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The focus now shifts from the numbers in the lay tribes to the numbers in the tribe of Levi. This census was to be exhaustive, including all Levites from a month old (v.15). The grand total came to 22,000 (v.39), which was about 2.7 percent of the total laymen in the camp.
The actual census (vv.14-39) is bracketed by information about the Levites' relationship to the priests (vv.1-10) and to laypersons (vv.40-51). In the former section, the Levites are designated as subordinate to the priests and are to assist them. In the latter section, the text states that the Levites are to replace permanently the lay Israelites in the tabernacle (see also vv.7-8, 11-13; 8:14-19).
The Gershonite Levites are to camp on the west side of the tabernacle (v.23), the Kohathites on the south side (v.29), and the Merarites on the north side (v.35). I would suggest that what Nu 3 envisions is a Levitic encampment functioning for the laity as a protective cordon around the sacred tabernacle area. As such, Nu 3 provides amplification on the general statement of 1:53, that the Levites are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the Testimony so that wrath will not fall on the Israelite community.
This interpretation is lost by the NIV’s mistranslation of verses like 7 and 8: [The Levites] are to perform duties for [Aaron]. . . . They are to take care of all the furnishings (italics mine). The Hebrew expression is better translated, “They shall perform guard duty for him; they shall guard all the furnishings.” Once again a red flag is waved. The Holy One dwells in the middle of his people. They are, however, to know their limitations, part of which is keeping their distance and knowing their role.