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Numbers 3 · a question people ask

Why was it Levi that was taken?

Interpretation

Numbers 3 says why the firstborn belong to the LORD (3:13), but not why the tribe of Levi was the one taken in their place. The LORD says only, "the Levites shall be mine" (3:12). Readers answer in two main ways. Both agree on what the chapter itself says: the firstborn are the LORD's because of the day he struck the firstborn of Egypt (3:13).

How Christians read it

Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.

Their stand at the golden calf

When Moses called, "Whoever is on the LORD’s side, come to me!", "All the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him" (Exodus 32:26). Afterwards Moses said, "Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD… that he may give you a blessing today" (Exodus 32:29). Some read the Levites' place in Numbers 3 as that blessing.

Exodus 32:26-29

The LORD's own choice

Others take the reason to be the LORD's choice, stated as it stands: "the Levites shall be mine" (3:12, 3:45). Deuteronomy says it the same way: "At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the LORD’s covenant, to stand before the LORD to minister to him, and to bless in his name" (Deuteronomy 10:8).

Numbers 3:12 · Numbers 3:45 · Deuteronomy 10:8

The verses

““Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be mine, for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I made holy to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal. They shall be mine. I am the LORD.””
Numbers 3:12-13 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Numbers 3

Numbers 3: Instead of the firstborn

The Levites were taken "instead of all the firstborn" (3:12), because the firstborn were the LORD's from the day he struck Egypt's firstborn (3:13). The 273 firstborn beyond the Levites' number were redeemed at five shekels each (3:46-47). And in Hebrew, the "strange fire" (3:4) and the "stranger" who comes near (3:10) are the same word.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions