New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Numbers 8
1
The Lord said to Moses,
2
"Speak to Aaron. Say to him, 'Set up the seven lamps. They will give light to the area that is in front of the lampstand.' "
Reference
Light
Exodus 25:37
3
So Aaron did it. He set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand. He did just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
4
The lampstand was made out of hammered gold. From its base to its blooms it was made out of hammered gold. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern the Lord had shown Moses.
Reference
5
The Lord spoke to Moses. He said,
6
"Take the Levites from among the other men of Israel. Make them 'clean' in the usual way.
Reference
7
Here is how to make them pure. Sprinkle the special water on them. Then have them shave their whole bodies. Also have them wash their clothes. That is how they will make themselves pure.
Reference
8
"Have them get a young bull along with its grain offering. The offering must be made out of fine flour mixed with olive oil. Then you must get a second young bull. You must sacrifice it as a sin offering.
Reference
Sacrifice
Leviticus 2:1
9
"Bring the Levites to the front of the Tent of Meeting. Gather the whole community of Israel together.
Reference
11
Aaron must bring the Levites to me. They are a wave offering from the people of Israel. That is how they will be set apart to do my work.
Reference
Sacrifice
Leviticus 7:30
12
"I want the Levites to place their hands on the heads of the bulls. Then they must sacrifice one bull as a sin offering to me. And they must sacrifice the other as a burnt offering. The blood of the bulls will pay for the sin of the Levites.
Reference
13
"Have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons. Then give them as a wave offering to me.
Reference
14
That is how I want you to set the Levites apart from the other men of Israel. The Levites will belong to me.
Reference
15
"Make the Levites pure. Give them to me as a wave offering. Then they must come to do their work at the Tent of Meeting.
Reference
16
They are the men of Israel who will be given to me completely. I have taken them to be my own. I have taken them in place of every son who is born first in his family in Israel.
Reference
17
"Every male that is born first in Israel belongs to me. That is true whether it is a man or an animal. I struck down all of the males that were born first to a mother in Egypt. Then I set apart for myself all of the males that were born first in Israel.
Reference
18
And I have taken the Levites in place of all of the sons who are born first in Israel.
19
"I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons. I have taken them from all of the men of Israel. I have appointed them to do the work at the Tent of Meeting. They will do it in place of the men of Israel. "That is how they will keep the men of Israel from being guilty when they go near the sacred tent. Then no plague will strike the people of Israel when they go near the tent."
Reference
20
So Moses and Aaron and the whole community of Israel did with the Levites just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
21
The Levites made themselves pure. They washed their clothes. Then Aaron gave them to the Lord as a wave offering. That's how he paid for their sin to make them pure.
Reference
22
After that, the Levites came to do their work at the Tent of Meeting. They worked under the direction of Aaron and his sons. And so Moses and Aaron and the whole community of Israel did with the Levites just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
23
The Lord spoke to Moses. He said,
24
"Here is what the Levites must do. Men who are 25 years old or more must come and take part in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
Reference
25
"But when they reach the age of 50, they must not work any longer. They must stop doing their regular work.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 4:23
26
They can help their brothers with their duties at the Tent of Meeting. But they themselves should not do the work. That is how you must direct the Levites to do their work."
Reference
Temple
Numbers 1:53
Chapter Summary
Numbers chapter 8 describes the lighting of the lamps in the tabernacle, the dedication of the Levites, and the beginning of their work. The chapter continues the organization of Israel's worship which has been the subject of the previous chapters. The tabernacle has been completed, the altar has been dedicated, and the Levites have been given their responsibilities. Instructions are given by God to Moses regarding the lamps and the Levites' work is prepared for them.
The chapter begins with God speaking to Moses concerning the seven lamps of the candlestick. Moses was to tell Aaron to arrange the lamps in such a way that they throw light towards the front of the candlestick. Aaron followed the instructions and set the lamps in the manner in which God had commanded Moses.
