FRAMEWORKS:
Numbers 8: Setting Apart the Levites
Part
1.3: A Holy Camp
Ch.5:
Working for a Pure Camp
Ch.
6: Nazarites
Ch.7:
Offerings at the Dedication of the Tabernacle
Ch.
8: Setting
Apart the Levites
Ch.
9: Passover
& Presence
FRAMEWORKS:
Numbers 8: Setting Apart the Levites
v.1-4
Setting Up the Lamps
v.5-19
Instructions for Setting Apart the Levites
v.20-22
The Levites are set apart
v.23-26
General Instructions as which Levites will serve
[Preliminary
Comments: In chapter 3 the Levites were counted. In
chapter 4 their roles were designated. In chapter 7 carts had
been presented for them to use. Now in this chapter they are set
apart and consecrated for what is seen as holy work, in preparation
for the nation to leave Sinai on their journey to the Promised
Land.]
v.1-4
Setting Up the Lamps
v.1
The
Lord
said to Moses,
v.2
“Speak
to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the lamps, see that
all seven light up the area in front of the lampstand.'”
v.3
Aaron
did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the
lampstand, just as the Lord
commanded
Moses.
v.4
This
is how the lampstand was made: It was made of hammered gold—from
its base to its blossoms. The lampstand was made exactly like
the pattern the Lord had shown Moses.
[Notes:
In order for the Tabernacle Holy Place to be used –
for presenting bread and twice-daily incense – the lampstand had
to be set up and lit.]
v.5-19
Instructions for Setting Apart the Levites
v.5
The Lord
said to Moses:
v.6,7
The Levites are first to be washed and cleansed
v.6
“Take
the Levites from among all the Israelites and make them ceremonially
clean.
v.7
To
purify them, do this: Sprinkle the water of cleansing on them;
then have them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes.
And so they will purify themselves.
v.8
Then comes the burnt offering & sin offering on their behalf
v.8
Have
them take a young bull with its grain offering of the finest flour
mixed with olive oil; then you are to take a second young bull
for a sin offering.
v.9
They are to stand between the Tabernacle and the people
v.9
Bring
the Levites to the front of the tent of meeting and assemble the
whole Israelite community.
v.10
The people are to identify with them by laying on of hands
v.10
You
are to bring the Levites before the Lord , and the Israelites
are to lay their hands on them.
v.11
They are then to be presented to God
v.11
Aaron
is to present the Levites before the Lord
as a wave
offering from the Israelites, so that they may be ready to do
the work of the Lord.
v.12
Representatives (presumably) identify with the offerings
v.12
“Then
the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls,
using one for a sin offering to the Lord
and the other
for a burnt offering, to make atonement for the
Levites.
v.13,14
Again they are to be presented to God
v.13
Have the Levites
stand in front of Aaron and his sons and then present them as
a wave offering to the Lord
.
v.14
In this way
you are to set the Levites apart from the other Israelites, and
the Levites will be mine.
v.15
They are then ready, when needed, to do their work
v.15
“After
you have purified the Levites and presented them as a wave offering,
they are to come to do their work at the tent of meeting.
v.16-18
They are the tokens of the first-born belonging to God
v.16
They
are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me. I have taken
them as my own in place of the firstborn, the first male offspring
from every Israelite woman.
v.17
Every firstborn
male in Israel, whether human or animal, is mine. When I struck
down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set them apart for myself.
v.18
And I have
taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons in Israel.
v.19
They are God's representatives to serve at the Tabernacle
v.19
From
among all the Israelites, I have given the Levites as gifts to
Aaron and his sons to do the work at the tent of meeting on behalf
of the Israelites and to make atonement for them so that no plague
will strike the Israelites when they go near the sanctuary.”
[Notes:
The whole ceremony emphasizes that this is no casual
labour force but a people specifically dedicated to moving the
dwelling place of God throughout their travels.]
v.20-22
The Levites are set apart
v.20
Moses,
Aaron and the whole Israelite community did with the Levites just
as the Lord
commanded
Moses.
v.21
The
Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes. Then Aaron
presented them as a wave offering before the Lord
and made atonement
for them to purify them.
v.22
After
that, the Levites came to do their work at the tent of
meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons.
They did with the Levites just as the Lord
commanded
Moses.
[Notes:
The ceremony is carried out and the Levites are now
ready for service.]
v.23-26
General Instructions as which Levites will serve
v.23
The
Lord
said to Moses,
v.24
“This
applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more
shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting,
v.25
but
at the age of fifty, they must retire from their
regular service and work no longer.
v.26
They
may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the tent
of meeting, but they themselves must not do the work. This, then,
is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites.”
[Notes:
In chapter 4, numbers of the Levites counted were between
age 30 and 50. Jewish commentators suggest that for the first
five years they served as helper-apprentices only. Fifty is retirement
age although they are still allowed to feel part of the work by
giving support help. These final verses summarize what had gone
before and the Levites and the people, will know they have a special
task to perform that no other may have a part in.]