“a trigesimo anno et supra, usque ad quinquagesimum annum, omnium qui ingrediuntur ut stent et ministrent in tabernaculo fœderis.”
“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.”
“men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.”
“from thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all who enter into the service, to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.”
“from thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter upon the service, to do the work in the tent of meeting.”
The Levites were numbered after three sorts, first at a month old when they were consecrated to the Lord, next at 25 years old when they were appointed to serve in the Tabernacle, and 30 years old to bear the burdens of the Tabernacle.
Thirty. Moses speaks of those who had to carry the sacred vessels. Those of 25 years old might perform some offices; (chap. viii. 24,) and even at 20, they began to serve the tabernacle, in the reign of David, (1 Paralipomenon xxiii. 24,) the fatigue being then diminished, and the splendour of religion increasing. The Septuagint read 25 instead of 30, in this and all other places, and some think that the Hebrew should be so too. The time for the admission of priests to their more august functions is not specified, but was determined by themselves to be at least 20 years of age. (Outram, Sacrif. i. 7.) — To stand. This was the ordinary posture of the priests in the temple. The king alone was allowed to sit. (Maimonides) — Hebrew, “all that enter into the host, or army, to do the work in the tabernacle of the assembly,” shall be of a competent age and strength. (Haydock)
We have here a second muster of the tribe of Levi. As that tribe was taken out of all Israel to be God's peculiar, so the middle-aged men of that tribe were taken from among the rest to be actually employed in the service of the tabernacle. Now observe,
Verses 1-3 The middle-aged men of the tribe of Levi, all from thirty years old to fifty, were to be employed in the service of the tabernacle. The service of God requires the best of our strength, and the prime portion of our time, which cannot be better spent than to the honour of Him who is the First and Best. And the service of God should be done when we are most lively and active. Those do not consider this who put off repentance to old age, and so leave the best work to be done in the worst time.