Numbers 7:1-89  Offerings at the Tabernacle’s Consecration

[Study Aired June 12, 2023]

Introduction

Today’s study focuses on the setting up of the tabernacle of the congregation and the offerings of the people of Israel. Therefore, it continues with the requirements needed to become a strong formidable army of the Lord such that we are victorious in every endeavor. Spiritually, today’s study touches on three key aspects needed as the Lord’s elect – the coming of the Lord to dwell in us, our offerings to the Lord and our communication with the Lord (prayer). Throughout the Old Testament, the habitation of the Lord was not with men, although they have the presence of the Lord in the physical tabernacle of the congregation. It was after the sacrificial offering of Christ’s life that He paved the way for God to dwell in man.

Hag 1:9  You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.
Hag 1:10  Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 
Hag 1:11  And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.” (ESV)

The verses above (Haggai 1:9-11) describe the sorrowful state we found ourselves in, just like the Old Testament period before Christ came to dwell in us. If the headquarters of an army lies in ruin, as the verses in Haggai describe, the army does not have any form of communication to guide those in the frontline of battle to know what to do to defeat the enemy. In addition, they do not have the support from headquarters in terms of food supplies, ammunition, and personnel reinforcement to engage the enemy they are fighting. The army’s ultimate defeat is therefore imminent. The story of the High Priest Eli’s sons who died in battle with several Israelites is a typical example of how we get defeated by the flesh when Christ’s habitation within us is in ruin or defiled.

1Sa 4:1  And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 
1Sa 4:2  The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle. 
1Sa 4:3  And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.” 
1Sa 4:4  So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 
1Sa 4:5  As soon as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. 
1Sa 4:6  And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, “What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” And when they learned that the ark of the LORD had come to the camp, 
1Sa 4:7  the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “A god has come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before.
1Sa 4:8  Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness. 
1Sa 4:9  Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight.” 
1Sa 4:10  So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. 
1Sa 4:11  And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died. 

The defeat of the Israelites was long overdue as a result of the sons of Eli’s sons who defiled the habitation of the Lord. 

1Sa 2:22  Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 

The Philistines here refer to our flesh. Our lives in Babylon were characterized by defeat upon defeat as a result of the defilement of the Lord’s habitation within us.

1Co 3:16  Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 
1Co 3:17  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. (ESV)

It is when Christ comes to us to make our bodies His dwelling place, that is when we can offer a sacrifice pleasing to Him.  As indicated, today’s study focuses on the setting up of the tabernacle of the congregation and the subsequent offerings by the people of Israel. The sacrifices were offered by the twelve tribes of Israel in twelve days. Since the sacrifice for each day is the same, today’s study will highlight the sacrifice for only the first day. 

Num 7:1  And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them; 

The setting up of the tabernacle typifies Christ coming to us to set up His dwelling place within us – our bodies. This is not a one-time event in our lives, but a process that takes place during our stay here on earth beginning from Christ coming to us. 

1Co 3:16  Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 
1Co 3:17  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. (ESV)

1Co 6:19  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 
1Co 6:20  for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

The setting up of the tabernacle or the temple of God within us is the beginning of the process of the Lord gathering together in one all things in Christ, both that which are in heaven and on earth.

Eph 1:10  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

It is significant to note that it was Moses who set up the tabernacle. What this implies is that it is only within the elect, signified by Moses, that the Lord is setting up His dwelling place in this age. 

Mal 3:1  Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. 

In another perspective, Moses represents the Lord Jesus Christ. In this regard, we can say that it is the Lord alone who can set up our bodies as the temple of God. It is not of man’s will or what we can do, but it is God’s election. In other words, coming to serve the Lord does not originate from man. 

Rom 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Moses anointing the tabernacle in verse 1 is the sending of the Holy Spirit within us as a deposit guarantee. As we are aware, the promise of the Holy Spirit is to guide us into the truth of the word of the Lord. In other words, the Holy Spirit helps us to understand the manual (the word of the Lord) for maintaining the tabernacle or the temple of the Lord within us. 

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 
Joh 16:14  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 
Joh 16:15  All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

In verse 1, Moses also sanctified the tabernacle and all the instruments and vessels within it. Sanctification means to be set apart for special use or purpose. It also means declaring something holy, and being holy implies the process of being freed from sin or purified. What this means is that those in whom Christ is setting up the temple of God within are being purified or freed from sin. As we have learned in all our studies, being purified or freed from sin is through the judgment of our old man by the Lord.  Christ coming to us to set up His tabernacle within us is through judgment so that we can learn righteousness.

