John Gill Commentary Numbers 1:48

"For Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying," — Numbers 1:48 (ASV)

For the Lord had spoken to Moses
Not to number the Levites, when he gave him the orders to number the rest of the tribes: this is observed, lest it should be thought that this was what Moses did of himself, out of affection for his tribe, and to spare it, that it might not be obliged to go forth to war when others did;

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not that they were forbidden to engage in war, or that it was unlawful for them so to do, for when necessity required, and they were willing to engage in it, they might, as appears in the case of the Maccabees, but they might not be forced into it;

they were, as Josephus says, exempted from it; and so all concerned in religious service, both among Heathens and Christians, have always been excused bearing arms:

FOOTNOTES:

• F5: Antiqu. l. 3. c. 12. sect. 4.