Bible Commentaries
Numbers 8

Introduction

Overview

Numbers 8:1, How the lamps are to be lighted; Numbers 8:5, The consecration of the Levites; Numbers 8:23, The age and time of their service.

Verse 1

When this was spoken, says Bp. Patrick, is not certain. If Moses went into the tabernacle immediately after the princes had offered - Numbers 7:89, it may be thought he then spake these things unto him; but both this and what follows, concerning the Levites, seem rather to have been delivered after the order for giving them to the priests, and appointing their several charges - Numbers 3:1, and Numbers 4:1. But some other things intervening, which depended upon what had been ordered respecting their camp, and that of the Israelites, Moses omits this until he had stated them, and some other matters which he had received from God. - See note on Numbers 7:11.

Reciprocal: Genesis 46:11 - Levi Deuteronomy 10:8 - time the Lord

Verse 2

Exodus 25:37, Exodus 37:18, Exodus 37:19, Exodus 37:23, Exodus 40:25, Leviticus 24:1, Leviticus 24:2, Psalms 119:105, Psalms 119:130, Isaiah 8:20, Matthew 5:14, John 1:9, 2 Peter 1:19, Revelation 1:12, Revelation 1:20, Revelation 2:1, Revelation 4:5

Reciprocal: Numbers 18:5 - And ye Matthew 5:15 - it giveth

Verse 4

this work: Exodus 25:31-39, Exodus 37:17-24

beaten work: Exodus 25:18, Exodus 37:7, Exodus 37:17, Exodus 37:22

the pattern: Exodus 25:9, Exodus 25:40, 1 Chronicles 28:11-19, Hebrews 8:5, Hebrews 9:23

Reciprocal: Exodus 25:36 - beaten

Verse 5

Reciprocal: Numbers 8:22 - as the Lord 1 Chronicles 6:48 - brethren

Verse 6

cleanse them: Exodus 19:15, 2 Corinthians 7:1, James 4:8

Reciprocal: Leviticus 14:11 - General Numbers 3:6 - General 2 Chronicles 29:11 - the Lord

Verse 7

Sprinkle: Leviticus 8:6, Leviticus 14:7, Isaiah 52:15, Ezekiel 36:25, Hebrews 9:10

water: Numbers 19:9, Numbers 19:10, Numbers 19:13, Numbers 19:17-19, Psalms 51:7, Hebrews 9:13

let them shave: Heb. let them cause a razor to pass over, etc. Leviticus 14:8, Leviticus 14:9

wash their: Numbers 19:7, Numbers 19:8, Numbers 19:10, Numbers 19:19, Numbers 31:20, Genesis 35:2, Exodus 19:10, Leviticus 15:6, Leviticus 15:10, Leviticus 15:11, Leviticus 15:27, Leviticus 16:28, Psalms 51:2, Jeremiah 4:14, Matthew 23:25, Matthew 23:26, James 4:8, 1 Peter 3:21, Revelation 7:14

Reciprocal: Numbers 8:21 - were purified Numbers 31:23 - it shall be purified Hebrews 10:22 - sprinkled

Verse 8

a young: Exodus 29:1, Exodus 29:3, Leviticus 1:3, Leviticus 8:2

his meat: Numbers 15:8, Numbers 15:9, Leviticus 2:1

another: Leviticus 4:3, Leviticus 4:14, Leviticus 16:3, Isaiah 53:10, Romans 8:3, 2 Corinthians 5:21

Reciprocal: Numbers 8:12 - the one

Verse 9

thou shalt bring: Exodus 29:4-37, Exodus 40:12

shalt gather the whole: The words, kol âdath, which are rendered "the whole assembly," often signify all the elders, or principal persons in the several tribes - Numbers 15:4, Numbers 25:7, Numbers 35:12. And they cannot well have any other sense here; for it would be impossible for all the children of Israel to put their hands on the Levites, as stated in the next verse. Leviticus 8:3

Reciprocal: Exodus 27:21 - the tabernacle of the congregation Ezra 6:18 - as it is written