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 
2Th 2:8  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.

Isa 26:8  In the path of your judgments, O LORD, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul. 
Isa 26:9  My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

Num 7:2  That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered:

The princes of Israel and the heads of the house of their fathers, who were princes of the tribes, represent the elect. Remember that we are a royal priesthood and therefore princes of the Lord our King.

1Pe 2:9  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (ESV) 

It is after the Lord comes to us to establish His tabernacle within us that we are judged, and it is by the judgment process that we become sanctified for the Lord. It is through this process of sanctification that we can offer sacrifice pleasing to the Lord. The sequence of events ordered by the Lord is as follows: First the Lord comes to us to set up His temple. This is followed by the process of sanctification, which involves judgment of our old man. It is then that we can offer ourselves as a sacrifice pleasing to the Lord. This is demonstrated clearly in the following verses of Malachi.

Mal 3:1  “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
Mal 3:2  But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 
Mal 3:3  He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. 
Mal 3:4  Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years. 
Mal 3:5  “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.

Num 7:3  And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle. 

The offering the leaders of Israel brought included six covered wagons and the twelve oxen were for the transportation of the tabernacle and the altar in the wilderness.  Spiritually, the six covered wagons represent the Lord’s elect, as the number six signifies mankind. As His elect, we are the ones carrying Christ with us wherever we go here on earth. We can therefore see that without the tabernacle or Christ dwelling in us, we do not have anything to carry as wagons to others. The wagons being covered means that many people will not recognize that we are carrying Christ with us unless the wagons are uncovered. This is because we do not carry ourselves as ordained ministers of Christ as our brothers and sisters in Babylon do. We shall be revealed or uncovered in the fullness of time when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. This is Paul’s view of the Lord’s messengers in this age who are covered:

1Co 4:9  For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 
1Co 4:10  We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 
1Co 4:11  To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 
1Co 4:12  and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 
1Co 4:13  when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.(ESV) 

The fact that every two princes donated a wagon is to show us that we are to serve as witnesses of Christ wherever we go. 

Act 1:8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

The twelve oxen which were offered by each leader represent Christ, who was offered for our sake and for the whole of mankind to serve as the foundation for the building of the temple of God within us.  

1Co 3:10  According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 
1Co 3:11  For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

Num 7:4  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 7:5  Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service. 
Num 7:6  And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. 
Num 7:7  Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service: 
Num 7:8  And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 
Num 7:9  But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders. 
Num 7:10  And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar. 

The fact that the Lord told Moses to accept the offering is to let us know that as we offer our bodies as living sacrifices to the Lord, it is acceptable and pleasing to Him. 

Rom 12:1  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 
Rom 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

The giving of the offerings to the Levites is to show us the Lord’s intent in taking care of us who work in His vineyard to make our work easier. It is significant to note that the Kohath were not given any of the offerings for the simple reason that they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on their shoulders. The Holy things cannot be borne by oxen-driven wagons as shown by the Lord in the example of David bringing the ark to Jerusalem. 

2Sa 6:1  David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 
2Sa 6:2  And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. 
2Sa 6:3  And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, 
2Sa 6:4  with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark.
2Sa 6:5  And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.
2Sa 6:6  And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 
2Sa 6:7  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God.

We know that oxen are beasts. What the Lord is teaching us is that as long as the beast within us is dominating or driving us, there is no way that we can carry Christ and His words. It is when Christ comes to us that the beast in us is dealt with and therefore, we can bear the Holy things of God. 

Ecc 3:18  I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts.

It is insightful to note that all the Levites except the Kohath were given wagons to transport the tabernacle. The things that are transported by the wagons are not the Holy things. These Levites who are given wagons and oxen represent Babylon who carry Christ (the gospel) on beast-dominated bodies. Since they do not carry the Holy things, there is no way that what they preach will make one holy. We, the elect, in this case represent the Kohath who bear the Holy things on our shoulders – not on oxen-driven wagons.

Part 2

The rest of the chapter deals with the offering by the twelve leaders – an offering by a leader each day. The offering by each leader is the same. The only difference is the day on which it was offered. The different days of offerings by the leaders of Israel show us that some of us become mature early, while others mature later to offer their sacrifice. It also shows us how each generation of elect is offering their bodies as a sacrifice to the Lord. Although the Lord has given us various talents or gifts, what we all offer to the Lord, in view of His mercies towards us, is our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to the Lord. Offering our bodies as living sacrifices entails not conforming to the standards of this world but being transformed by the renewing of our minds to know what the Lord requires of us. Since our offerings are the same, the reward by the Lord is also the same for every elect. 

