American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Numbers 8
1
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2
Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.
Reference
Light
Exodus 25:37
3
And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.
4
And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, to the shaft thereof, to the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according to the pattern which the LORD had showed Moses, so he made the candlestick.
Reference
5
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
7
And thus shall you do to them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying on them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.
Reference
8
Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shall you take for a sin offering.
Reference
Sacrifice
Leviticus 2:1
9
And you shall bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and you shall gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together:
Reference
10
And you shall bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands on the Levites:
Reference
11
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.
Reference
Sacrifice
Leviticus 7:30
12
And the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bullocks: and you shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, to the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.
Reference
13
And you shall set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering to the LORD.
Reference
14
Thus shall you separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.
Reference
15
And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and you shall cleanse them, and offer them for an offering.
Reference
16
For they are wholly given to 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 to me.
Reference
17
For all 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.
Reference
18
And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.
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 near to the sanctuary.
Reference
20
And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according to all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel to them.
21
And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them.
Reference
22
And 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 to them.
23
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
24
This is it that belongs to the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait on the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:
Reference
25
And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting on the service thereof, and shall serve no more:
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 4:23
26
But shall minister with their brothers in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shall you do to the Levites touching their charge.
Reference
Temple
Numbers 1:53
Summary of Numbers 8
Numbers chapter 8 describes the lighting of the lamps in the tabernacle, the dedication of the Levites, and the beginning of their work. The chapter continues the organization of Israel's worship which has been the subject of the previous chapters. The tabernacle has been completed, the altar has been dedicated, and the Levites have been given their responsibilities. Instructions are given by God to Moses regarding the lamps and the Levites' work is prepared for them.
The chapter begins with God speaking to Moses concerning the seven lamps of the candlestick. Moses was to tell Aaron to arrange the lamps in such a way that they throw light towards the front of the candlestick. Aaron followed the instructions and set the lamps in the manner in which God had commanded Moses.
The candlestick was constructed according to the pattern God had revealed to Moses. It was made of beaten gold, the feet and the branches included, and the description serves to remind the reader that the furnishing of the tabernacle had not been designed according to human thought. The instructions which had been given by God needed to be followed for the furniture to have the appearance which He desired.
After the lamps have been described the attention of the readers is drawn to the Levites. God had told Moses to bring the Levites out of the congregation of Israel and to cleanse them. The Levites had been set apart for service at the tabernacle and preparation needed to be made for their work.
They were sprinkled with water of purification, their bodies were to be shaven and their clothes washed in order to signify the beginning of their special service to the Lord. The Levites were to bring a young bullock with a meat offering and a young bullock for a sin offering.
The whole congregation of Israel was brought near and the Levites were presented to the Lord. The children of Israel laid their hands upon the Levites, showing that these men were being given to God on behalf of the nation.
Aaron then dedicated the Levites to the Lord as a wave offering from the children of Israel. The Levites were given to Aaron and his sons to perform the service of the tabernacle. They were separated from the rest of the Israelites for this work.
God said that the Levites had been taken in place of the firstborn of Israel. When He had struck down the firstborn of Egypt, He claimed the firstborn of Israel as His own.
The chapter states again that the Levites belonged to God. They were not hired workers who undertook the labor of serving the tabernacle. Their dedication was connected to God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and to His claim over the firstborn, and their service had a particular significance.
The Levites were cleansed and presented before the Lord as a special offering. Moses and Aaron followed the instructions which God had given and the Israelites followed the procedure for presenting the Levites. The Levites were set apart for their service.
The chapter then gives an age requirement for Levitical service. The Levites were to begin their service at the age of twenty-five and continue until they reached fifty years old. From the time when they reached fifty they were to retire from the regular work of carrying and serving at the tabernacle.
While they would no longer perform the regular duties of the service they could still assist their fellow Levites in keeping the charge of the tabernacle. The age limits show that the work to be done required a certain level of physical strength.
The Levites had to carry the materials for the tabernacle and set it up. They had to take it down and carry it wherever the Israelites went. The Levitical service was connected to a number of these activities.
Numbers chapter 8 draws together a number of these ideas. The tabernacle was lit from within by the lamps and surrounded by those who were dedicated to its service. Israel's worship had to include the care of the sanctuary as well as people who were specially assigned to look after it.
The dedication of the Levites was also connected to the census which had taken place and the organization of Israel's tribes. Israel was a large nation and the tabernacle at the center of the camp needed to be cared for and protected. The working of the tabernacle could not be organized without taking into account the needs of the whole nation. God had already divided the families of Levi into groups according to their work and the Levites had been cleansed and dedicated for service.
The chapter draws attention to the difference between the priests and the Levites. While Aaron and his sons had responsibility for the priesthood, the Levites served under their direction and were given specific duties connected to the tabernacle.
