Commentary on Numbers, Book · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Chapter VIII Ver. 1. AND the LORD ſpake unto Moſes, ſaying.] Verſe 1 When this was ſpoken is not certain. If Moſes went into the Tabernacle immediately after the Princes had offered, (v. 89. of the foregoing Chapter) it may be thought he then ſpake theſe things to 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 ſetling their ſeveral Charges, (Chap. III. and IV.) But ſome other things intervening which depended upon what had been ordered concerning their Camp, and that of the Iſraelites, (ſee v. 4.) Moſes omits this, till he had ſet down them, and ſome other matters, which he had received from God. See VII. 11.
Ver. 2. Speak unto Aaron, and ſay unto him, when Verſe 2 thou lighteſt the Lamps.] At the ſame time, the Publick Service of God began at the Altar of Burnt-offerings, (of which he ſpeaks in the foregoing Chapter) the ſetting on the Shew-bread, offering Incenſe, and lighting the Lamps, was begun in the Sanctuary. The laſt of theſe is only here mentioned; but it ſuppoſes the other.
The ſeven Lamps ſhall give light over againſt the Candleſtick.] Unto the Table, which was over againſt the Candleſtick; as the vulgar Latin very well explains it: Which is rather a Paraphraſe upon theſe words, than a Tranſlation of them, in this manner. When thou lighteſt the ſeven Lamps, let the Candleſtick be ſet up on the South-ſide, (for ſo it was ordered, XXVI Exod. 35. and ſo Moſes ſet it, XL. 24.) and let the Lamps look towards the North, over againſt the Table of Shew-bread. See XXV Exod. 37. where there is the like obſcure Expreſſion, but to this Senſe. And thus this Verſe may be tranſlated, exactly out of the Hebrew, When thou ſetteſt up the Lamps, the ſeven Lamps ſhall ſhine before the face of the Candleſtick: i. e. enlighten all the room, that is oppoſite to it; for there were no Windows in the Sanctuary; and therefore theſe Lamps were lighted.
Verſe 3 Ver. 3. And Aaron did ſo, he lighted the Lamps thereof, &c.] For God's Table being placed over againſt the Lamps, where he was repreſented as Feaſting with his People, (which no body doth in the dark) it was but ſit, that there ſhould be continual light in that Place. And this, as I take it, is the firſt time that the Lamps were lighted; when the Altar was dedicated, and the Publick Service of God began, which continued ever after.
Verſe 4 Ver. 4. And this work of the Candleſtick was of beaten Gold, &c.] Upon this occaſion he briefly repeats, what is more largely ſaid concerning the Structure of this Candleſtick, XXV Exod. 31, &c. and XXXVII. 17, &c.
Verſe 5 Ver. 5. And the LORD ſpake unto Moſes, ſaying.] That which follows plainly belongs to what was ſaid, Chap. III. 7.
Verſe 6 Ver. 6. Take the Levites from among the Children of Iſrael.] In that place (III. 7.) he bad Moſes give them to Aaron and his Sons, out of the Children of Iſrael; and now he executes it.
And cleanſe them.] He had given them their Charge, (Chap. IV.) and now he prepares them for the performance of it. For they could not be fit to attend in the Tabernacle till they were purified; and, in ſome ſort, conſecrated to that Service.
Ver. 7. And thus ſhalt thou do unto them, to cleanſe them.] Here he directs how they were to be purified; Verſe 7 and then, (v. 9, 10, &c.) how they were to be conſecrated or dedicated to God.
Sprinkle the Water of purifying upon them.] The manner of making this Water is not deſcribed, till XIX. 9. but in all likelihood had been ordered, and made before; becauſe the Levites were ſprinkled with it; as thoſe alſo were who had been defiled by the dead, XIX. 13.
And let them ſhave all their Fleſh.] The greateſt Purity was required in them; for they are here ordered to be cleanſed, according to the cleanſing of a Leper, XIV Levit. 8, 9. and of a Nazarite, when he was defiled by the dead, VI Numb. 9. R. Levi ben Gerſom thinks there was this moral Signification in this ſhaving; that they were hereby admoniſhed, To caſt away all worldly Cares, as much as might be, and wholly give themſelves to their ſacred Ministry.
