Numbers 8

Numbers 8:5-26

This chapter is concerning, 1. The lamps in the candlestick, ver. 1—4. 2. The ordination of the Levites, (1.) How they were purified, ver. 5—8. 3. How they were parted with by the people, ver. 9, 10. 3. How they were projected to God in lieu of the first-born, ver. 11—18. 4. How they were configured to Aaron and his sons, to be ministers to them, ver. 19. And how all these orders were duly executed, ver. 20—22. And lastly, the age appointed for their ministration, ver. 23—26.

1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2. Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick. 3. And Aaron did so; he lightest the lamps thereof, over against the candlestick; as the LORD commanded Moses. 4. And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten and the work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.

2. 1—4. The candlestick being prepared, the lamps are ordered to be lighted. Aaron first is employed, though afterwards the priest in waiting performed the service. The fire was taken

taken from the altar; the middle lamp was first lighted, and the rest from it; one had the tabernacle any other light, but from this candlestick. Note, Christ is the only light of the world; and if ever we shine, it must be by the sacred fire which his spirit inhales in us. The number of the branches was seven, which intimates the perfection of all those, who, as united to Christ, are compleat in him. The use of the lamp was to set to do the work of the tabernacle. Ministers must first have their own spirits lighted up, as the lamp of the Lord, before they can manifest acceptably to God, or profitably to men. How shall they who are in darkness themselves, lead others to the light?

5. ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 6. Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. 7. And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and ye let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean. 8. Then let them take a young bullock with his meat-offering, rove five flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a fin-offering. 9. 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: 10. And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD, and the children of Israel shalt put their hands upon the Levites: 11. And Aaron shall go after the Levites before the LORD, for an offering of the children of Israel; that they may execute the service of the LORD. 12. And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a fin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites. 13. And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering unto the LORD. 14. Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine. 15. And after that, shall the Levites go in, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering. 16. For they are wholly given unto me, from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every month, even instead of the first-born of the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me. 17. For all the first-born of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beall: on the day that I smote every first-born in the land of Egypt, I sanctified them for myself. 18. And I have taken the Levites for all the first-born of the children of Israel. 19. 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 in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the landscary. 20. 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. 21. And the Levites were purified, 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. 22. And after that went the Levites in, to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron and before his sons: as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them. 23. ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24. This is is that belangeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward, they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: 25. And from the age of fifty years they shall create waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more: 26. But shall minister with their brethren 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.

As a divine call, and mission from persons authorized, must unite in the ordination of a minister, we find, after the numbering the Levites, their solemn consecration to God. In order whereunto, as they who bear the vessels of the Lord

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must be holy, they are, 1. Enjoined to wash and shave themselves all over, and then water of purifying is sprinkled upon them. Thus must Jesus sprinkle our consciences, ere we can serve the living God. 2. When prepared, they are presented before the Lord, and by imposition of the hands of the congregation, or perhaps of their rulers, were, instead of the first-born, surrendered up to God’s service. Whatever God calls for we may cheerfully resign, as we shall surely see a blessing from it. 3. Offerings of atonement followed: for most never-ary it is, that they who preach peace with God to others, should first experience it in their own souls. Whereupon, 4. A solemn proclamation of them is made by Aaron to God. Ministers are living sacrifices, whose time, abilities, strength, and all, must be employed for God, from the moment they are devoted to him. 5. God accepts of them instead of the first-born, appoints them their work in the tabernacle, to make atonement for the children of Israel, that there be no plague among them; and regards them as his immediate servants. Note, (1.) God’s service is among the highest honours. (2.) They who are called to the honour, must remember the work of the ministry, and diligently preach the atoning blood of the Lamb that was then. (3.) If this be neglected, the plague of sin among the people will lie at the ministry’s door. 6. Their time of service is fixed. At first and twenty they begin as probationers; at thirty they were admitted to carry the holy vessels; at fifty they were discharged from the burdens of office, and were the superintendants of their younger brethren, and guards of the landscars. The prime of life is fitneff for the laborious work of the ministry: when the faithful labourers begin to grow aged, they may well be assisted by their younger brethren, who should learn under their instructions, and be directed by their superior experience.