Numbers 8

AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick (i. e.) Either 1. On every side of the candlestick. So the candlestick is here put for the bulk or shaft of the candlestick, as Exod. 25. 34, 35. and the lamps, when they were lighted were put into the branches of the candlestick, and taken out upon occasion. Thus the meaning is, that all the lamps were to be lighted on that part which was towards the middle, looking that way whence they had their light; for the middle lamp was lighted with the fire of the altar, and from that the other lamps received light. But against this sense it is objected, that the lamps could not be other wise ordered, but that they must give light round about the candlestick, and therefore that sense seems to make this direction idle and frivolous. Or 2. On that part which is before the candlestick, Heb. over against the face of the candlestick, i. e. in that place towards which the candlestick looked or where the candlestick stood in full view, i. e. upon the Northside, where the Table of Show-bread stood, as appears from hence, because the candlestick stood close to the boards of the Sanctuary on the south-side, Exod. 26. 35. And thus the lights were on both sides of the Sanctuary, which was fit and necessary, because it was wholly dark in it self, and had no window in it..

And Aaron did so: he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.

And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold Not hollow, but solid and massie gold, beaten out of one piece, and not of several pieces joined or sodered together. See Exod. 25. 18, 31. and 37. 17., unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had showed Moses, so he made the candlestick.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse Or, wash or them which also done with the Priests and others when they were to oach to God and his service. See Exod. 19. 10, 15. Levit. 14..... them.

And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: sprinkle water of purifying Heb. Of sin, (i e.) for the expiation of sin. This water was mixed with the ashes of a red hei... er, Numb. 19. 9. which therefore may seem to have been prescribed before, though it be mentioned after, such kind of transplacings of passages being frequent in Scripture. upon them, and let them shave all their flesh Which external rite signified the cutting off their inordinate concupiscences of earthly things, and that singular purity of heart and life which is required in the Ministers of God. See Isa. 52. 11. 2 Tim. 2. 21., and let them wash their cloths, and so make themselves clean.

Then let them take a young bullock with his meat-offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock The same sacrifice which was offered for a sin-offering for the whole congregation, Levit. 4. because the Levites came in the stead of all the first-born; which did in a manner represent the whole congregation. shalt thou take for a sin-offering.

And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation, and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together.

And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD, and the children of Israel Not all of them, which was impossible, but some in the name and stead and by the appointment of all, to wit, either the first-born, or rather the Princes or Chiefs of each Tribe, who used to transact things in the name of their Tribes. Whereby they signified their transferring of that right of Ministring to God from the first-born in whose hands it formerly was, unto the Levites, and their renouncing of their interest in the Levites, from whom they might otherwise have expected help by their persons or purses, as they di... from other Tribes, in their common concernments, and intire resignation and dedication of them to God, service; as the person offering by laying his hand upon the head of his, Levit. 1. 4. signified his translation of his guilt upon the beast and his dedication of it unto God. shall put their hands upon the Levites g.

And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering Heb. For a wave-offering. Of which see Exod. 29. 24. Not that Aaron did so wave them, which he could not do, but that he caused or commanded them to imitate that motion and to wave themselves towards the several parts of the world: whereby they might signifie their readiness to serve God according to their capacity wheresoever they should be. Though the word may be taken more generally for any offering made to God, as Exod. 35. 22. of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.

And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron and before his sons (i. e.) Put them into the power of Aaron and his sons, to employ them in holy ministrations: for so that phrase is sometimes used, as Gen. 13. 9. the land is before thee, i. e. in thy power, to use or enjoy it. Or, setting the Levites before them, did signifie the giving the Levites to them or to their service. and offer them for an offering unto the LORD For to him they were first properly offered, and by him given to the Priests in order to his service..

Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine.

And after that shall the Levites go in To wit, into the Court, where they were to wait upon the Priests at the Altar of burnt-offering; and, at present, into the Tabernacle, to take it down and set it up., to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering.

For they are wholly given unto me By the peoples consent, as well as taken (as it follows) by my choice and command. See Numb. 3. 9. from among the children of Israel: in stead of such as open every womb, even in stead of the first-born of all the children of Israel have I taken them unto me.

For all the first-born of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every first-born in the land of Egypt, I sanctified them for my self.

And I have taken the Levites for all the first-born of the children of Israel.

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 (i. e.) To serve God in their stead and behalf, to do what otherwise they had been obliged to do in their own persons., in the tabernacle How in it, see on ver. 15. of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel Not by offering sacrifices, which the Priests alone might do, but by assisting the Priests in that expiatory work, and by a diligent performance of all the parts of their office, whereby God was pleased both with them and with the people.: that there be no plague This is added as a reason why God appointed them to serve in or about the Tabernacle, that they might watch and guard it, and not suffer any of the people to come near it, or meddle with holy things, which if they did, it would certainly bring a plague upon them., among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come high unto the sanctuary.

And Moses and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them.

And the Levites were purified Which was done by washing and sprinkling and sacrifices. See Levit. 15. 13, 14, 15. Numb. 19. 11, &c., 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.

And after that went the Levites in, to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation, before Aaron, and before his sons In their presence, and by their direction and appointment.: as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them.

And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks To signifie, that they were offered by them and for them. See Exod. 29. 16, 19. Levit. 1. 4. and 3. 2. and 4. 4.: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old See on Numb. 4. 3. and upward, they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof (i. e.) Upon the difficult and cumbersome part of their work., and shall serve no more:

But shall minister with their brethren By way of advise, and assistance in lesser and easier works. in the tabernacle of the congregation to keep the charge, and shall do no service: thus shalt thou do unto the Levites, touching their charge.