Num 7:11  And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar. 
Num 7:12  And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah: 
Num 7:13  And his offering was one silver charger, the weight thereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 
Num 7:14  One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense: 
Num 7:15  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 
Num 7:16  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:17  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

The first two items offered were a silver plate weighing 130 shekels and a silver sprinkling bowl weighing 70 shekels. These silver vessels were filled full of the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering. Silver is a desired precious commodity. Since these vessels are to be used in the house of God, they represent the elect whom the Lord has redeemed with His precious blood. These vessels must be filled full of fine flour mingled with oil. This means that as the Lord’s chosen vessels, we must be filled full of His words which are spirit. In other words, we must understand the spiritual interpretation of the word of the Lord. 

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Gen 45:22  To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.

The fact that the silver plate weighs 130 shekels signifies that we must pass through the process of judgment to mature (significance of the number 3) as vessels worthy to be used in the house of God. As the Lord’s redeemed vessels, we must all be united with one in mind and speaking the same thing (significance the number 1).

1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

The second item offered was a gold dish weighing 10 shekels which was filled with incense. The 10 shekels means that it is the fullness of our flesh that brings the Lord to drag us to judgment so we can become vessels of gold in the house of the Lord. That is when we can offer prayers as incense to the Lord. 

Job 23:10  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Rev 8:3  And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev 8:4  And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

The third items offered were a young bull, one ram and one male lamb for a burnt offering. Jesus is the young bull, the ram and the male lamb who was offered for the sins of the elect and the rest of the world. 

Joh 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

The fourth item was one male goat for a sin offering. We, His elect, are the male goat that was set free in the wilderness as part of our sin offering.

Lev 16:21  And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
Lev 16:22  And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

The last set of items mentioned were the two oxen, five male goats and five male lambs of the first year. These are to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering to the Lord. As the Lord has sacrificed His life for us, we must also be prepared to lay down our lives as a living sacrifice to the Lord. The number five of the goats and lambs is to suggest that it is with grace through faith that we can offer ourselves as living sacrifices to the Lord. The two oxen imply that we are witnesses of Christ in this world.

Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The rest of the chapter narrates the offerings from the second day to the end of the twelfth day. Since the offerings are the same each day, and we have explained the significance of the various items offered, we shall only provide the Bible verses here.

Num 7:18  On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, did offer: 
Num 7:19  He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 
Num 7:20  One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:21  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:22  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:23  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nethaneel the son of Zuar.
Num 7:24  On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, did offer: 
Num 7:25  His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 
Num 7:26  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:27  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:28  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:29  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.
Num 7:30  On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, did offer: 
Num 7:31  His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
Num 7:32  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:33  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:34  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:35  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.
Num 7:36  On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, did offer:
Num 7:37  His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 
Num 7:38  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:39  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:40  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:41  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
Num 7:42  On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered:
Num 7:43  His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, a silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
Num 7:44  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:45  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:46  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:47  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
Num 7:48  On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered:
Num 7:49  His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
Num 7:50  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:51  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:52  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:53  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud. 
Num 7:54  On the eighth day offered Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh: 
Num 7:55  His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 
Num 7:56  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:57  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:58  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:59  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
Num 7:60  On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered:
Num 7:61  His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 
Num 7:62  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:63  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:64  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:65  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.
Num 7:66  On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered:
Num 7:67  His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 
Num 7:68  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:69  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering: 
Num 7:70  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:71  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 
Num 7:72  On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered:
Num 7:73  His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 
Num 7:74  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:75  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:76  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:77  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran.
Num 7:78  On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered:
Num 7:79  His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering: 
Num 7:80  One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 
Num 7:81  One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
Num 7:82  One kid of the goats for a sin offering: 
Num 7:83  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.
Num 7:84  This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold: 
Num 7:85  Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
Num 7:86  The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels.
Num 7:87  All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve. 
Num 7:88  And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.  
Num 7:89  And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him. 

Verse 89 says that Moses heard the voice of the Lord within the veil, specifically, between the two cherubims. As we offer ourselves as living sacrifices to the Lord, we shall hear the voice of the Lord clearly as we walk with Him. Amen!!