The candlestick was constructed according to the pattern God had revealed to Moses. It was made of beaten gold, the feet and the branches included, and the description serves to remind the reader that the furnishing of the tabernacle had not been designed according to human thought. The instructions which had been given by God needed to be followed for the furniture to have the appearance which He desired.
After the lamps have been described the attention of the readers is drawn to the Levites. God had told Moses to bring the Levites out of the congregation of Israel and to cleanse them. The Levites had been set apart for service at the tabernacle and preparation needed to be made for their work.
They were sprinkled with water of purification, their bodies were to be shaven and their clothes washed in order to signify the beginning of their special service to the Lord. The Levites were to bring a young bullock with a meat offering and a young bullock for a sin offering.
The whole congregation of Israel was brought near and the Levites were presented to the Lord. The children of Israel laid their hands upon the Levites, showing that these men were being given to God on behalf of the nation.
Aaron then dedicated the Levites to the Lord as a wave offering from the children of Israel. The Levites were given to Aaron and his sons to perform the service of the tabernacle. They were separated from the rest of the Israelites for this work.
God said that the Levites had been taken in place of the firstborn of Israel. When He had struck down the firstborn of Egypt, He claimed the firstborn of Israel as His own.
The chapter states again that the Levites belonged to God. They were not hired workers who undertook the labor of serving the tabernacle. Their dedication was connected to God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and to His claim over the firstborn, and their service had a particular significance.
The Levites were cleansed and presented before the Lord as a special offering. Moses and Aaron followed the instructions which God had given and the Israelites followed the procedure for presenting the Levites. The Levites were set apart for their service.
The chapter then gives an age requirement for Levitical service. The Levites were to begin their service at the age of twenty-five and continue until they reached fifty years old. From the time when they reached fifty they were to retire from the regular work of carrying and serving at the tabernacle.
While they would no longer perform the regular duties of the service they could still assist their fellow Levites in keeping the charge of the tabernacle. The age limits show that the work to be done required a certain level of physical strength.
The Levites had to carry the materials for the tabernacle and set it up. They had to take it down and carry it wherever the Israelites went. The Levitical service was connected to a number of these activities.
Numbers chapter 8 draws together a number of these ideas. The tabernacle was lit from within by the lamps and surrounded by those who were dedicated to its service. Israel's worship had to include the care of the sanctuary as well as people who were specially assigned to look after it.
The dedication of the Levites was also connected to the census which had taken place and the organization of Israel's tribes. Israel was a large nation and the tabernacle at the center of the camp needed to be cared for and protected. The working of the tabernacle could not be organized without taking into account the needs of the whole nation. God had already divided the families of Levi into groups according to their work and the Levites had been cleansed and dedicated for service.
The chapter draws attention to the difference between the priests and the Levites. While Aaron and his sons had responsibility for the priesthood, the Levites served under their direction and were given specific duties connected to the tabernacle.
The mention of the firstborn in the chapter serves to show another connection with Israel's history. The Levites had been chosen because God had delivered Israel from Egypt. Their service reflected the fact that Israel's firstborn had been claimed by God as His possession during the Passover.
By the end of the chapter the Levites had been cleansed, presented and dedicated for their work. Moses, Aaron and the Israelites had followed God's instructions and the Levites began their service according to the responsibilities which had been given.
Numbers chapter 8 prepares Israel for the journey which lies ahead. The tabernacle is ready, the tribes have been organized, the priests have their responsibilities, and the Levites have been dedicated for service. They are being prepared not only to move through the wilderness with the Israelites, but also to continue to serve them.
The chapter shows that serving God took a degree of dedication and organization. The Levites had been set apart for a particular purpose, given specific duties, and an appropriate time for their service. At the heart of their work was the tabernacle and the burning lamps which were to be kept in readiness.
