Given that Aaron had lost his two eldest sons to God’s discipline (see Leviticus 10:1–5), it is remarkable that his two remaining sons are entrusted with the highest ranks within the tribe of Levi. The responsibility entrusted to Ithamar may not be as great as that given to Eleazar, his older brother, but nonetheless significant. It would appear that God is honouring Aaron, and that Aaron’s surviving sons were adequately humbled by the death of their older brothers.
28 This is the service of the clans of the sons of the Gershonites in the tent of meeting, and their guard duty is to be under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.