And waſh their Cloths.] That their Bodies being cleanſed, might not be defiled by foul Apparel.
Ver. 8. Then let them take a young Bullock.] For a Verſe 8 Burnt-offering, as is manifeſt from, v. 12.
With his Meat-offering.] Which always attended upon Burnt-offerings, XV. 9.
And another young Bullock ſhalt thou take for a Sin-offering.] This being offered for the whole body of the Levites, is the ſame Sacrifice that is ordered when the whole Congregation of Iſrael ſinned through Ignorance, IV Levit. 13, 14.
Ver. 9. And thou ſhalt bring the Levites before the Tabernacle of the Congregation.] To the Door of it, where the Altar of Burnt-offerings ſtood, XL Verſe 9 Exod. 6.
And thou ſhalt gather the whole Aſſembly of the Children of Iſrael together.] The Hebrew words COL ADATH, which we tranſlate the whole Aſſembly, frequently ſignifies all the Elders of Iſrael: As in XV. 4. XXV. 7. XXXV. 12. And it cannot well have any other ſenſe in this place, as appears from the next Verſe.
Verſe 10 Ver. 10. And thou ſhalt bring the Levites before the LORD.] Preſent them to him, at the Altar.
And the Children of Iſrael.] The Elders of the People mentioned in the foregoing Verſe. For all the Children of Iſrael could not poſſibly do what is here enjoyned; but ſome of them in the name of the reſt; and none ſo proper, as their Rulers and Governors, who were their Repreſentatives.
Shall put their hands upon the Levites.] As Men uſed to do upon their Sacrifices. Which ſignified the devoting of that Beaſt to God, by him who laid his Hand on it at the Altar; for ſuch Purpoſes as he brought it. And this was done by private Men in their Burnt-offerings, and Peace-offerings, as well as in their Sin-offerings, (ſee I Levit. 4. III. 2. VIII. 13.) but the Jews obſerve, that the whole Congregation laid their Hands only upon the Sin-offering that was offered for them, IV Lev. 15. Therefore the Levites are here to be conſidered under that notion; as is manifeſt from v. 19. where God is ſaid to have given them to Aaron, &c. to make an Atonement for the Children of Iſrael. For the Levites being given to God inſtead of the Firſt-born, by the Sanctification of which Firſt-born to God, (as it is called, XIII Exod. 1.) the whole Family was ſanctified, and their Sin after a ſort expiated; the Offering of the Levites after this manner to God, was to have the ſame effect, that the Offering of the Firſt-born had, viz. the Sanctification, and Atonement of the Children of Iſrael.
Ver. 11. And Aaron ſhall offer the Levites before the Verſe 11 LORD, for an Offering of the Children of Iſrael.] The Hebrew words are more ſignificant; Aaron ſhall wave the Levites before the LORD, for a Wave-offering, &c. I have often obſerved before, that this Waving, or Agitation too and fro before the Altar, (of which ſee XXIX Exod. 24.) was a ſolemn Conſecration of a thing to God, as a Sacrifice: And therefore the Levites were preſented unto him, under the ſame Conſideration, as the Firſt-born were. But it was impoſſible for Aaron to wave them, as he did ſome parts of a Sacrifice; and therefore it is probable that he lifting up his Hands, and turning about to all ſides (as he did when he offered a Wave-offering) they, at his Command, imitated the ſame motion; and ſo were offered up to God, and became wholly his. See ver. 21.
That they may execute the Service of the LORD.] Or, as it is more ſignificantly in the Margin, that they may be to execute, &c. Which expreſſes the Intention of this waving them before the LORD; that being wholly given up to him, they might become meet to execute that Service, to which he appointed them at his Houſe.
Ver. 12. And the Levites ſhall lay their Hands upon the Heads of the Bullocks.] It being evident from v. 19. that the Levites were conſidered, as an expiatory Sacrifice; Verſe 12 and yet not being to be devoted to Death, (no more than the Firſt-born were) theſe two Sacrifices, one for Sin, the other a Burnt-offering, were ſubſtituted in their ſtead. Upon which therefore they were to lay their Hands, that the Sin, which the Children of Iſrael laid upon them, (v. 10.) might be transferred to theſe Beaſts; by laying their Hands upon them to be actually ſacrificed unto God by ſhedding their Blood.