The chapter begins with God speaking to Moses concerning the seven lamps of the candlestick. Moses was to tell Aaron to arrange the lamps in such a way that they throw light towards the front of the candlestick. Aaron followed the instructions and set the lamps in the manner in which God had commanded Moses.
The candlestick was constructed according to the pattern God had revealed to Moses. It was made of beaten gold, the feet and the branches included, and the description serves to remind the reader that the furnishing of the tabernacle had not been designed according to human thought. The instructions which had been given by God needed to be followed for the furniture to have the appearance which He desired.
After the lamps have been described the attention of the readers is drawn to the Levites. God had told Moses to bring the Levites out of the congregation of Israel and to cleanse them. The Levites had been set apart for service at the tabernacle and preparation needed to be made for their work.
They were sprinkled with water of purification, their bodies were to be shaven and their clothes washed in order to signify the beginning of their special service to the Lord. The Levites were to bring a young bullock with a meat offering and a young bullock for a sin offering.
The whole congregation of Israel was brought near and the Levites were presented to the Lord. The children of Israel laid their hands upon the Levites, showing that these men were being given to God on behalf of the nation.
Aaron then dedicated the Levites to the Lord as a wave offering from the children of Israel. The Levites were given to Aaron and his sons to perform the service of the tabernacle. They were separated from the rest of the Israelites for this work.
God said that the Levites had been taken in place of the firstborn of Israel. When He had struck down the firstborn of Egypt, He claimed the firstborn of Israel as His own.
The chapter states again that the Levites belonged to God. They were not hired workers who undertook the labor of serving the tabernacle. Their dedication was connected to God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and to His claim over the firstborn, and their service had a particular significance.
The Levites were cleansed and presented before the Lord as a special offering. Moses and Aaron followed the instructions which God had given and the Israelites followed the procedure for presenting the Levites. The Levites were set apart for their service.
The chapter then gives an age requirement for Levitical service. The Levites were to begin their service at the age of twenty-five and continue until they reached fifty years old. From the time when they reached fifty they were to retire from the regular work of carrying and serving at the tabernacle.
While they would no longer perform the regular duties of the service they could still assist their fellow Levites in keeping the charge of the tabernacle. The age limits show that the work to be done required a certain level of physical strength.
The Levites had to carry the materials for the tabernacle and set it up. They had to take it down and carry it wherever the Israelites went. The Levitical service was connected to a number of these activities.
Numbers chapter 8 draws together a number of these ideas. The tabernacle was lit from within by the lamps and surrounded by those who were dedicated to its service. Israel's worship had to include the care of the sanctuary as well as people who were specially assigned to look after it.
The dedication of the Levites was also connected to the census which had taken place and the organization of Israel's tribes. Israel was a large nation and the tabernacle at the center of the camp needed to be cared for and protected. The working of the tabernacle could not be organized without taking into account the needs of the whole nation. God had already divided the families of Levi into groups according to their work and the Levites had been cleansed and dedicated for service.
The chapter draws attention to the difference between the priests and the Levites. While Aaron and his sons had responsibility for the priesthood, the Levites served under their direction and were given specific duties connected to the tabernacle.
The mention of the firstborn in the chapter serves to show another connection with Israel's history. The Levites had been chosen because God had delivered Israel from Egypt. Their service reflected the fact that Israel's firstborn had been claimed by God as His possession during the Passover.
By the end of the chapter the Levites had been cleansed, presented and dedicated for their work. Moses, Aaron and the Israelites had followed God's instructions and the Levites began their service according to the responsibilities which had been given.
Numbers chapter 8 prepares Israel for the journey which lies ahead. The tabernacle is ready, the tribes have been organized, the priests have their responsibilities, and the Levites have been dedicated for service. They are being prepared not only to move through the wilderness with the Israelites, but also to continue to serve them.
The chapter shows that serving God took a degree of dedication and organization. The Levites had been set apart for a particular purpose, given specific duties, and an appropriate time for their service. At the heart of their work was the tabernacle and the burning lamps which were to be kept in readiness.