Numbers 3:10

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

Complete Jewish Bible:

You are to appoint Aharon and his sons to carry out the duties of cohanim; anyone else who involves himself is to be put to death."

Berean Standard Bible:

So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.”

American Standard Version:

And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And thou shalt appoint^{H6485} Aaron^{H175} and his sons^{H1121}, and they shall wait on^{H8104} their priest's office^{H3550}: and the stranger^{H2114} that cometh nigh^{H7131} shall be put to death^{H4191}.

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Commentary for Numbers 3:10

1. Themes:
- **Hierarchical Priesthood**: The verse emphasizes the establishment of a formal priesthood, with Aaron and his direct male descendants designated as priests.
- **Divine Appointment**: Aaron and his sons are chosen by God, through Moses, to serve in the priestly role, highlighting the theme of divine calling.
- **Holiness and Exclusivity**: The strict boundary around the priesthood indicates the importance of holiness and the sanctity of the priestly role. The consequence for unauthorized approach underscores the gravity of maintaining ritual purity and the separation between the sacred and the profane.

2. Historical Context:
- **Time Period**: The book of Numbers is set during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, after the exodus from Egypt and the establishment of the Mosaic covenant at Mount Sinai.
- **The Levitical Order**: This verse is part of the instructions given to Moses for organizing the tribe of Levi into various roles, with the Aaronic priesthood holding the highest position in religious matters. The Levites were set apart from other Israelites to serve in the tabernacle, and later the temple, as part of the religious leadership.
- **Protection of Ritual**: The severe penalty for a "stranger" (non-priest) approaching the sanctuary reflects the importance of proper ritual and worship practices in ancient Israelite society. It also served to protect the sanctity of the holy space and the rituals conducted there by the appointed priests.
- **Tribal Structure**: The instructions in Numbers 3 reflect the broader context of tribal affiliations and roles within Israelite society, with the tribe of Levi, and specifically Aaron's line, given religious authority and responsibility.

In summary, Numbers 3:10 outlines the divine appointment of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood, reinforcing the themes of hierarchy, divine calling, and the need to maintain the sanctity of religious roles and spaces within the historical context of the Israelites' organization as a nation under God's law during their wilderness journey.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H6485
   There are 270 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּקַד
   Transliteration: pâqad
   Pronunciation: paw-kad'
   Description: a primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.; appoint, [idiom] at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep, be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up, look, make, [idiom] by any means, miss, number, officer, (make) overseer, have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to) remember(-brance), set (over), sum, [idiom] surely, visit, want.
   
2. Strong's Number: H175
   There are 480 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַהֲרוֹן
   Transliteration: ʼAhărôwn
   Pronunciation: a-har-one'
   Description: of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses; Aaron.
   
3. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
4. Strong's Number: H8104
   There are 440 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַר
   Transliteration: shâmar
   Pronunciation: shaw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.; beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
   
5. Strong's Number: H3550
   There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כְּהֻנָּה
   Transliteration: kᵉhunnâh
   Pronunciation: keh-hoon-naw'
   Description: from כָּהַן; priesthood; priesthood, priest's office.
   
6. Strong's Number: H2114
   There are 76 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זוּר
   Transliteration: zûwr
   Pronunciation: zoor
   Description: a primitive root; to turn aside (especially for lodging); hence to be aforeigner, strange, profane; specifically (active participle) to commit adultery; (come from) another (man, place), fanner, go away, (e-) strange(-r, thing, woman).
   
7. Strong's Number: H7131
   There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָרֵב
   Transliteration: qârêb
   Pronunciation: kaw-rabe'
   Description: from קָרַב; near; approach, come (near, nigh), draw near.
   
8. Strong's Number: H4191
   There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מוּת
   Transliteration: mûwth
   Pronunciation: mooth
   Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.