The mention of the firstborn in the chapter serves to show another connection with Israel's history. The Levites had been chosen because God had delivered Israel from Egypt. Their service reflected the fact that Israel's firstborn had been claimed by God as His possession during the Passover.
By the end of the chapter the Levites had been cleansed, presented and dedicated for their work. Moses, Aaron and the Israelites had followed God's instructions and the Levites began their service according to the responsibilities which had been given.
Numbers chapter 8 prepares Israel for the journey which lies ahead. The tabernacle is ready, the tribes have been organized, the priests have their responsibilities, and the Levites have been dedicated for service. They are being prepared not only to move through the wilderness with the Israelites, but also to continue to serve them.
The chapter shows that serving God took a degree of dedication and organization. The Levites had been set apart for a particular purpose, given specific duties, and an appropriate time for their service. At the heart of their work was the tabernacle and the burning lamps which were to be kept in readiness.
The chapter begins with God speaking to Moses concerning the seven lamps of the candlestick. Moses was to tell Aaron to arrange the lamps in such a way that they throw light towards the front of the candlestick. Aaron followed the instructions and set the lamps in the manner in which God had commanded Moses.
The candlestick was constructed according to the pattern God had revealed to Moses. It was made of beaten gold, the feet and the branches included, and the description serves to remind the reader that the furnishing of the tabernacle had not been designed according to human thought. The instructions which had been given by God needed to be followed for the furniture to have the appearance which He desired.
After the lamps have been described the attention of the readers is drawn to the Levites. God had told Moses to bring the Levites out of the congregation of Israel and to cleanse them. The Levites had been set apart for service at the tabernacle and preparation needed to be made for their work.
They were sprinkled with water of purification, their bodies were to be shaven and their clothes washed in order to signify the beginning of their special service to the Lord. The Levites were to bring a young bullock with a meat offering and a young bullock for a sin offering.
The whole congregation of Israel was brought near and the Levites were presented to the Lord. The children of Israel laid their hands upon the Levites, showing that these men were being given to God on behalf of the nation.
Aaron then dedicated the Levites to the Lord as a wave offering from the children of Israel. The Levites were given to Aaron and his sons to perform the service of the tabernacle. They were separated from the rest of the Israelites for this work.
God said that the Levites had been taken in place of the firstborn of Israel. When He had struck down the firstborn of Egypt, He claimed the firstborn of Israel as His own.
The chapter states again that the Levites belonged to God. They were not hired workers who undertook the labor of serving the tabernacle. Their dedication was connected to God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and to His claim over the firstborn, and their service had a particular significance.
The Levites were cleansed and presented before the Lord as a special offering. Moses and Aaron followed the instructions which God had given and the Israelites followed the procedure for presenting the Levites. The Levites were set apart for their service.
The chapter then gives an age requirement for Levitical service. The Levites were to begin their service at the age of twenty-five and continue until they reached fifty years old. From the time when they reached fifty they were to retire from the regular work of carrying and serving at the tabernacle.
While they would no longer perform the regular duties of the service they could still assist their fellow Levites in keeping the charge of the tabernacle. The age limits show that the work to be done required a certain level of physical strength.
The Levites had to carry the materials for the tabernacle and set it up. They had to take it down and carry it wherever the Israelites went. The Levitical service was connected to a number of these activities.
Numbers chapter 8 draws together a number of these ideas. The tabernacle was lit from within by the lamps and surrounded by those who were dedicated to its service. Israel's worship had to include the care of the sanctuary as well as people who were specially assigned to look after it.
The dedication of the Levites was also connected to the census which had taken place and the organization of Israel's tribes. Israel was a large nation and the tabernacle at the center of the camp needed to be cared for and protected. The working of the tabernacle could not be organized without taking into account the needs of the whole nation. God had already divided the families of Levi into groups according to their work and the Levites had been cleansed and dedicated for service.
The chapter draws attention to the difference between the priests and the Levites. While Aaron and his sons had responsibility for the priesthood, the Levites served under their direction and were given specific duties connected to the tabernacle.
The mention of the firstborn in the chapter serves to show another connection with Israel's history. The Levites had been chosen because God had delivered Israel from Egypt. Their service reflected the fact that Israel's firstborn had been claimed by God as His possession during the Passover.
By the end of the chapter the Levites had been cleansed, presented and dedicated for their work. Moses, Aaron and the Israelites had followed God's instructions and the Levites began their service according to the responsibilities which had been given.
Numbers chapter 8 prepares Israel for the journey which lies ahead. The tabernacle is ready, the tribes have been organized, the priests have their responsibilities, and the Levites have been dedicated for service. They are being prepared not only to move through the wilderness with the Israelites, but also to continue to serve them.
The chapter shows that serving God took a degree of dedication and organization. The Levites had been set apart for a particular purpose, given specific duties, and an appropriate time for their service. At the heart of their work was the tabernacle and the burning lamps which were to be kept in readiness.