Numbers 4:1-3

Numbers 4:1-3

 

And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,

From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

 

a. Only the sons of Kohath that were between 30 and fifty were allowed to do the work of the tabernacle.

 

b. There was a change in the age spectrum as far as the Levites are concerned later in Numbers.

 

1). Numbers 8:23-26 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:

And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more:

But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.

 

2). Dake note c. under Numbers 4:3. “The age of service for the ministers, in the beginning, was from 30 to 50 years of age – 20 years of service before retirement (v. 3, 23, 30), while that of soldiers was from 20 years to as old as their ability to make war. This 30 year age limit for entrance into ministerial work was reduced to 25 years shortly after this, Numbers 8:23-26…”