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.
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
Exodus 25 . 37 , Exodus 37 . 18 , Exodus 37 . 19 , Exodus 37 . 23 , Exodus 40 . 25 , Leviticus 24 . 1 , Leviticus 24 . 2 , Psalm 119 . 105 , Psalm 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
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
Reciprocal . Numbers 8 . 22 . as the Lord 1 Chronicles 6 . 48 . brethren
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
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 , Psalm 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 , Psalm 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
all the . Numbers 3 . 13 , Exodus 13 . 2 , Exodus 13 . 12-15 , Luke 2 . 23
on the day . Exodus 12 . 29 , Psalm 78 . 51 , Psalm 105 . 36 , Psalm 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
Reciprocal . Genesis 48 . 14 . and laid Numbers 3 . 12 . General
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
Reciprocal . Numbers 9 . 5 . according Numbers 9 . 22 . abode
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
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
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 .
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
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
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