See note 8*1. The Kohathites were to take care of the contents of the tabernacle (vv. 30-31; 4:15). Spiritually, this signifies taking care of Christ, i.e., ministering Christ to others by presenting to them all the aspects of the rich Christ signified by the Ark, the table of the bread of the Presence, the lampstand, the altar of burnt offering, the incense altar, the vessels of the sanctuary, and the veil. The principle is the same in caring for all the items related to the tabernacle. See notes in Exo. chs. 25—30 concerning the different parts of the tabernacle.

vv. 25-26; Num. 4:24-26

God gave Jacob twelve sons so that there could be twelve tribes encamped around the tabernacle, three tribes on each of the four sides (ch. 2). God gave Levi three sons to camp around three sides of the tabernacle in the midst of the four camps (2:17) — the Gershonites on the west (v. 23), the Kohathites on the south (v. 29), and the sons of Merari on the north (v. 35). Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons camped on the east, in front of the tabernacle (v. 38). Only God could provide the persons needed to have such an array. None of those involved in this array was hired; all were born. Likewise, the building up of the Body of Christ has nothing to do with hired persons; it is altogether a matter of the divine life through the divine birth and is therefore organic (Eph. 4:11-16).

The Levites replaced the firstborn of Israel (vv. 5-9, 11-37, 39-51). Through the passover all the firstborn of Israel were redeemed, saved, and replaced (Exo. 12:12-13, 23; 13:11-15). Because of this, in succeeding generations all the firstborn males among the children of Israel were to be replaced by the Levites, the serving ones. Hence, the number of Levites had to equal the number of firstborn, and any shortage had to be redeemed. This replacing of the firstborn by the Levites, the serving ones, indicates that everyone who has been redeemed, saved, and replaced — all the believers in Christ — must serve (cf. Matt. 25:14-30).

I.e., a layman, someone who was not a priest.

Or, number. See note Num. 1:3³.

The Tabernacle of the Testimony with all its furnishings and the altar (vv. 25-26, 31, 36-37), to which the priests ministered, are types of Christ in all His rich aspects, whom the New Testament believers minister to others (Eph. 3:8; 2 Cor. 3:3; 1 Tim. 4:6). The altar, signifying the cross (Heb. 13:10), refers to Christ’s redemption, and the tabernacle refers to Christ as the embodiment of God (Col. 2:9), through whom God dwells among men (John 1:14) and through whom men can enter into God to enjoy all that He is (John 14:2, 6, 20). To minister is to serve, and to serve is to supply people by ministering to them. The New Testament believers serve others the cross of Christ for redemption (1 Cor. 1:23; 2:2) and the riches of Christ for the life supply (Eph. 3:8; Col. 1:27-28).

See Lev. 10:1-2 and notes.

Lit, whose hands were filled.

cf. Gen. 5:1; 10:1

Aaron and his sons, the priests, were to keep the charge of the sanctuary (vv. 32, 38b), i.e., to be held responsible for the entire sanctuary — the tabernacle with its two sections, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies — and everything related to it. They were to do this “for the charge of the children of Israel,” meaning that if the children of Israel could not keep the charges given to them by God concerning the tabernacle, the priests were held responsible to correct the people or keep them away from the sanctuary or fulfill the charges for them. In principle those who serve as New Testament priests (1 Pet. 2:5, 9) bear the same responsibility for others’ service.