Numbers 3:11-13. The Firstborn and the Levites

The name of this book is "B'midbar," which means "in the wilderness." However, it is derived from the word "debar," or "the word." Literally, it means "in the place of the word." Isn't this true about "B'midbar?" Wasn't this the place where Israel received the Word? The term "Numbers" comes of the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Torah. But why did they call it Numbers?"

In Numbers, there are a lot of numbers. Most of us begin reading this chapter and immediately just tune out. If we don't skip it completely, we at least often skip it mentally. There isn't space to explain about the meanings of all of the names, but if one translates each of the meanings of the names mentioned throughout these first few chapters, there are some interesting things to pick up. Names in Hebrew are not just a collection of phonemes; each word or part of the word has a semantic meaning. For now, though, skip to the text after all of the accounting of names and numbers of the 12 tribes preparing for war. Let's focus on the tribe of Levi.

Numbers 3:11-13
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."

    The Levites were not supposed to serve before God at the Tabernacle alone. Each tribe was supposed to have its firstborn children serving at the tabernacle. Because of the sin of the Golden Calf, according Exodus 32:25-29, the firstborn lost their priesthood status in Israel. However, there is an interesting miracle that takes place regarding all of this numbering. Numbers 3:44-46
⁴⁴ "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ⁴⁵ "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. The Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD. ⁴⁶ And as the redemption price for the 273 of the firstborn of the people of Israel, over and above the number of the male Levites…" The total number of firstborns is just slightly more than the total number of Levites. The Levite family was very small compared to any of the other tribes, yet it was a number that was needed.

    What can we learn from this? We can learn of the importance of being a servant within our family structures. The "right of the firstborn," which we read about in the story of Jacob and Esau, was about being the priest for the family. However, both because of the sin mentioned above as well as the regular uncleanness of the armies fighting in battles, the Israelite firstborns were not eligible to serve as priests. They were more needed for their families. As believers in Messiah, it is our job to pray for our families, and as often as possible, to serve our families as they need it. The amount of sin in the US is incomprehensible to us. Moreover, many of us have become tolerant of sinful lifestyle or we have acquiesced about sin because those who call sin good have become louder than those of us who call sin evil. These sinful lifestyles exist in our own lives, as well as the lives of our families. Sinful lifestyles are not just tolerated now, they are encouraged. Those who stand up to declare what is right and good are laughed at, mocked, sued, beaten, or worse. However, God only tolerates people remaining in sin for a short time. Just like with the sin of the golden calf. He did not tolerate the Israelites living in this sin for even a day. God immediately judged his people, and he used the Levites to bring about this judgment. As "Levites" for our families, we must continue giving warning to our loved ones, because God's judgment on sin may be much closer than ever before.