I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Numbers 3-4.

    Yesterday, I suggested two reasons why the Levites were not included in the census of those available to go to war for the Israelite nation. The first was that if they went to war they would be ceremonially unclean for handling the Tabernacle. The second was that they were reserved for the defense of the Tabernacle and its fittings. Today’s passage seems to confirm that my guess that it was the first rather than the second. The reason I reach that conclusion is that today’s passage contains a census of the males of the tribe of Levi. Unlike the census of those able to go to war, this census was of all males one month and older. These were dedicated to the Lord in place of the first born sons of the rest of the people of Israel.