Números 8
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Números 8
NJB (MT versing) Offerings of the Leaders Offerings of the Leaders Offerings from the Tribal Leaders The Offerings of the Leaders Offering of Wagons The Seven Lamps Arrangement of the Lamps The Consecration of the Levites Placing the Lamps The Lamps for the Lamp-Stand 8:1-4 8:1-4 8:1-4 8:1-4 8:1-2 8:3-4 Cleansing the Levites Cleansing and Dedication of the Levites The Purification and Dedication of the Levites The Levites Are Offered to Yahweh 8:5-13 8:5-19 8:5-13 8:5-12 8:5-11 8:12-15a 8:13-19 8:14-19 8:14-19 8:15b-19 8:20-22 8:20-22 8:20-22 8:20-22 8:20-22 Retirement The Duration of Their Ministry 8:23-26 8:23-26 8:23-26 8:23-26 8:23 8:24-26 Etc.
Números 8:1-4
8:2-4 "When you mount the lamps" It is surprising that this detail about the lighting of the lampstand is placed just before the dedication of the Levites. They later became the teachers of the Law. This lampstand is described in detail in Exod. 35:31-40. It was made of solid gold, not wood overlaid with gold, like the other pieces of furniture. It was a seven-pronged lampstand which was meant to shed light on the Table of Showbread. See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE LAMPSTAND (Menorah). 8:4 "according to the pattern which the Lord had shown Moses" There seems to be a heavenly pattern of which the earthly Tabernacle is a mere representation (cf. Exod. 25:40 and Heb. 8:5).
Números 8:5-13
8:6 "Take the Levites from among the sons of Israel and cleanse them" There is a series of dedicatory sacrifices for the Levites, similar but not as intense, as those for the priests (cf. Leviticus 8). The Levites would help minister in the Tabernacle. See Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, pp. 358-371 and NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 772-777. ▣ "cleanse them" Wash them in special purified water, probably from the Laver of water with the ashes of the red heifer in Numbers 19. It is called "the water of expiation." Shave the entire body (see note at Num. 8:7). This would symbolize a new beginning, here, their beginning purification to serve in the Tabernacle. Wash their clothes (cf. Num. 8:21). Remember, the priests were given new clothes but the Levites just washed their clothes. The summary of this dedicatory cleansing is Num. 8:21, but notice that the sacrifices (i.e., burnt and sin) are combined with #1 and 2. There are several words used in this chapter to describe this cleansing and dedication of the Levites. cleanse ‒ BDB 372, KB 369, Num. 8:6,7 (twice), 15,21 wash ‒ BDB 460, KB 459, Num. 8:21 purify ‒ BDB 306, KB 305, Num. 8:21 8:7 "use a razor over their whole body" This is another instance which reflects the Egyptian culture. Egyptian priests were completely shaven (i.e., Herodotus, 2.37), but here only as an initiatory rite. 8:8 The dedication of the Levites for service in the Tabernacle required a burnt offering ‒ a bull (Levites laid their hands on its head, Num. 8:12) a sin offering ‒ a bull (Levites laid their hands on its head, Num. 8:12) to make atonement (BDB 497, KB 493, cf. Num. 8:12,21). See SPECIAL TOPIC: ATONEMENT. 8:9 All Israel was involved in the dedication of the Levites. general assembly at the Tabernacle, Num. 8:9v laying hands on their heads (probably by means of their leaders, this symbolized the Levites taking the place of Israel's firstborn children), Num. 8:10, see SPECIAL TOPIC: LAYING ON OF HANDS IN THE BIBLE Aaron offers the Levites as a wave offering from the assembly to YHWH, Num. 8:11, 13, 15 8:11 "shall present the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering" In Num. 5:25; 6:20 a grain offering is "waved" before the Lord (see notes there), but here it is metaphorical (BDB 632 I, Hiphil #4) it is a different root, possibly Akkadian, "to offer" (see NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 64, #2) It was surely a sign that the Levites belonged to YHWH and were a "gift" to Aaron and the priests (Num. 8:19); Num. 3:9.
Números 8:14-19
8:14-19 The Levites took the place of the firstborn of Israel (cf. Exodus 12-13). See full note at Num. 3:12. The Levites did the hard work of the Tabernacle (i.e., transportation, supplying, and cleaning). ▣ "that there will be no plague among the sons of Israel by their coming near to the sanctuary" Plagues were often involved in breaking of the holiness of the Tabernacle (cf. Num. 1:53). The Levites were to guard the sanctity of the Tabernacle area.
Números 8:20-22
8:20 Israel's obedience to YHWH's commands is emphasized again and again (note Num. 1:54; 2:34; 3:16, 51; 4:49; 5:4; 8:20; 9:5, 23; 10:13).
Números 8:23-26
8:24-25 "from twenty-five years old and upward" The Levites were to serve from the age of twenty-five to fifty. However, when one compares this with chapter 4, we see the age of thirty to fifty mentioned there. The only way to reconcile the difference in these ages is to accept the opinion of the rabbis that the Levites served a five-year apprenticeship before actually performing their tasks alone. 8:25 "at the age of fifty years they shall retire from service in the work and not work any more" They could help at certain times (i.e., annual festivals, special events, Num. 8:26), but they could not help with the hard labor which was required.