward, until fifty years old, shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

23. Ab eo qui natus est triginta annos et supra, usque ad eum qui est quinquaginta annorum, numerabis eos: quotquot ingrediuntur congregationem, ut faciant opus in tabernaculo conventionis.

29. As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers:

29. Filios Merari, per familias suas, per domos patrum suorum nu merabis:

30. From thirty years old and upward, even unto fifty years old, shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation.

30. Ab eo qui natus est triginta annos et supra, usque ad eum qui natus est quinquaginta annos, numerabis eos: quotquot ingrediuntur congregationem, ut faciant opus in tabernaculo conventionis.

34. And Moses and Aaron, and the chief of the congregation, numbered the sons of the Kohathites, after their families, and after the house of their fathers,

34. Numeravit ergo Moses et Aharon et princeps congregationis filios Cehath, per familias suas, domos patrum suorum.

35. From thirty years old and upward, even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation:

35. Ab eo qui natus erat triginta annos, et supra, usque ad eum qui natus erat quinquaginta annos: quotquot ingrediuntur in congregationem illam ad ministerium peragendum in tabernaculo conventionis.

36. And those that were numbered of them, by their families, were two thousand seven hundred and fifty.

36. Fueruntque numerati eorum per familias, duo millia septingenti quinquaginta.

37. These were they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number, according to the commandment of the Lord, by the hand of Moses.

37. Isti sunt numerati familiarum Cehath, omnes ministrantes in tabernaculo conventionis, quos numeravit Moses et Aharon juxta imperium Jehovae per manum Mosis.

38. And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers,

38. Numerati filiorum Gerson per familias suas, et per domum patrum suorum.

39. From thirty years old and upward, even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation;

39. Ab eo qui natus erat triginta annos et supra, usque ad eum qui natus erat quinquaginta annos: quotquot ingrediuntur in congregationem illam ad ministerium peragendum in tabernaculo conventionis.

40. Even those that were numbered of them, throughout their families,by the house of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty.

40. Numerati inquam eorum per familias suas, per domum patrum suorum, duo millia et sexcenti triginta.

41. These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number, according to the commandment of the Lord.

41. Isti sunt numerati familiarum filiorum Gerson, omnes ministrantes in tabernaculo conventionis: quos numeravit Moses et Aharon juxta sermonem Jehovae.

42. And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their fanlilies, by the house of their fathers,

42. Numerati autem familiarum filiorum Merari per familias suas, per domos patrunt suorum.

43. From thirty years old and upward, even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation;

43. Ab co qui natus erat triginta annos et supra, usque ad eum qui natus erat quinquaginta annos: quotquot ingrediebantur in congregationem illam ad ministerium peragendum in tabernaculo conventionis.

44. Even those that were numbered of them, after their families, were three thousand and two hundred.

44. Numerati inquam eorum per familias suas, tria millia et ducenti.

45. These be those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

45. Isti aunt numerati familiarum filiorum Merari, quos numeravit Moses et Aharon juxta sermonem Jehovae per manum Mosis.

46. All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron, and the chief of Israel, numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers,

46. Omnes numerati quos numeravit Moses et Aharon, et principes Israel, de Levitis per familias suas, et per domos patrunt suorum:

47. From thirty years old and upward, even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation;

47. Ab eo qui natus erat triginta annos et supra, usque ad eum qui natus erat quinquaginta annos: quotquot ingrediebantur ad peragendum ministerium cultus, et ad peragendum oneris in tabernaculo conventionis.

48. Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore.

48.: Numerati, inquam, erarum ruerunt otto nilIlia et quingenti octoginta.

49. According to the commandment of the Lord they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the Lord commanded Moses.

49. Juxta sermonem Jehovae numeravit cos per manum Mosis, singulos secundum ministerium suum, et secundum onus suum: numerati autem ejus fuerunt hi quos ipsi praeceperat.

1. And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron This census had a different object from the former one, which we have just been considering, viz., that an equal distribution of the charges should be made in proportion to the number of the individuals. First, as regarded age, a distinction must be observed between this tribe and the others; for we have already seen that all the Israelites above twenty years of age were numbered, because they were then fit to bear arms. But it was not without reason that a more mature age was required in the case of the Levites, so that they should not begin to discharge their ministry before their thirtieth year. For not only is strength and rigor of body requisite for spiritual warfare, but seriousness and gravity also. If they had been admitted in their youth, their levity might have detracted from the reverence due to sacred things, since the young are often led to act intemperately by their fervor and licentiousness. Access to the sanctuary, therefore, was not permitted them till they had grown up to be men; for by their thirtieth year men ought to have become so staid, as that it shall be base and inexcusable for them to give way to the wantonness of youth.

From their fiftieth year they were released from their duties; since sloth and inactivity generally accompany old age. The case is different as to war, because we find many who are vigorous after their fiftieth year. Furthermore, since religion is more precious than all earthly affairs, diligent care was to be taken lest it should fall into disesteem on account of the idleness and somnolency of its ministers.

34. And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation Another exception is subjoined, viz., that none should be received unless they were free from all defect and blemish; for we have seen elsewhere that those, who were blind and lame, or defective in any part of their body, were excluded from the tabernacle, lest their disfigurement should produce contempt; and also that they might be admonished by this external sign, to preserve themselves more diligently from all spiritual defilement. Therefore, those are said to enter into the sanctuary who are fit to exercise the priesthood; and hence the expression, “for the service,”  ⁴²⁶ is added.

Inasmuch as the inequality (of their charges) might have been the source of envy, God’s authority is asserted at the end of the chapter, where Moses records that he was only acting ministerially, and that he distributed the offices among them according to God’s command.

Footnotes

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“For the work.” — A. V. Ver. 35.