[Study Aired May 15, 2023]

Num 4:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
Num 4:2  Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers, 
Num 4:3  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. 
Num 4:4  This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things:
Num 4:5  And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it: 
Num 4:6  And shall put thereon the covering of badgers’ skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof.
Num 4:7  And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon: 
Num 4:8  And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put in the staves thereof. 
Num 4:9  And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuff dishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it: 
Num 4:10  And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put it upon a bar. 
Num 4:11  And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put to the staves thereof: 
Num 4:12  And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put them on a bar: 
Num 4:13  And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon: 
Num 4:14  And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers’ skins, and put to the staves of it. 
Num 4:15  And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation. 
Num 4:16  And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof. 
Num 4:17  And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
Num 4:18  Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites: 
Num 4:19  But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden: 
Num 4:20  But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die. 

This session covers the work of Moses, Aaron and his sons as priests, when they were to set out from one place to another in the wilderness. The priests had the privilege of packing the vessels within the tabernacle of the congregation. In everyday life, it is those who are very close to you who can pack your belongings. He who packs another person’s belongings sees all his mysteries and secrets. We are therefore privileged to become part of the Lord’s royal priesthood to be able to know the mysteries of His kingdom!!

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Num 4:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 
Num 4:2  Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers, 
Num 4:3  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.
Num 4:4  This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things:

We can see from these verses that there is an age requirement for one to do the work of the Lord regarding the tabernacle of the Congregation. To serve as a Kohath or a Levite, one has to be between the ages of thirty and fifty. In other words, one has to be spiritually mature to do the work of the Lord as the ages specified refer to the “golden years” of our lives where we are mature and have the necessary strength to do all kinds of work. The number 30 signifies the time we are spiritually mature, as we have our senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Our spiritual maturity involves going through fiery trials as we see Joseph go through trials to become Prime Minister of Egypt at the age 30. The number fifty refers to the liberty we have in Christ as we become spiritually mature. This liberty is about our freedom from bondage to sin.

Gen 41:46  And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 

Gal 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Gal 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

As we recall from the Bible, our Lord Jesus Christ waited until He was thirty years old before He began His ministry or work of service to God. Although He was a son, He learned obedience by the things He suffered and became the author of salvation, to the elect first and then to the rest of the world.

Luk 3:23  And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, 

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 
Heb 5:10  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

What we need to understand is that becoming a servant of Christ is not a job for babies or children in Christ. We need to be spiritually thirty years old and above to serve the Lord. The Bible has a lot to warn us about children who try to serve as they assume leadership of the Lord’s people. This is what happens:

Isa 3:4  And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. 
Isa 3:5  And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

Isa 3:12  As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

In Isaiah 3:12, it is insightful to note that children ruling is equivalent to women ruling. In the physical churches of this world, or Babylon, it is children who are ruling, and it is the same as the church (the harlot woman) dominating the lives of the Lord’s people instead of Christ.

Rev 17:3  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:4  And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 
Rev 17:5  And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

Num 4:5  And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it: 
Num 4:6  And shall put thereon the covering of badgers’ skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof.

The services slated for Aaron and his sons relate to when the camp is setting out, that is, when the Israelites were moving from one place to another. The first item to be moved was the ark of the testimony. As we indicated in the studies in Exodus, the ark represents Christ or the word of the Lord.

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Numbers 4:5-6 spiritually refer to the duties of the elect (represented by Aaron and his sons) as it relates to the spreading or the movement of the gospel of Christ. What we need to realize is that the ark, or the word of the Lord, must be covered with a veil, a badgers’ skin and a cloth of blue color when Israel was on the move. The veil that is taken from the tabernacle to cover the ark signifies the flesh of Christ as shown in the following: 

Heb 10:20  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

The badger skin refers to the skin of an animal, probably a goat or sheep or dolphin, etc. It symbolizes the sacrificial death of Christ while the cloth with the color blue refers to the resurrected Lord in our hearts and mind or heavens.

In summary, all the coverings represent Christ, and as long as we see Christ in the flesh in terms of His life and death, the word of the Lord (the ark) is veiled. It is when we begin to see Christ in the spirit that the veil is taken away. That is when we begin to know Christ or His words (the ark). This is what Paul said about knowing Christ after the spirit:

2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

2Co 3:16  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Verses 5 and 6 refer to the duties of the elect as they relate to the way the gospel of Christ must be sent. The gospel we are carrying is veiled or shrouded in a mystery. It is only those who know Christ in the spirit who can understand the Christ whom we present.

1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 
1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 
1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 
1Co 2:11  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 
1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 
1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 
1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The staves, or the poles, in verse 6 are the elect who carry the veiled message of the gospel. It is the Levites (Babylonians) who carry us on their shoulders as we propagate our veiled message. In other words, our brothers and sisters in Babylon are the ones who do the heavy work of using the law as our schoolmaster to lead people to Christ. It is when they come to Christ that we take over by unwrapping the word of the Lord for them to see the ark clearly as priests.

