Bible Commentaries
Numbers 8

Verses 1-26

Chapter 8

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When you light the lamps, the seven lamps that shall give light there in the candlestick. And so Aaron lighted the lamps of the candlesticks ( Numbers 8:1-3 ),

And then there was to be the cleansing of the Levites.

And they were to be sprinkled with the water purifying, and to wash their clothes, and to make themselves clean. And they were to bring the Levites before the LORD: the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites: And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD ( Numbers 8:7 , Numbers 8:10-11 ).

This is sort of almost an ordaining for the ministry. Like in the New Testament they would lay hands upon those that were going to minister, the fifteenth chapter of Acts, thirteenth chapter "And the spirit said, Separate unto me Paul and Barnabas for the ministry where I've called them". And so when they had fast and prayed they laid hands on them and the spirit sent them forth. It's sort of an ordaining kind of a process; the laying on of hands. And so the tribe of Levi was to be brought before the tabernacle and then the congregation of Israel gathered around them and laid their hands on them. These men are to minister for us in spiritual things.

And then those of the tribe of Levi shall lay their hands on the heads of the bullocks: and they were to offer one for a sin offering, and one for an offering of consecration to the LORD, to make the atonement for the Levites ( Numbers 8:12 ).

And thus they were to begin their ministry and service unto God for the people. Verse twenty-four:

This is that which belongs to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upwards who will go in and wait on the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: But at fifty years they retire and there is no longer a service: But they will minister with their brothers in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, [but you don't have to carry any burdens after you're fifty years old] ( Numbers 8:24-26 ).

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