In this chapter orders are given for the lighting the seven lamps of the candlestick, Num. 8:1–4; and for the consecration of the Levites to their office, by a purification of them, Num.

And the Lord spake unto Moses Whether immediately after the offerings of the princes, or at another time, is not certain; Aben Ezra thinks it was in the night God spake unto him, because then the lamps were lighted and burning: saying; as follows.

Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him It being his work to light the lamps, though, as Ben Gersom observes, it was not incumbent on an high priest alone to do this, for it also belonged to the sons of Aaron, who were common priests, ; though it is probable that as this was the first time of lighting…

And Aaron did so, he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick As God had taken up his residence in the most holy place, as appears by the voice speaking from off the mercy seat, ; and sacrifices were begun to be offered in the outward court on the altar of burnt offering, it was…

And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold As it is also said to be; (See Gill on Ex. 25:31); and (See Gill on Ex. 25:36): unto the shalt thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work; of which, see ; according unto the pattern which the Lord had showed Moses; when on Mount Sinai with…

And the Lord spake unto Moses the same time the order about lighting the lamps was given; and this section is joined to the former, Aben Ezra thinks, to show that Aaron employed himself in lighting the lamps, but in the rest of the services the Levites helped him, and stood before him to do what he…

Take the Levites from among the children of Israel Among whom they were mixed, as were all the tribes mixed together as Aben Ezra says, before they took their journey from Mount Sinai; however, from hence forward, they were distinguished from Israelites, as they are both in Scripture and in Jewish…

And thus shall thou do unto them, to cleanse them Or order Aaron to do unto them; the cleansing of the Levites was the work of Aaron, either by himself or by his order; in which he was a type of Christ, who is the refiner and purifier of the sons of Levi, ; sprinkle water of purifying upon them; or…

Then let them take a young bullock Of two years old, as the Jewish writers gather from the other in the next clause, being called the second; though the wise men say one of three years old is fit for such a sacrifice; nay, others say, if four or five years old; but the decision is according to the…

And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation Not without it, but within it, in the court of the tabernacle, at least at the door of it, where stood the altar of burnt offering, on which sacrifices for them were now to be offered: and thou shalt gather the whole…

And thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord From the door of the tabernacle, to the altar of burnt offering, where the Lord was in some sense present to accept the sacrifices offered to him: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites; as were used to be put upon…

And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord Or “wave” [[16]] them, as a wave offering, which was moved to and fro, backwards and forwards; not that they were actually so waved and moved to and fro by Aaron, which could not be done by him; though it is possible he might make such a motion…

And the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bullocks Or “on the head” [[17]]; on the head of everyone of them, as Aben Ezra, thereby, as it were, transferring their sins to them, for these were to make atonement for them, as the latter part of the verse shows; and this was a figure of…

And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons After atonement was made for them, as Aben Ezra observes; then they were presented to Aaron and his sons, to whom they were given to he their ministers, and assistants to them: and offer them for an offering unto the Lord: or, and…

Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel By sprinkling the water of purification upon them; by offering sacrifices for them; by presenting them before the Lord, with the hands of the people of Israel put upon them; by offering and waving them before the Lord, and by…

And after that shall the Levites go in Not into the sanctuary, where only the priests entered, much less into the most holy place, where only the high priest went, and that but once a year, in neither of which places the Levites had anything to do, but into the court of the tabernacle: to do the…

For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel All of them, entirely, and most certainly; or, “given, given” [[19]], which is repeated for the confirmation of it; or because of their being twice given, first to the Lord by the children of Israel, and then by the Lord to Aaron…

For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both men and beasts Not only in common with other of his creatures, but in a special respect on account of his signal deliverance of them; they were his, as Jarchi expresses it, by the line of judgment, or rule of justice and equity, because…

And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel. ] Gave up his right in the firstborn, and instead of them took the Levites for his use and service: see .

And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons, from among the children of Israel Or I have given the Levites that were given; that is, the Lord gave to Aaron and his sons the Levites, that were first given to him; as they were, when brought before him, and the children of Israel laid…

And Moses and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel The several parties concerned in the consecration of the Levites: these did to the Levites according unto all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel unto them: which, as Jarchi notes, is said to the praise…

And the Levites were purified From sin, by the sprinkling of the sin water, or water of purification on them, ; and they washed their clothes; that they might have no defilement about them, neither in their bodies, nor in their garments: and Aaron offered them as an offering before the Lord; a wave…

And after that went the Levites in Into the court of the tabernacle, being at the door of it when the above rites and ceremonies of their consecration were performed: to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation, before Aaron and his sons; in their presence, and by their order, as they…

And the Lord spake unto Moses At the same time he gave the instructions about the consecration of the Levites, the time of their entrance on their service, and of leaving it, was fixed: saying; as follows.

This is it that belongeth unto the Levites The fixed and settled time for their service, as is after related: from twenty and five years old and upward, they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; in ; the time for the Levites entering on the work of the…

And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof The heavy service of it: and shall serve no more; by bearing and carrying the vessels of the sanctuary upon their shoulders, as Jarchi interprets it; this, according to the Jewish writers, was only in force while the…

But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation By giving advice, instructing younger Levites, and doing lighter service. Jarchi says, they shall return to shutting of doors, singing and loading wagons; but the last especially seems too burdensome: the ministry of such…