Numbers - 1:49

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49 "Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, neither shall you take a census of them among the children of Israel;

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Numbers 1:49.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:
Only the tribe of Levi thou shalt not number, neither shalt thou take the sum of them among the children of Israel;
Number not the tribe of Levi, neither shalt thou put down the sum of them with the children of Israel:
'Only, the tribe of Levi thou dost not number, and their sum thou dost not take up in the midst of the sons of Israel;
Only you shall not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:
Only the tribe of Levi is not to be numbered among the children of Israel,
'Howbeit the tribe of Levi thou shalt not number, neither shalt thou take the sum of them among the children of Israel;
"Do not number the tribe of Levi, neither shall you take a total of them with the sons of Israel.
Veruntamen (vel, utique, vel, tantummodo) tribum Levi non numerabis, neque summam eorum capies in medio filiorum Israel.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

Only thou shall not number the tribe of Levi,.... That is, along with the other tribes, for it might be numbered by itself, as it afterwards was, Numbers 3:43,
neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel; which confirms what is before observed: now this being the declared will of God clears Moses from all partiality to his own tribe, he doing nothing but what he had a command of God for it.

Levi - Because they were not generally to go out to war, which was the thing principally eyed in this muster, Numbers 1:3, Numbers 1:20, Numbers 1:45, but were to attend upon the service of the tabernacle. They that minister upon holy things, should not entangle themselves in secular affairs. The ministry itself is work enough for a whole man, and all little enough to be employed in it.

*More commentary available at chapter level.

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