Numbers 8:1-4
The lampstand was always arranged to be on the south wall of the holy place. The lamps were to give light to the front of the lampstand to light the space of the altar of incense and the table of showbread. Only the priests were to do this work. We are reminded this lampstand was made by God's direction from the pattern given to Moses (Exodus 23:31).
Numbers 8:5-12
The tribe of Levites were dedicated to the service of the Lord, replacing the first-born. Their cleansing was a ritual preparation. This was spiritual preparation for service – not just symbolic, but spiritual.
- Sprinkle water on them
- Shave all their body
- Wash their clothes
The Levites were then to offer a young bull with grain/oil offering. Another young bull was offered as a sin offering. The Levites were brought before the Lord and the congregation of the other tribes. The children of Israel were to lay hands on them. The Levites were to become their representatives, serving the Lord on their behalf. Aaron then offered the Levites like a wave offering. The Levites then lay their hands on the young bulls; one is a sin offering and one a burnt offering.
Numbers 8:13-22
The Levites were brought to the priests. They were to be cleansed and offered like a wave offering. It is as though the Levites were taken from among the tribes, to represent the tribes and replace the firstborn. The makes it clear the Levites were His. As the Lord had made the firstborn holy to Himself, He would now make the Levites the same. They were given by the Lord to the priests as a gift, servants to serve the Lord and the community by serving the priests. This direction was the Lord's way of worship and by doing it this way they avoided a plague in the camp.
Numbers 8:23-26
Numbers 4:3 said that the Levites entered into service at 30 years old. After their exile, there weren't very many Levites and the age was dropped to twenty. We are given the age of 25 here. The beginning obviously had some flexibility to it. The rabbis speak this discrepancy by saying they entered into service at 25 and was an apprentice for 5 years. The point was that the younger men were to carry the bulk of the load. At fifty the men were cease performing the manual labor and but didn't retire. They continued to serve as guards and other functions. There is no indication this was every changed.
© 2023 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater
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