THE FOURTH BOOK OF

MOSES,
called
N U M B E R S

Numbers 8

1The lighting of the lamps. 5The consecration of the Levites. 23Their age and time of service.


1AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou 1lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light 2overa against the candlestick.

1 Hebr. cause the lamps to arise.

2 Hebr. over against the face of the candlestick, that is, on both sides of the shaft of the candlestick; which was as its own body. For, the candlestick had on its shaft six branches, with as many lamps, and one on the shaft; being lighted, they cast their light on the sides of the candlestick. See Exod. 25:37.

a Exod. 25:37.

3And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.

4And this work of the candlestick was of 3beatenb gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto 4the pattern which the LORD had 5shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.

3 That is, wrought all out of one lump or mass of gold, and not joined or soldered together by piecemeal, of several parts or joints. See Exod. 25 on verse 31.

b Exod. 25:31.

4 Hebr. regard or display, that is, fashion or pattern.

5 Namely, on the mount, Exod. 25:40.

5¶And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

6Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and 6cleanse them.

6 Which was done when the Levites, being solemnly set apart for the service of the LORD and separated from the other tribes, were sprinkled with the water of purifying, and were shaven, and their clothes washed, and sacrifices offered for them. See further hereof in the following verses.

7And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle 7water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.

7 That is, water to purify and to cleanse from sins according to the law of ceremonies. See of this water at Num. 19:9 where it is mentioned as a water of separation.

8Then let them take 8a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering.

8 Hebr. the son of a bullock, and so in the sequel.

9And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together:

10And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and 9the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:

9 Understand the princes of the tribes and some of the principal persons among them, who were used to transact and execute such public affairs in the name and on behalf of the whole congregation. Of the laying on of hands, see Gen. 48 on verse 14 and Lev. 1 on verse 4.

11And Aaron shall 10offer the Levites before the LORD for an 11offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.

10 Hebr. wave; that is, offer, grant or appropriate.

11 See of the wave offering, properly called thus, Lev. 7 on verse 30. But here it seems the Hebrew word is generally taken for anything offered and appropriated to God, in which sense you find it used in Exod. 35:22; 38:24, 29 and here in the verses 13, 15, 21. Although the first signification (according to some) may likewise take place here, namely, that they were waved towards the four corners of the world.

12And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.

13And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering unto the LORD.

14Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.c

c Num. 3:45.

15And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: 12and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering.

12 Other, when thou shalt have cleansed them, etc.

16For they are wholly 13given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as 14open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me.

13 Also Num. 3:9.

14 See Num. 3 on verse 12.

17For alld the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.

d Exod. 13:2; 22:29; 34:19; Lev. 27:26; Num. 3:13; Luke 2:23.

18Ande I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.

e Num. 3:12.

19And I have given the Levites 15as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, 16to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no 17plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel 18come nigh unto the sanctuary.

15 Hebr. given given them.

16 That is, that by their persons they would maintain the place of the firstborn of the Israelites, see Num. 3 on verse 7 and administer by their ministry the offerings of reconciliation, which were, according to occasion, to be done for all.

17 As befell to king Uzziah, 2 Chron. 26:16.

18 Which the Levites therefore were to perform in their name.

20And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them.

21And the Levites were 19purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron 20made an atonement for them to cleanse them.

19 Which, according to the law of the ceremonies, was done by washings, sprinklings and sacrifices, Lev. 15:13, 14, 15; Num. 19:11, 12, etc.

20 See on verse 11.

22And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron, and before his sons: as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them.

23¶And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

24This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: 21from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in 22to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:

21 In regard of their age the Levites were divided into four ranks or parts: 1. those, who were students and apprentices from their infancy to their twenty-fifth year, were instructed in the things concerning the law and their functions; 2. those, who were twenty-five to thirty years old, began to put their hands to the work and to practice what they had learned; 3. those, who were thirty to fifty years old, administered the complete and total service of the Levitical office; 4. those, who being fifty years old and above, were free of the work of ministry, having nevertheless the care and oversight of those who were in actual service. Compare the annotation at Num. 3 on verse 15.

22 See Num. 4 on verse 3.

25And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more:

26But shall minister with their 23brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, 24to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.

23 That is, the other Levites, who served in the tabernacle, not being fifty years of age.

24 That is, to have inspection on those who did serve in the tabernacle, to the end that all things be done and performed of them with good order and edification according to the laws of God. Other, to be helpful to them in their ministry.