Numbers 3:3

These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) Whom he consecrated . . . —Literally, filled their hand. The rites of consecration are described at length in Exodus 29:1-37, where the command given to Moses is related. and in Leviticus 8:1-13, where the account is given of the actual consecration, on which occasion the appointed sacrificial offerings were placed by Moses in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons. The act of consecration was performed by Moses in the case of Aaron’s sons, as well as in that of Aaron himself.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

3:1-13 There was much work belonging to the priests' office, and there were now only Aaron and his two sons to do it; God appoints the Levites to attend them. Those whom God finds work for, he will find help for. The Levites were taken instead of the first-born. When He that made us, saves us, as the first-born of Israel were saved, we are laid under further obligations to serve him faithfully. God's right to us by redemption, confirms the right he has to us by creation.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

whom he consecrated - i. e. whom Moses consecrated, or literally as in the margin, whose "hand he filled," by conferring their office upon them (Leviticus 8:1 ff).

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

2-4. And these are the names of the sons of Aaron—All the sons of Aaron, four in number, were consecrated to minister in the priest's office. The two oldest enjoyed but a brief term of office (Le 10:1, 2; Nu 3:4; 26:61); but Eleazar and Ithamar, the other two, were dutiful, and performed the sacred service during the lifetime of their father, as his assistants, and under his superintendence.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests that were anointed,.... With the holy, anointing oil, with which they were anointed when, Aaron was and they only, see Exodus 30:30,

whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office; that is, whom Moses consecrated, by anointing them, putting the priest's garments on them, offering sacrifice for them, and filling their hands with sacrifices which is the phrase here used for consecration: see Exodus 29:15.

Geneva Study Bible

These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

3. the priests which were anointed] Many passages of P speak of the High Priest alone as being anointed to his office; cf. Exodus 29:7; Exodus 29:29, Leviticus 8:12. The anointing of all priests was a later development; cf. Exodus 28:41; Exodus 30:30; Exodus 40:15.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - Whom he consecrated. The "he" is impersonal; the Septuagint has, "whose hands they filled." Numbers 3:3

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Names of the sons of Aaron, the "anointed priests (see Leviticus 8:12), whose hand they filled to be priests," i.e., who were appointed to the priesthood (see at Leviticus 7:37). On Nadab and Abihu, see Leviticus 10:1-2. As they had neither of them any children when they were put to death, Eleazar and Ithamar were the only priests "in the sight of Aaron their father," i.e., during his lifetime. "In the sight of:" as in Genesis 11:28.