Verse 10

Numbers 3:45, Leviticus 1:4, Acts 6:6, Acts 13:2, Acts 13:3, 1 Timothy 4:14, 1 Timothy 5:22

Reciprocal: Genesis 48:14 - and laid Numbers 8:16 - wholly given Acts 8:17 - laid

Verse 11

offer: Heb. wave

offering: Heb. wave-offering, Not that they were actually waved, but they were presented to God, as the God of heaven, and the Lord of the whole earth, as the wave offerings were; and in calling them wave-offerings, it was intimated to them that they must move to and fro with readiness in the business of their profession. Numbers 6:20, Exodus 29:24, Leviticus 7:30, Leviticus 8:27, Leviticus 8:29

they may execute: Heb. they may be to execute, etc. Numbers 1:49-53, Numbers 3:5-43

Reciprocal: Numbers 3:7 - to do the Numbers 8:13 - offer them Numbers 8:15 - go in Numbers 8:16 - wholly given Numbers 8:21 - offered Acts 13:2 - Separate

Verse 12

Levites: Exodus 29:10, Leviticus 1:4, Leviticus 8:14, Leviticus 16:21

the one: Numbers 8:8, Numbers 6:14, Numbers 6:16, Leviticus 5:7, Leviticus 5:9, Leviticus 5:10, Leviticus 8:14, Leviticus 8:18, Leviticus 9:7, Leviticus 14:19, Leviticus 14:20, Leviticus 14:22, Hebrews 10:4-10

atonement: Leviticus 1:4, Leviticus 4:20, Leviticus 4:35, Leviticus 8:34, Leviticus 16:6, Leviticus 16:11, Leviticus 16:16-19, Hebrews 9:22

Reciprocal: Numbers 8:21 - Aaron made

Verse 13

offer them: Wehainaphta othom tenoophath, literally, as in Numbers 8:11, "and thou shalt wave them for a wave-offering;" manifestly in allusion to the ancient sacrificial rite of waving the sacrifices before the Lord; and it is probable, that some significant action, analogous to the waving of the sacrifice, was employed on this occasion; for the Levites were considered as an offering to the Lord, to whose service they were wholly dedicated. To this the apostle Paul manifestly alludes, when, in writing to the Romans, he says - Romans 12:1, "I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Numbers 8:11, Numbers 8:21, Numbers 18:6, Romans 12:1, Romans 15:16

Reciprocal: Numbers 8:15 - and offer 1 Chronicles 15:2 - to minister

Verse 14

separate: Numbers 6:2, Deuteronomy 10:8, Romans 1:1, Galatians 1:15, Hebrews 7:26

and the Levites: Numbers 8:17, Numbers 3:45, Numbers 16:9, Numbers 16:10, Numbers 18:6, Malachi 3:17

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 15:2 - to minister

Verse 15

go in: Numbers 8:11, Numbers 3:23-37, Numbers 4:3-32, 1 Chronicles 23:1-32, 1 Chronicles 25:1 - 1 Chronicles 26:32

and offer: Numbers 8:11, Numbers 8:13, Numbers 3:12

Reciprocal: Numbers 3:7 - to do the Numbers 8:21 - offered Numbers 8:22 - after that 2 Chronicles 29:34 - their brethren Malachi 2:5 - covenant

Verse 16

wholly given: Nethunim, nethunim, "given, given." The word being repeated, "because," says Bp. Patrick, "the children of Israel had devoted them to him, by laying their hands upon them - Numbers 8:10, and Aaron had waved them as a wave-offering to the Lord" - Numbers 8:11.

instead of such: Houbigant, on the authority of the Samaritan, reads, "instead of every first-born of the children of Israel, who openeth the womb." Numbers 3:12, Numbers 3:45

Reciprocal: Exodus 13:2 - Sanctify Numbers 3:13 - Because Numbers 3:41 - General Numbers 18:6 - given Luke 2:23 - Every

Verse 17

all the: Numbers 3:13, Exodus 13:2, Exodus 13:12-15, Luke 2:23

on the day: Exodus 12:29, Psalms 78:51, Psalms 105:36, Psalms 135:8, Hebrews 11:28

