We’re moving on from the physical construction of the Tabernacle to its staffing. God is setting up a priestly caste, whose duties will be to maintain the religious machinery, and keep the people faithful. Let’s see what they had to do.
Sabbath rest
Exodus 35:1-3
Summary of building the Tabernacle
Exodus 38:21-31, 39:32-43
Trumpets to alert the congregation
Numbers 10:1-10
Tabernacle made ready for service
Exodus 40:1-15
Instructions & duties of the tribe of Levi
Numbers 3:5-16, 21-39
Wow! There were 603,550 men, among those who left Egypt. Not counting the women, children and animals, this was a mighty multitude. All Abraham’s descendants. More numerous than the stars in the sky, than the grains of sand on the seashore, that was the promise. It’s coming true.
There were 22,000 Levites to employ in the service of the tabernacle. Can God really find jobs for all of them? I’m sure that number includes children and old folk who wouldn’t have been expected to work, but it doesn’t alter the fact that Israel’s society has been blessed with a massive civil service. This would serve as an inertial force - all these people dedicated to keeping the worship of God going would mean that it would be very hard to swing the whole nation away to following other gods.
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