Numbers 3:15

3:15 “Number the Levites by their clans ¹  and their families; every male from a month old and upward you are to number.” ² 

Numbers 3:40

The Substitution for the Firstborn

3:40 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Number all the firstborn males of the Israelites from a month old and upward, and take ³  the number of their names.

Numbers 1:49

1:49 “Only the tribe of Levi ⁴  you must not number ⁵  or count ⁶  with ⁷  the other Israelites.

Numbers 15:12

15:12 You must do so for each one according to the number that you prepare.

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¹ tn Heb “the house of their fathers.” So also in v. 20.

² tn Heb “you are to/shall number them.”

³ tn The verb נָשָׂא (nasa’, “take”) has here the sense of collect, take a census, or register the names.

⁴ sn From the giving of the Law on the priesthood comes the prerogative of the tribe of Levi. There were, however, members of other tribes who served as priests from time to time (see Judg 17:5).

⁵ tn The construction has literally, “only the tribe of Levi you shall not number.” The Greek text rendered the particle אַךְ (’akh) forcefully with “see to it that” or “take care that.” For the uses of this form, see R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 65, §388-89.

⁶ tn Heb “lift up their head.”

⁷ tn Heb “in the midst of the sons of Israel.”