Joh 4:37  And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 
Joh 4:38  I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

Num 4:7  And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:
Num 4:8  And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put in the staves thereof.

The table of showbread together with the bread and its accessories symbolize the altar where the elect share the word of the Lord. The covering of the table of the showbread and its accessories means that our brothers and sisters in Babylon, representing the Levites, are not allowed to partake with us the word of truth, which is Christ. The reason they cannot partake with us the truth of the word of the Lord is that they have been swept away by divers and strange doctrines.

Heb 13:9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

It is very instructive to note that the cloth used to initially cover the table of the showbread was scarlet, which is red and refers to Adam whose name means red, that is earthy. What we are being told therefore is that we, the Lord’s elect, are the treasure in earthen vessels. After the table and its accessories were covered with the scarlet cloth, they are again wrapped in badgers’ skin. This signifies that being given to eat in the presence of the Lord is associated with the process of dying to the old man through suffering as our Lord Jesus Christ took the lead to offer His life for our sake. This is what the word of the Lord has to say about this:

2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 
2Co 4:8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 
2Co 4:9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 
2Co 4:10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
2Co 4:11  For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
2Co 4:12  So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

Num 4:9  And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuff dishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it: 
Num 4:10  And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put it upon a bar.

The candlesticks symbolize the church of the firstborn or the elect. The lamps refer to the word of the Lord and the oil stands for the Holy Spirit. The church of the elect is not visible to the world. It is hidden from the sight of Babylon and the people of the world. It is only when the veil is taken away that the church becomes visible. In this age, it is only those whose names have been written before the foundations of the world who become part of the elect who are those from whom the Lord is removing the veil to see the church of the elect. The rest of the world, including our brothers and sisters in Babylon, will see this glorious church when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. The veil being removed means we are given to understand or know Christ in the spirit and not in the flesh. It is when we understand His words in the spirit that we can know the church of the elect or Jerusalem which is above. 

Rev 1:20  The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 
Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 
Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 
Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Num 4:11  And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:

The golden altar is a symbol of the sacrificial death of Christ for the sake of all humanity. The elect represent the staves which are used to carry the golden altar. We are therefore always carrying in our body the dying of the Lord Jesus so that the life of Christ might be made manifest in our lives. The fact that the world, or our brothers and sisters in Babylon, do not see us bearing in our body the dying of Christ means that the golden altar is hidden from the Levites (Babylonians) as it is covered by a cloth of blue and the badgers’ skin. 

2Co 4:10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
2Co 4:11  For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
2Co 4:12  So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

As indicated earlier, the blue cloth represents Christ in our heavens, and the badger skin represents the dying of Christ. What this means is that it is when we begin to know or worship Christ in the spirit and in truth that the veil is taken away to see the dying of Christ in our bodies. This dying of Christ in our bodies symbolizes the suffering we must endure to manifest Christ in our lives.

Joh 4:21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Num 4:12  And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put them on a bar: 
Num 4:13  And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon: 
Num 4:14  And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers’ skins, and put to the staves of it. 

All the instruments of ministry are covered with cloth of blue and the badger skin. We, the Lord’s elect, are the instruments of ministry. In other words, we are used for honorable purposes. 

2Ti 2:20  Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 
2Ti 2:21  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

What verses 12 to 14 imply is that as vessels of ministry, we the elect, are not visible to the world. including our brothers and sisters in Babylon. We are covered with a cloth of blue and a badger skin. We are only visible when the Lord removes the veil covering us. That is why our Lord Jesus, when He was getting to the end of His life, told the Pharisees that all those in Jerusalem (Babylon) will not see Him again until the time comes they acknowledge the elect by saying that blessed is he (the elect) who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Luk 13:34  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 
Luk 13:35  Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ 

It is when the veil is taken away that we see who the Lord’s children really are. Since the Lord’s children represent Jesus of Nazareth, being given the power to see the Lord’s elect means seeing our Lord Jesus Christ!! As the Lord said, it is a blessing to see those who come in the name of the Lord!!

Act 9:4  And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 
Act 9:5  And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Num 4:15  And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

The sons of Kohath who were part of the Levites were required to bear all the vessels of the sanctuary as the people of Israel journeyed through the desert. It must have been a very difficult task to carry all the vessels in the heat of the desert. That is what is happening today as we see our brothers and sisters from Babylon do all the taxing duties to make it easier for the Lord’s elect to reap the harvest. The parable of the hired laborers illustrates this point clearly.

