Numbers 3:38-51
Q.1. Why was a special place reserved to locate the leaders amongst the tribes and near the Tabernacle? – (Num.3:38-39)
The location closest to the Tabernacle was reserved for the twenty-two thousand priests and their families, who were descendants of Levi … Laymen were warned not to go near to the Tabernacle (Num.3:38-39). Because Moses and Aaron and their families were always located east of the camp toward the sunrise, Israel knew where their leader was. He was therefore more easily accessible. Moses was able to keep all the operations of the priests and soldiers under scrutiny.
Q.2. How did God build the idea of substitution into the fabric of Israel’s understanding of redemption? – (Num.3:40-45)
There were officially twenty-two thousand priests who descended from Levi. (Comment: there seems to be a textual error compared with the Septuagint rendering, giving the Kohathites eight thousand three hundred, not eight thousand six hundred. That is, seven thousand five hundred plus eight thousand three hundred, plus six thousand two hundred which equals twenty-two thousand.) God had claimed all the firstborn of Israel for Himself – sanctify to Me every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both man and beast: it belongs to Me (c.f. Exo.13:1). Now the Lord established the principle of substitution, by accepting the Levites in the place of all the first born – You shall take the Levites for Me, I am the Lord, instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the sons of Israel … Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel and the cattle of the Levites. And the Levites shall be Mine; I am the Lord (Num.3:41 & 45). This foreshadowed the substitution of Jesus for all sinners.
Q.3. What principle was underscored when God gave the ransom price for the use of the priest? – (Num.3:46-51)
Not only did the Levites take the place of the Israelite firstborn who were the heads of every family in Israel, there was a need for a ransom price for two hundred and seventy-three excess Israelite firstborn. God stipulated the ransom price to be paid. He then ordered that this be given to His representatives, the priests (Num.3:46-51). Here we see another principle established, being that priests and ministers are to be supported from the offerings made to God – Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those that attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar? So, the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel (c.f. 1 Cor.9:13-14).