Moreover, stand in the Holy Place by the divisions of the families of your kinsmen the lay people, and by the divisions of the families of the Levites. Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, and make preparations for your fellow countrymen to carry out the word of the LORD given by Moses."
And they shall attend to your duties and to all the duties of the Tent; but they must not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar, or both they and you will die. They are to join you and attend to the duties of the Tent of Meeting, doing all the work at the Tent; but no outsider may come near you.
Significance
Numbers 18:3-4 specifies that the Levites shall "attend to your duties and to all the duties of the Tent" while warning against approaching the altar or holy furnishings. 2 Chronicles 35:5-6 records Josiah commanding the Levites to "stand in the Holy Place by the divisions of the families" and "slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, and make preparations for your fellow countrymen to carry out the word of the LORD given by Moses." The explicit citation of Mosaic authority ("the word of the LORD given by Moses") shows the Chronicler viewing Josiah's Passover arrangements as a faithful return to the Numbers 18 charter for Levitical service.
Found via
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Reference Type
Echo
Connection Method(s)
Longitudinal Theme — Numbers 18:3-4 assigns the Levites to "attend to your duties and to all the duties of the Tent" as assistants who may not approach the altar, and Josiah's Passover orders trace that same charter in action: Levites standing "by the divisions of the families," slaughtering the lambs, and preparing for the laity "to carry out the word of the LORD given by Moses" (2 Chr 35:5-6). The one developing institution of Levitical assistance to priestly worship stretches from Sinai's wilderness to Josiah's temple and onward to Christ, in whom mediated access to God is perfected.
