Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsNumbers 3

Twenty two thousand.

Immediately before were numbered of Gersonites (v. 22.) 7500. of Caathites (v. 28.) 8600. and of Merarites (v. 34.) 6200. which make in all 22300. ^[1] Why then are 300. left out of the total sum? Especially seeing by and by (v. 43.) a smaller, and other odd numbers of 273. are expressed, and thereupon inferred (v. 46.) that the first born of the Israelites did so much exceed the Levites. Whereas if the whole number of Levites had been also expressed in the general sum, as it is contained in three particular sums, the Levites should exceed the first born of Israelites by the number of 27. For answer to this difficulty, some suppose that the first born of the Levites were just 300. and therefore so many supplying only their own places, there remained just twenty two thousand to supply the places of the first born of other Israelites, and so the Levites were fewer than those for whom they were taken unto God's service, by the number of 273. But that the first born of Levites were neither more nor fewer than 300. is not evident by the text. Howsoever therefore this doubt be solved, sure it is, by S. Hierom's judgment (cited in the argument) that these numbers are mystical. ^[2] And the just number of 22. thousand Levites may signify (sayeth Origen, homil. 4. in Num.) perfection, required in those that are designed to the particular service of God; as there be also just 22. Hebrew letters; and 22. Patriarchs from Adam to Jacob, from whom the Israelites descended.

• 1 Why 300. are omitted in the total sum of the Levites.
• 2 Perfect numbers signify perfection.