Lesson Forty-seven  The Responsibility of the Tribe of Levi

⁴⁵ All the Israelites twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel's army were counted according to their families. The total number was 603,550.  ⁴⁷ The families of the tribe of Levi, however, were not counted along with the others. ⁴⁸ The LORD had said to Moses: ⁴⁹ "You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. ⁵⁰ Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony—over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. ⁵¹ Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it. Anyone else who goes near it shall be put to death.

第一句句子比较长，但结构并不复杂。主句是：all the Israelites were counted. Twenty years old or more 修饰the Israelites，who带出一个从句修饰the Israelites，according to their families 是状语，修饰count。

serve 在军队服役，在教会服事，

according to 根据，According to the Bible, we are all sinners. 根据圣经的教导，我们都是罪人。

along with 与其他人一起

the tribe of Levi, 利未族，tribe 少数民族，山地人

census 人口普查，

appoint 指派，It is sad that many western churches appoint gay ministers.  很多西方教会任命同性恋作为牧师，这真是太让人感到悲哀。

be in charge of 负责，

the tabernacle 会幕，

furnishing  家具，装饰，

take care of 料理，照顾，Take care of your brother. 照顾好你的兄弟。

encamp 这个词由en + camp 组成，前缀en让后面的名词或形容词成为一个动词。

be set up, 竖起，设立 A church is set up to glorify God. 建立教会是为了荣耀神。

be put to death 被处死，The Party put this pastor to death in 1952. 这个党将那位牧师在1952年判处了死刑。

利未人在以色列人中的地位很高，因为他们是一批全时间的服事神的人。利未人的工作看起来很简单，就是搬动一下帐幕，然而这项服事十分的神圣。有些非基督徒对教会不了解，问一个教会为什么要有全时间的同工，他们是不是一个礼拜就上半天的班（主日半天），而且教会内部的信徒对这项神圣的服事也不重视，觉得是教会内走投无路的人才会全时间去服事。任何服事神的人，一定要圣洁、专心致志，不要想着还去做什么生意。

利未族的责任

这样凡以色列人中被数的、照着宗族从二十岁以外、能出去打仗被数的、共有六十万零三千五百五十名。利未人却没有按着支派数在其中、 因为耶和华晓谕摩西说、 惟独利未支派你不可数点、也不可在以色列人中计算他们的总数。只要派利未人管法柜的帐幕和其中的器具、并属乎帐幕的、他们要抬〔抬或作搬运〕帐幕和其中的器具、并要办理帐幕的事．在帐幕的四围安营。帐幕将往前行的时候、利未人要拆卸、将支搭的时候、利未人要竖起．近前来的外人必被治死。民数记1:46-51