Mat 20:1  “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
Mat 20:2  After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Mat 20:3  And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 
Mat 20:4  and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ 
Mat 20:5  So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 
Mat 20:6  And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
Mat 20:7  They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ 
Mat 20:8  And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ 
Mat 20:9  And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 
Mat 20:10  Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 
Mat 20:11  And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house,
Mat 20:12  saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’
Mat 20:13  But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 
Mat 20:14  Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you.
Mat 20:15  Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’
Mat 20:16  So the last will be first, and the first last.”

All the earlier laborers had worked more hours than the laborers who came in last, and these laborers who came in last were the first to receive the prize. It is indeed a privilege to be called and chosen in this age!!

Joh 4:37  For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’
Joh 4:38  I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.

It is also important to note that the sons of Kohath were forbidden to touch any holy thing lest they die. As we are aware, you can only give what you have. If you are not required to touch holy things, there is no way that you can make someone holy, since you are not holy. Being forbidden to touch holy things is another way of saying that in spite of the hard work of our brothers and sisters in Babylon, the fruits of their labors do not result in people becoming holy. As a matter of fact, they become worse off or twice the children of hell. That is where we all came from. Before we exited Babylon, we were all twice the children of hell before we received the mercies of the Lord. 

Mat 23:13  “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. 

Mat 23:15  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.” 

The Kohathites, or the Babylonians, being forbidden to touch any holy thing is the same as what our Lord Jesus said about the multitude who came to listen to Him.

Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them (the multitude) in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 
Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 
Mat 13:15  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 

Num 4:16  And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.

As priests of the Lord, the elect are the only ones who are anointed by the Lord to offer sweet incense (prayers), meat offering (offering their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to the Lord) and oil for the light (are given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God).

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you (the priests) to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them (the Levites or Babylonians) it is not given.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Num 4:17  And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
Num 4:18  Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:
Num 4:19  But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden:
Num 4:20  But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.

The Lord’s admonition to Moses and Aaron was very appropriate. Because the Kohathites’ work in carrying the important vessels of the temple was extremely significant compared with the other Levites, who were to carry superficial things like boards, sockets, pillars, etc., there was the tendency on the part of Moses and Aaron to regard them as more important than the other Levites and therefore cut them off from the Levites. However, since the Kohathites were restricted from touching the holy things, they were not different from the other Levites. In other words, they represent Babylon.

As we are aware, there are many brothers and sisters whose work is so important and sometimes what they say borders on the truth of the Lord’s words. There is therefore this tendency to regard them as different from Babylon. However, since they have not left Babylon, they are still part of Babylon and share in their sins. What we are to do is not to disregard the role our brothers and sisters in Babylon (Kohathites) play in the grand scheme of the Lord in bringing people to Christ. Inasmuch as we are to appreciate the work our brothers and sisters do in Babylon, we are not to cast our pearls before them.

Mat 7:6  Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Luk 9:49  And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
Luk 9:50  And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

We thank God for His mercies towards us by calling and choosing us to be part of His priesthood in this life. What a blessing our Lord has bestowed on us!! May His name be praised forever, Amen!!!

Numbers 3:27-51  The Duties of the Levites – Part 2

[Study Aired May 8, 2023]

Num 3:27  And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.
Num 3:28  In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.
Num 3:29  The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward. 
Num 3:30  And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 
Num 3:31  And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.
Num 3:32  And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary. 
Num 3:33  Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.
Num 3:34  And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred. 
Num 3:35  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 side of the tabernacle northward. 
Num 3:36  And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto, 
Num 3:37  And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords. 
Num 3:38  But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. 
Num 3:39  All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand. 
Num 3:40  And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. 
Num 3:41  And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel. 
Num 3:42  And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
Num 3:43  And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen. 
Num 3:44  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 3:45  Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD. 
Num 3:46  And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites; 
Num 3:47  Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:) 
Num 3:48  And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons. 
Num 3:49  And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites: 
Num 3:50  Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: 
Num 3:51  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 LORD commanded Moses.

Introduction

This session looks at the roles of the Kohathites and the families of the sons of Merari, who were all part of the tribe of the Levites. It also takes a look at the payment of the redeemed amount resulting from the excess of the firstborns of Israel who were being replaced by the Levites as commanded by the Lord. We, His elect, are the laborers or the Levites who are replacing the firstborns. As our Lord Jesus stated, the laborers are always fewer than those who parade themselves as apostles of the gospel but are actually the firstborns who have been replaced. Such apostles think they have the legitimate right to lead the Lord’s people but are actually false apostles, deceitful workers who have transformed themselves into apostles of Christ.

