Question 1

Why are Nadab and Abihu mentioned as dying before the Lord?

Accepted Answer

Nadab and Abihu are named at the start as sons of Aaron who had been anointed as priests, but the passage quickly reminds us that they died when they offered “strange fire” before the Lord. This means they brought unauthorized worship, something God had not commanded. Their deaths show that serving near God’s presence is not casual work. It must follow his word, not human ideas. Their story explains why only Eleazar and Ithamar continue in the priest’s work and warns that holiness in worship is very serious.

Question 2

What special role did God give to the tribe of Levi here?

Accepted Answer

God took the tribe of Levi and brought them near to Aaron to help him. Their job was to keep watch over the tabernacle, its furniture, and all its tools, and to help with the service done there. They were given to Aaron and his sons to support the priestly work but were not priests themselves. They guarded the holy things, carried the parts of the tent when the people moved, and stood between the rest of Israel and the tabernacle so that no outsider came too near and died.

Question 3

Why did God take the Levites instead of all Israel’s firstborn sons?

Accepted Answer

God said that every firstborn in Israel belonged to him because he spared them when he struck the firstborn of Egypt. Instead of having every firstborn from every tribe serve at the tabernacle, he chose the whole tribe of Levi to stand in their place. The Levites became a living reminder that the people had been spared by God’s mercy and now belonged to him. This exchange also gave a single, set-apart tribe to care for the worship life of Israel in an ordered and steady way.

Question 4

What were the different duties of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari?

Accepted Answer

The three Levitical families each had clear tasks. The sons of Gershon cared for the tent itself, its coverings, curtains, and the hangings of the court. The sons of Kohath were responsible for the most holy objects inside, such as the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, and the vessels used in worship. The sons of Merari looked after the boards, bars, pillars, sockets, and all the structural pieces. Together they made sure every part of the tabernacle was handled with care and in order.

Question 5

Why was a stranger who came near the tabernacle put to death?

Accepted Answer

The warning about a stranger coming near shows how holy God’s dwelling was. “Stranger” here means anyone not appointed for that duty, even an Israelite from another tribe. God set clear boundaries: priests had one kind of work, Levites another, and the rest of the people were to stay back. If someone tried to take a role God had not given, or came too close to the sanctuary, it brought death. This protected the people from careless worship and taught them deep respect for God’s presence.

Question 6

What is the meaning of the redemption money paid for extra firstborn sons?

Accepted Answer

When the firstborn males of Israel were counted, there were more firstborn than Levites by 273. God told Moses that these extra firstborn should be redeemed with money, five shekels each, measured by the holy standard. This money was then given to Aaron and his sons. The payment showed that the extra firstborn still belonged to God and had to be bought back. It kept the numbers exact and reminded Israel that every spared life was owed to God and could not simply be treated as common.

Question 7

Why are male Levites counted from one month old and upward?

Accepted Answer

The Levites are counted from one month old instead of from fighting age like the other tribes. This shows they were not set apart for war but for service around the tabernacle. By counting even the very young, God shows that the whole tribe is his, from infancy. It also points to a lifelong calling. As they grew, boys would be trained into the work their family did, whether carrying curtains, caring for the structure, or handling holy things, so that service became a normal part of their life.

Question 8

What does this passage teach about God’s holiness and order in worship?

Accepted Answer

The passage shows that God cares about how he is approached. He assigns people, tasks, and even camping spots around the tabernacle. There are warnings about offering strange fire and about strangers coming near. Each family has a defined duty, and leaders are placed over them. All of this tells us that worship is not random. God is holy, and he chooses the way to draw near to him. His order protects the people and keeps their worship centered on his will instead of their own plans.

Question 9

How can the Levites’ service help believers think about their own roles today?

Accepted Answer

The Levites remind us that God uses many different kinds of service. Some carried curtains, some looked after wood and metal pieces, some oversaw the most sacred things. Each role mattered for the tabernacle to function. In a similar way, not everyone today has the same gift or public role, but each person in God’s people has work to do. This passage can encourage you to see even quiet or behind-the-scenes tasks as real service to God when they are done in obedience and faithfulness.

Numbers 3:1

These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the Lord spake with Moses in mount Sinai.

The Sons of Aaron

The Duties of the Levites

The Numbering of the Levites

The Gershonites

The Kohathites

The Merarites

Moses and Aaron

The Redemption of the Firstborn

The Sons of Aaron

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Numbers 3:1

These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the Lord spake with Moses in mount Sinai.

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The Sons of Aaron

The Duties of the Levites

The Numbering of the Levites

The Gershonites

The Kohathites

The Merarites

Moses and Aaron

The Redemption of the Firstborn

The Sons of Aaron

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