Numbers 3

“These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai.” Naming Moses and Aaron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.” Naming Aaron and Abihu keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the…” Naming Aaron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD , when they offered strange fire before the LORD , in the wilderness of…” Naming Aaron and Abihu keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.” Naming Aaron and Bring keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of…” Naming Aaron and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’s office: and the stranger that cometh…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,” Naming Moses and Sinai keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and…” Naming Levi and Number keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD , as he was commanded.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.” Naming Gershon and Kohath keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei.” Naming Gershon and Libni keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.” Naming Amram and Hebron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the…” Naming Levites and Mahli keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.” Naming Gershon and Gershonites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar…” The line’s distinctive content terms include court, altar, cords. Its relationship to verses 25 and 27 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and…” Naming Amramites and Hebronites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.” Naming Merari and Mahlites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six…” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cords, court, pillars. Its relationship to verses 36 and 38 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD , throughout…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and…” Naming Israel and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD ) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and…” Naming Israel and Levites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the…” The number five makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.” Naming Aaron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:” Naming Levites and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five…” The number thousand makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD , as…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.