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 Numbers 3:12 . read more
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 hands on them, and they were offered before the Lord, Numbers 8:10 , to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation ; to do what otherwise they... read more
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 of them that did it, and of what was done by them; everything was done that was ordered, and in the manner in which it was prescribed; Moses sprinkled, or ordered to be sprinkled,... read more
And the Levites were purified ,.... From sin, by the sprinkling of the sin water, or water of purification on them, Numbers 8:7 , 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 offering, as in Numbers 8:11 , and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them ; by offering the sacrifices for them, Numbers 8:12 . read more
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 should direct them: as the Lord had commanded Moses, so did they unto them ; Aaron and his sons did to the then present Levites according to the command of God by Moses; they... read more
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. read more
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 Numbers 4:3 ; the time for the Levites entering on the work of the tabernacle is fixed to thirty years and upward, which Jarchi reconciles thus; at twenty five years old the Levite goes in to learn the rites of service, and he learns five... read more
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 tabernacle was in the wilderness, and was moved from place to place: but when it had a fixed habitation, and that laborious service of bearing and carrying the vessels of it ceased,... read more
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 is explained by the next clause: to keep the charge ; of the tabernacle, to watch and observe that no stranger or unclean person enter into it; and this they were capable of when at the... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 8:17
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 he protected them among the firstborn of the Egyptians, saved them when he slew theirs, as follows: in the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt ; both of men... read more