Bible Commentaries

Numbers 3:1 These also [are] the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day [that] the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai.

Ver. 1. Of Aaron and Moses.] Of Aaron by nature, of Moses by education and instruction. See 1 Corinthians 4:15, Galatians 4:12, {See Trapp on "1 Corinthians 4:15"} {See Trapp on "Galatians 4:12"} So the Jesuits call themselves padres, and require of their novices blind obedience, which is more than ever Moses did.

Numbers 3:3 These [are] the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office.

Ver. 3. Which were anointed.] And so should have walked, as became God’s anointed; leaving a sweet smell behind them everywhere; but they went out in a stench; they fell, as if they had not been anointed with oil. [2 Samuel 1:21]

Numbers 3:4 And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father.

Ver. 4. And Nadab and Abihu.] Such a cross had David in his two eldest, Amnon and Absalom. {See Trapp on "Leviticus 10:1"} {See Trapp on "Leviticus 10:2"}

Numbers 3:9 And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they [are] wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.

Ver. 9. They are wholly given unto him.] Heb. They are given, they are given. So the ministers of the gospel are called "gifts"; [Ephesians 4:8; Ephesians 4:11] honoraries; such as Christ bestowed upon his Church at the day of his coronation, and solemn inauguration into his throne, at his wonderful ascension.

Numbers 3:10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’s office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

Ver. 10. And the stranger.] Though a Levite, yet if not of Aaron’s seed. [Numbers 18:3 Hebrews 5:4] Let this be thought upon by our too bold intruders into the work of the ministry.

Numbers 3:13 Because all the firstborn [are] mine; [for] on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I [am] the LORD.

Ver. 13. Because all the firstborn.] So they were from the beginning: but here is noted a continuance of this ordinance, when it is said that he sanctified the first born to himself, what time he smote every firstborn in Egypt. Now the firstborn are said to be God’s by a singular right, [Exodus 13:2] and so they were types, (1.) Of Christ, [Romans 8:29] to whom therefore we must give the honour of his first birthright; all our sheaves must vail and bow to his sheaf: (2.) Of Christians; those "firstborn whose names are written in heaven," [Hebrews 12:23] who are dear to God, as his firstborn, [Exodus 4:22] and so "higher than the kings of the earth," [Psalms 89:27] for they are "kings and priests unto God," [Revelation 1:6] to "serve him day and night in his temple." [Revelation 7:15]