One verse. Three ways to understand.
Counting all the males from one month old and older, there were 8,600 who were responsible for taking care of the sanctuary.
This verse records that 8,600 Levite males were counted and given the sacred duty of caring for God's sanctuary.
These are AI-assisted adaptations, not separate Bible editions. Compare them with the KJV source and read our methodology. How these readings are made →
Read the KJV source
King James Version · EnglishIn the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.Ask the AI Assistant
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📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Numbers, during the Israelites' wilderness journey after the Exodus, God commanded a census of the Levites to organize them for sacred duties, as they were chosen to serve in the tabernacle instead of the firstborn of other tribes. The Kohathites, a specific clan of Levites, were responsible for carrying and caring for the holy objects of the sanctuary, such as the ark and altar, ensuring these items were handled with reverence during the community's travels. This count of 8,600 males from a month old and upward reflected God's structured plan for worship and the protection of His presence among the people.