The one for a Sin-offering, and the other for a Burnt-offering unto the LORD.] The Burnt-offering was mentioned firſt, (v. 8.) being the moſt ancient of all Offerings, from the beginning of the World: But the Sin-offering is offered firſt to make the other acceptable. And ſo it was when Aaron was conſecrated, VIII Levit. 14.18. and when he offered for himſelf, IX Levit. 8, 12. and for the People, v. 15, 16. and (to name no more) in the Cleanſing of a Leper, XIV. 19.
To make an Atonement for the Levites.] The Sin-offering properly made the Atonement; and the Burnt-offering declared its acceptance.
Verſe 13 Ver. 13. And thou ſhalt ſet the Levites before Aaron, and his Sons.] As they were brought before the LORD, becauſe they were to be given unto him, v. 9. So now they were ſet before Aaron and his Sons, becauſe they were given by God to them, v. 19.
And offer them for an Offering unto the LORD.] Or, as it is in the Hebrew, and wave them for a Wave-offering unto the LORD. Some imagine, that as Aaron waved them before, v. 11. ſo now they were in like manner waved by Moſes. But it ſeems to me more probable, that the meaning is; they being waved, &c. ſhould be ſet before Aaron and his Sons, and preſented to them as God's Gift, according to his order, III. 9. And ſo theſe words ought to be tranſlated, after thou haſt waved them, for a Wave-offering. That is, after Aaron by his Order had waved them. And thus, the like words muſt be underſtood, v. 15. See there.
Ver. 14. Thus ſhalt thou ſeparate the Levites from among Verſe 14 the Children of Iſrael.] By the fore-mentioned Purification, v. 7. and Oblation, v. 10, 11.
And the Levites ſhall be mine.] They became his, by this ſolemn Oblation of them to him, v. 11.
Ver. 15. And after that ſhall the Levites go in.] To Verſe 15 the Court of the Tabernacle, where they were to attend upon the Prieſts, and aſſiſt them in their Miniſtry, and in taking down the Tabernacle when it was to remove.
To do the Service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.] In the Court of the Prieſts where the Altar of Burnt-offering ſtood. For into the Sanctuary it ſelf none but the Prieſts entred; and there was no Miniſtry there, in which the Levites were to aſſiſt.
And thou ſhalt cleanſe them, and offer them for an Offering.] Or rather, after thou haſt cleanſed them, and offered, &c. according as was directed, v. 7, 11.
Ver. 16. For they are wholly given unto me, &c.] Verſe 16 God commanded them before to be taken from among the Children of Iſrael, III. 45. and now they are given to him. The word is repeated twice in the Hebrew, given, given, (which we tranſlate wholly given) becauſe the Children of Iſrael had devoted them to him, by laying their Hands on them, v. 10. and Aaron had waved them as a Wave-offering to the LORD, v. 11.
Inſtead of ſuch as open every Womb, &c.] See III. 12, 13.
Verſe 17 Ver. 17. For all the Firſt-born of the Children of Iſrael are mine, both Man and Beaſt, &c.] XIII Exod. 2.
Verſe 18 Ver. 18. And I have taken the Levites for all the Firſt-born of the Children of Iſrael.] By the exchange, mentioned III. 2, 13, 45.
Verſe 19 Ver. 19. And I have given the Levites as a Gift to Aaron, and to his Sons, &c.] In the Hebrew the words are more emphatical, I have given the Levites given, &c. That is, the Levites which are given unto me, v. 16. I have given unto Aaron, and his Sons, III. 9.
To do the Service of the Children of Iſrael.] See III. 7. The Vulgar Latin tranſlates it, to ſerve me for the Children of Iſrael; i. e. to do them Service, by aſſiſting the Prieſts in offering Sacrifice for the People.
In the Tabernacle of the Congregation.] See v. 15.
And to make an Atonement for the Children of Iſrael.] Not by offering Sacrifice, for that was the work of the Prieſts alone; but by being offered themſelves, in the nature of an expiatory Sacrifice unto God, as I obſerved before, v. 10, and 12. For though they were not ſlain at the Altar, as Sacrifices were, yet they might expiate, as the Scape-Goat did: Which was ſent away alive into the Wilderneſs, after it had been preſented unto the LORD, as theſe Levites were, XVI Levit. 7, 10.
