Bible Commentaries
Numbers 8

Verse 1

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

The Lord spake unto Moses. The order of this charter suggests the idea that the following instructions were given to Moses while he was within the tabernacle of the congregation, after the princes had completed their offering. But from the tenor of the instructions, it is more likely that they were given immediately after the Levites had been assigned to the priests (see the notes at Numbers 3:1-51; Numbers 4:1-49), and that the record of these instructions had been postponed until the narrative of other transactions in the camp had been made (Patrick).

Verse 2

Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick. Speak unto Aaron ... The candlestick, which was made of one solid, massy piece of pure gold, with six lamps supported on as many branches, a seventh in the center surmounting the shaft itself (Exodus 25:31; Exodus 37:17), and completed according to the pattern shown in the mount, was now to be lighted, when the other things in the sanctuary began to be applied to religious service. It was Aaron's personal duty, as the servant of God, to light His house, which, being without windows, required the aid of lights (2 Peter 1:19). And the course he was ordered to follow was first to light the middle lamp from the altar fire, and then the other lamps from each other-a course symbolical of all the light of heavenly truth being derived from Christ, and diffused by His ministers throughout the world (Revelation 4:5).

Over against ... The candlestick stood close to the boards of the sanctuary, on the south side, in full view of the table of showbread on the north (Exodus 26:35), having one set of its lamps turned toward the east, and another towards the west; so that all parts of the tabernacle were thus lighted up.

Verses 3-5

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

No JFB commentary on these verses.

Verse 6

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

Take the Levites ... and cleanse them. This passage describes the consecration of the Levites. Although the tribe was to be devoted to the divine service, their hereditary descent alone was not a sufficient qualification for entering on the duties of the sacred office. They were to be set apart by a special ceremony, which, however, was much simpler than that appointed for the priests; neither washing, nor anointing, nor investiture with official robes, was necessary. Their purification consisted, along with the offering of the requisite sacrifices (Leviticus 1:4; Leviticus 3:2; Leviticus 4:4), in being sprinkled by water mixed with the ashes of a red heifer (Numbers 19:9), and shaved all over, and their clothes washed-a combination of symbolical acts which was intended to remind them of the mortification of carnal and worldly desires, and the maintenance of that purity in heart and life which became the servants of God.

Verses 7-8

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

No JFB commentary on these verses.

Verse 9

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

The children of Israel ... Since it was plainly impossible that the whole multitude of the Israelites could do this, a select portion of them must be meant. This party, who laid their hands upon the Levites, are supposed by some to have been the firstborn, who, by that act, transferred their special privilege of acting as God's ministers to the Levitical tribe; and by others to have been the princes who thus blessed them. It appears from this passage that the imposition of hands was a ceremony used in consecrating persons to holy offices in the ancient, as, from the example of our Lord and his apostles, it has been perpetuated in the Christian Church.

Verse 10

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

No JFB commentary on this verse.

Verses 11-13

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. Aaron shall offer the Levites ... for an offering, [ tªnuwpaah (H8573)] - a wave offering; and it has been thought probable that the high priest, in bringing the Levites one by one to the altar, directed them to make some simple movements of their persons, analogous to what was done at the presentation of the wave offerings before the Lord. Thus were they first devoted as an offering to God, and by Him surrendered to the priests to be employed in His service. The consecration ceremonial was repeated in the case of every Levite who was taken, as at a later period was done, to assist the priests in the tabernacle and temple. (See the note at 2 Chronicles 29:24).

Verse 14

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

The Levites shall be mine - i:e., exempt from all military duty or secular work; free from all pecuniary imposition, and wholly devoted to the custody and service of the sanctuary.

Verse 15

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

After that shall the Levites go in - into the court, to assist the priests; and at removal into the tabernacle -

i.e., the door of it-to receive the covered furniture.

Verses 16-18

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

No JFB commentary on these verses.

Verse 19

And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to 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 plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.

To make an atonement ... - to aid the priests in that expiatory work; or, as the words may be rendered, 'to make redemption for,' the Levites being exchanged or substituted for the firstborn, for this important end, that there might be a sanctified body of men appointed to guard the sanctuary, and not allow the people to approach or presumptuously meddle with holy things, which would expose them to the angry judgments of heaven.

Verses 20-23

And 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.

No JFB commentary on these verses.

Verse 24

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

From twenty-five years old ... - (cf. Numbers 4:3.) They entered upon their work in their 25th year, as pupils and probationers, under the superintendence and direction of their senior brethren; and they were admitted to the full discharge of their official functions at 30 years of age.

Verse 25

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

From ... fifty ... they shall cease waiting ... - i:e., on the laborious and exhausting parts of their work.

Verse 26

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

But shall minister with their brethren - in the performance of easier and lighter duties; instructing and directing the young, or superintending important trusts. 'They also serve who only wait' (Milton).