2 Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,
2 "Take a census of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families.
2 "Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their clans and their fathers' houses,
2 "Number the Kohathite line of Levites by clan and family.
2 "Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the children of Levi, by their families, by their fathers' house,
2 "Record the names of the members of the clans and families of the Kohathite division of the tribe of Levi.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 4:2
Commentary on Numbers 4:1-3
(Read Numbers 4:1-3)
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.