That there be no Plague among the Children of Iſrael.] As there would have been, if any Man had preſumed to officiate in the Houſe of God; but ſuch as were, in this manner, taken by himſelf to miniſter there.
When the Children of Iſrael come nigh unto the Sanctuary.] To worſhip God; and to bring their Sacrifices to be offered at his Altar.
Ver. 20. And Moſes and all the Congregation of Iſrael.] Verſe 20 i. e. The Elders of the People, v. 9, 10.
Did to the Levites according unto all that the LORD commanded Moſes concerning the Levites, &c.] Separated them to God from the reſt of the Iſraelites, as he had directed, v. 14.
Ver. 21. And the Levites were purified, and they Verſe 21 waſhed their Clothes.] According to the order given v. 7.
And Aaron offered them an Offering before the LORD.] Or rather, Waved them a Wave-offering, &c. As I obſerved v. 11. To which may be added, That it is likely ſome of the Levites were thus waved in the name of all the reſt: for there being Two and twenty thouſand of them, (III. 39.) one cannot well conceive how they ſhould be every one thus offered.
And Aaron made an Atonement for them to cleanſe them.] See v. 12.
Ver. 22. And after that the Levites went in to do Verſe 22 their Service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation.] According to the Directions given v. 15.
Before Aaron and before his Sons.] In their preſence, and by their direction.
Ver. 23. And the LORD ſpake unto Moſes, ſaying.] Verſe 23 After the foregoing Commands, he gave him ſome further Inſtructions.
Ver. 24. This it is that belongeth unto the Levites.] Add this, to what hath been ſaid about them.
From twenty and five years old and upward they ſhall Verſe 24 go in.] Then they might begin to take the Cuſtody of the Tabernacle upon them; and to be Door-keepers, to keep out Strangers, and ſuch as were unclean: but not to load the Wagons, and do ſuch like work of burden till they were thirty years of Age. See IV. 3.
To wait upon the Service of the Tabernacle, &c.] In the Hebrew the words are, To war the warfare of the Tabernacle. Which is a Phraſe often uſed before, IV. 3, 23, &c. and there applied to thoſe that carried the Tabernacle. Which they might not do till thirty years of Age: but might go in to learn at five and twenty, as ſome reconcile theſe two. But Abarbinel notes, That there is nothing ſaid of their learning, but of their Service, or Miniſtry: and therefore at twenty five years old they began that part of the Service; which conſiſted in the Cuſtody of the Tabernacle.
Verſe 25 Ver. 25. And from the Age of fifty years they ſhall ceaſe waiting upon the Service thereof.] In the Hebrew, Shall return from the warfare of their Service: i. e. be diſcharged from their Function; and no longer burdened with any laborious work; as that of carrying the Tabernacle was.
And ſhall ſerve no more.] In ſuch manner of work.
Verſe 26 Ver. 26. But ſhall miniſter with their Brethren.] This Miniſtry is explained in the following words, To keep the charge: that is, to take care of the Tabernacle; unto which they were to be a Guard.
In the Tabernacle of the Congregation.] See IV. 3.
And ſhall do no Service.] In the Hebrew, Serve no Service: that is, do no laborious work, (as was ſaid before) their Age beginning to require eaſe and reſt: and therefore no Miniſtry was required of them, but what they might well perform without pains and labour.
Thus ſhalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.] Appoint them their Miniſtries, according to theſe Rules: which were obſerved after the Ark of God was ſettled, and there was no occaſion to remove it any more. When David therefore, inſtead of carrying the Ark and the Tabernacle, (for which there was then no further occaſion) appointed them to be Singers in the Temple, and Porters, &c. For which they were fit at twenty years of Age: but continued their Employment no longer than till fifty, (as the Jews tell us) when their Voice began to decay. Whence that Obſervation of Abarbinel upon this very Chapter: Age makes Levites unfit for Service, not Blemiſhes in their Bodies: but Prieſts are unfit by Blemiſhes in their Bodies, not by Age. For Prieſts continued their Service as long as they lived: and though they did not begin it till twenty years of Age; yet no Law of God forbad them to begin ſooner.