NOTES for Nb 3:1-51

The Lord wants the very best to belong to Him. This desire of His also extends to people, to the firstborn, their parents’ strongest and most vigorous children. As we see, instead of all the firstborn being sacrificed to Him, an offering often practiced by pagans, the Levites are set apart as the Lord’s possession, with monetary compensation for the remaining firstborn. They must care for the tabernacle and the objects of worship. Of course, it is clear to us that the Lord would hardly agree to have His portion exchanged for anything. We also know that He created all of us for Himself and does not wish to be limited to any class or lineage. Thus, the Levites’ special holiness is only a prototype for every person: everyone is called to belong to the Lord and to guard His temple, one another, for now the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit is the whole Church and each of her sons and daughters (1 Corinthians 3:17).