Mat 9:37  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 
Mat 9:38  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. 

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Num 3:27  And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites. 

Kohath is the second son of Levi, and the name Kohath signifies an assembly. As we know, there are two types of assembly in the sight of God – the Babylonian assembly and that of the elect. Since the Kohathites belong to the Levite order and not the priesthood, they represent Babylonian assembly or Jerusalem, which is in bondage with her children.

Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

The names of the sons of Kohath are Amram, Izehar, Hebron and Uzziel. Amram means ‘exalted people’, Izehar means ‘anointed’, Hebron signifies ‘seat of association’ and Uzziel means ‘the strength of God’. What these names imply is that the Kohathites are associated with the exalted people of God (the elect) who are anointed through the strength of the Lord. This is affirmed through the following scripture:

Num 18:2  And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.

Num 18:4  And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.

Num 3:28  In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.

The number of males of the Kohathites counted was 8,600. This means that being a Kohathite (the significance of the number 6) is all part of the process of giving birth to the new man who is after the image of Christ. As we are aware, it is as we come out of the Babylonian system (Kohathites) that Christ begins to transform us into new creatures, that is, the new man begins to be formed in us.

Col 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Num 3:29  The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.

The families of the sons of Kohath were to dwell on the southward side of the tabernacle. Pitching their camp on the south side of the tabernacle of congregation means that their dwelling portion in this life is towards the sea. In other words, this group are those who start their journey with the Lord. However, the pull of the sea of flesh denied them from attaining the higher calling of the Lord.

Eze 48:28  And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar unto the waters of strife in Kadesh, and to the river toward the great sea.

Mat 13:22  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 

Num 3:30  And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 

The leader of the Kohathites is called Elizaphan which means ‘my God has protected’. The implication here is that in the grand scheme of the Lord, He is the one who is protecting the Kohathites to play the role of capturing the Lord’s children in Babylonian captivity until the set times that they are released to know Christ. 

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Psa 137:1  By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 
Psa 137:2  We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 
Psa 137:3  For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

Num 3:31  And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.

These Kohathites are to take care of the ark, the table, the candlesticks, the altars and all the vessels used in the Holy place. As we indicated in the previous study, the Kohathites, who were part of the Levites, are given to the elect to help them minister to the Lord. They do the initial leg work of using the law of Moses as our schoolmaster to lead us to Christ. After we get to know Christ through faith, we are no longer under their influence or the law of Moses. Today’s Kohathites also represent the Christian religion. They are focused on building and taking care of physical churches (tabernacle of testimony). In other words, they are protecting the legacy of the Christian religion.

Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 
Gal 3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Num 3:32  And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary. 

Eleazer, the Priest, was the appointed leader of the Levites as he oversaw the work of the Levites. Eleaser means ‘God is help’. We can therefore say that the Lord Jesus Christ is the one who helps our brothers and sisters in Babylon carry out their work, which is related to the letter of the word which brings death. As we all know, all the good and the evil things that are happening in this world are all part of the plan of the Lord. As the Bible indicates, all things, whether good or evil, are being done for our sakes, the elect, including the work of the false apostles in Babylon.

1Co 3:21  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 
1Co 3:22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 

Num 3:33  Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.
Num 3:34  And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.

Merari was the last son of Merari. The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. Mahli means ‘weak’, and Mushi signifies ‘yielding’. This spiritually means that since our flesh is weak, we naturally yield to the deeds of the flesh. That is what characterized our lives in Babylon as we were yielding to the deeds of the flesh because of what we hear from our leaders in Babylon.

Mat 26:41  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 
2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 
2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

The total number of the males that were counted for the families of Merari was 6,200. This signifies that the weakness of our flesh as man (the meaning of the number 6) serves as a witness (the meaning of the number 2) to our failure to inherit the promise unless the Lord intervenes by driving us out of Babylon (families of Merari).

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

The name Merari means ‘bitter’, which is part of the deeds of the flesh which we are warned by the Lord can disqualify us for the prize.

Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 
Heb 12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 
Heb 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Num 3:35  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 side of the tabernacle northward. 

The head of the families of Merari is Zuriel which means ‘God is a rock’. This is therefore to let us know that our Lord Jesus is the one who is actively involved in the affairs of the families of Merari who represent Babylon. 