I sanctified: Exodus 13:14, Exodus 13:15, Exodus 29:44, Leviticus 27:14, Leviticus 27:15, Leviticus 27:26, Ezekiel 20:12, John 10:36, John 17:19, Hebrews 10:29, James 1:18

Reciprocal: Numbers 8:14 - and the Levites

Verse 18

Reciprocal: Genesis 48:14 - and laid Numbers 3:12 - General

Verse 19

I have given: Numbers 3:6-9, Numbers 18:2-6, 1 Chronicles 23:28-32, Ezekiel 44:11-14

a gift: Heb. given

that there: Numbers 1:53, Numbers 16:46, Numbers 18:5, 1 Samuel 6:19, 2 Chronicles 26:16-20

Reciprocal: Numbers 3:9 - General 2 Chronicles 29:34 - their brethren 2 Chronicles 35:3 - serve now

Verse 20

Reciprocal: Numbers 9:5 - according Numbers 9:22 - abode

Verse 21

were purified: Numbers 8:7, Numbers 19:12, Numbers 19:19

offered: Numbers 8:11-13, Numbers 8:15, Numbers 3:12

Aaron made: Numbers 8:12

Reciprocal: Exodus 19:10 - wash Leviticus 14:11 - General Numbers 8:13 - offer them

Verse 22

after that: Numbers 8:15, 2 Chronicles 30:15-17, 2 Chronicles 30:27, 2 Chronicles 31:2, 2 Chronicles 35:8-15

as the Lord: Numbers 8:5-26

Reciprocal: Numbers 3:6 - General Numbers 18:2 - minister Ezra 8:17 - ministers

Verse 24

from twenty: In Numbers 4:3, the Levites are appointed to the service of the tabernacle at the age of 30 years; and in 1 Chronicles 23:24, they are ordered to commence their work at 20 years of age. In order to reconcile this apparent discrepancy, it is to be observed:

1. At the time of which Moses speaks in Numbers 4:3, the Levitical service was exceedingly severe, and consequently required full grown, robust men, to perform it; the age of 30 was therefore appointed as the period for commencing this service, the weightier part of which was probably there intended.

2. In this place God seems to speak of the service in a general way: hence the age of 25 is fixed.

3. In David's time, and afterwards, in the fixed tabernacle and temple, the laboriousness of the service no longer existed, and hence 20 years was the age appointed. Numbers 4:3, Numbers 4:23, 1 Chronicles 23:3, 1 Chronicles 23:24-27, 1 Chronicles 28:12, 1 Chronicles 28:13

wait upon: Heb. war the warfare of, etc. 1 Corinthians 9:7, 2 Corinthians 10:4, 1 Timothy 1:18, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:3-5

Reciprocal: Numbers 1:53 - and the Numbers 3:7 - to do the Numbers 4:35 - General 1 Chronicles 15:2 - to minister 2 Chronicles 31:17 - twenty Nehemiah 12:44 - Judah rejoiced

Verse 25

cease waiting upon the service thereof: Heb. return from the warfare of the service, Numbers 4:23, 2 Timothy 4:7, The Levites, above fifty years of age, might superintend and assist their junior brethren in the ordinary offices, and give them and the people counsel and instruction; but they were exempted from carrying the tabernacle and from other laborious services. It is remarkable, that no law was made concerning the age at which the priests should begin to officiate, and though various blemishes disqualified them for the service of the sanctuary, yet they continued their ministrations till death, if capable. On the other hand, nothing is said concerning any bodily defects or blemishes disqualifying the Levites; but the time of their service is expressly settled. Their work was far more laborious than that of the priests; it is therefore likely that the priests would not begin very early to officiate; and the wisdom and experience of age would increase, rather than diminish, their fitness for the sacred duties of their office.

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 12:44 - Judah rejoiced

Verse 26

to keep: Numbers 1:53, Numbers 3:32, Numbers 18:4, Numbers 31:30, 1 Chronicles 23:32, 1 Chronicles 26:20-29, Ezekiel 44:8, Ezekiel 44:11

and shall: 1 Timothy 4:15

Reciprocal: Numbers 3:7 - keep