34 And Moses and Aaron and the princes of the assembly numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and according to their fathers' houses, 35 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one that entered into the labour, for service in the tent of meeting. 36 And those that were numbered of them according to their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty. 37 These are they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, every one that served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Jehovah through Moses. 38 And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, after their families, and according to their fathers' houses, 39 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one that entered into the labour, for service in the tent of meeting, 40 even those that were numbered of them, after their families, according to their fathers' houses, were two thousand six hundred and thirty. 41 These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, all that served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Jehovah. 42 And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, after their families, according to their fathers' houses, 43 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one that entered into the labour, for service in the tent of meeting, 44 even those that were numbered of them according to their families, were three thousand two hundred. 45 These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Jehovah through Moses. 46 All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel numbered, after their families and according to their fathers' houses, 47 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one that came to serve [in] the work of the service, and [in] the work of carrying, in the tent of meeting, 48 even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand five hundred and eighty. 49 According to the commandment of Jehovah they were numbered by Moses, every one for his service, and for his burden, and numbered by him, as Jehovah had commanded Moses.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 4:34-49
Commentary on Numbers 4:34-49
(Read Numbers 4:34-49)
God so ordered it, that though the Merarites were the fewest in number, yet they should have most able men among them; for whatever service God calls men to, he will furnish them for it, give strength in proportion to the work, and grace sufficient. The least of the tribes had many more able men than the Levites: those who engage in the service of this world, are many more than those devoted to the service of God. May our souls be wholly devoted to his service.