Dan 4:17  This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

The fact that the families of the Merari were required to dwell on the northern side of the tabernacle suggests that this group is far away from the sea of flesh. Thus, the sons of the Merari represent our brothers and sisters in Babylon who have escaped from the corruption that is in the world through lust of the flesh but are being entrapped into it due to false doctrines perpetrated by their leaders. This affirms our earlier assertion of the spiritual state of this group of the Levites.

2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 
2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Num 3:36  And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto, 
Num 3:37  And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.

The responsibility of the sons of Merari was toward the frames of the tabernacle, the bars, the pillars, the bases, and all their accessories. In addition to this, they were to take care of the pillars around the court, with their bases and pegs and cords and the services connected with these. All these responsibilities relate to superficial aspects of serving the Lord. It has nothing to do with worshiping the Lord in truth and in spirit, which is the portion of the elect. What Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that they worship what they do not know is very relevant today. Many worship another Jesus thinking it is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Joh 4:21  Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 
Joh 4:22  You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 
Joh 4:23  But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
Joh 4:24  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Num 3:38  But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. 

It was Moses, Aaron and his sons who were required to dwell on the East side of the tabernacle. It is from the East that the sun of righteousness rises with healing in its wings. This affirms that Moses, Aaron and his sons, who represent the priesthood, symbolize the elect who are first to experience the rise of the sun of righteousness in this life.

Mal 4:2  But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 
Mal 4:3  And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts.

The wicked in Malachi 4:3 refers to our old man who we are destined to tread down.

We are told in Numbers 3:38 that the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. The stranger represents all those who are not called and chosen but are forcing themselves into the kingdom of God. Our Lord Jesus mentioned that the kingdom of God has suffered violence since John the Baptist as strangers try to usurp the rightful owners (the elect) through their perceived will. 

Mat 11:12  From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. (ESV)

As we know, the kingdom of God, which rightfully belongs to the elect, is given but is not there to be taken. Many people of various religions of this world including Christianity are typical examples of strangers coming nigh to take what belongs to the elect and are therefore put to death as shown in verse 38. Being put to death means they are blinded with thick darkness by the Lord and kept until judgment as shown in these verses: 

2Pe 2:1  But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 
2Pe 2:2  And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 
2Pe 2:3  And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. 
2Pe 2:4  For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; 

2Pe 2:9  then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, 
2Pe 2:10  and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones,

Num 3:39  All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand. 

As indicated in the previous study, the Levites needed to be counted. The reason the Levites were counted was that since they were required to replace the firstborns, it was necessary that the number of Levites had to be equal to the number of firstborns of Israel and that any shortage would then be redeemed. The number of the Levites counted was 22,000. On a positive note, this number suggests that we, the elect, who are replacing those who have been shown mercy are called and chosen to become witnesses of Christ. 

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 

Num 3:40  And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. 
Num 3:41  And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel. 
Num 3:42  And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
Num 3:43  And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.

Spiritually, the Levites replacing the firstborn of the children of Israel is a foretaste of the fact that the Lord’s election is no longer dependent on a person’s pedigree or his or her birth. Paul made this clear when through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he made the statement that it is not one who is born a Jew that counts, but a Jew is a person who worships the Lord in truth and in spirit. 

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 
Rom 2:29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

The number of the firstborn counted was 22,273. This means that at the completion of the ages (the significance of the number 7), all those who were initially shown mercy will become witnesses of Christ (the significance of the number 2) as they go through the process of spiritual maturity through judgment (the significance of the number 3).

Num 3:44  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 
Num 3:45  Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD. 
Num 3:46  And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites; 
Num 3:47  Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:) 
Num 3:48  And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons. 
Num 3:49  And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites: 
Num 3:50  Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: 
Num 3:51  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 LORD commanded Moses. 

The amount of money paid to Aaron and his sons as a result of the difference in number between the firstborn and the Levites was 1,365 shekels. This amount shows us the sacrifice that our Lord Jesus Christ made on our behalf for us to be considered part of the commonwealth of God’s people.

Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 
Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 
Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 
Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 
Eph 2:17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 
Eph 2:18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

The redeemed amount of 1,365 shekels shows us that we need to have the same mind with Christ or to be united with Christ (the significance of the number 1) in our lives here as men (the significance of the number 6). This is achieved by the process of spiritual maturity through judgment (the significance of the number 3). All this is possible by grace through faith (the significance of the number 5). This grace through faith is made possible through the Lord’s sacrifice with His life. We, the elect, are those who have been redeemed through the precious blood of Christ. 

Eph 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 
Eph 1:8  Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 
Eph 1:9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 
Eph 1:10  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

May the Lord be merciful to us as He continues to redeem us!! Amen!!