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The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:4
And this work of the candlestick. For the meaning of the details here given see Exodus 25:31, sq. According unto the pattern which the Lord had shewed Moses,—viz; in the mount (see Exodus 25:40) so he made the candlesti…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:5-26
EXPOSITION THE HALLOWING OF THE LEVITES (Numbers 8:5-23).
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:5
The Lord spake unto Moses. At some time subsequent to the command given in Numbers 3:6-13, and no doubt before the passover.
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:5-23
THE DEDICATION OF THE LEVITES In this section we have the due preparation of those who are specially devoted to the service of God. Consider, therefore— I. THAT BEFORE THEY COULD SERVE THEY MUST BE CLEANSED. Even so all…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:6
And cleanse them. Before they actually entered upon their new duties they were to be solemnly hallowed. This hallowing, however, is not called קַדֵּשׁ, as is that of the priests (Exodus 29:1), but טַהֵר, cleansing. Ther…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:7
Sprinkle water of purifying upon them. Rather, "water of sin," so called because it had to do with the removal of sin, just as "water of separation" (Numbers 19:9, Numbers 19:13) was that which delivered from the legal…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:8
Another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering. The ordinary sin offering was a shaggy one of the goats (see on Numbers 7:16); but a bullock had been prescribed for the sin of the high priest, and for the sin…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:10
Before the Lord. As in Numbers 5:16, either near the brazen altar, or more probably before the entrance of the tabernacle. And the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites. Presumably by means of their…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:11
And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord for an offering. Rather, "Aaron shall wave" them "for a wave offering" (Hebrew, nuph; see Exodus 29:24); and so in Numbers 8:13, Numbers 8:15, and Numbers 8:21. This inj…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:12
Shall lay their hands upon the beads of the bullocks. In token that they constituted these victims the ritual representatives and embodiments, the one of their sin, to be consumed and done away as by fire, the other of…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:13
And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron. This is not an additional command, but repeats in a slightly different form the previous orders. A similar repetition occurs in Numbers 8:15 b.
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:14
THE SEPARATION OF THE LEVITES OR AN ORDINATION SERVICE IN THE WILDERNESS "Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine." There was a threefold reason why the Levi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:16
For they are wholly given unto me. See Numbers 3:5-13, the substance of which is emphatically repeated here.
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:19
To make an atonement for the children of Israel. This is a remarkable expression, and throws light upon the nature of atonement. It is usually confined to purely sacerdotal ministrations, but it clearly has a somewhat d…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:21
Were purified, or "purified themselves." It refers not to the ceremonial sprinkling, but to the personal preparation prescribed.
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:22
In the tabernacle of the congregation. This can only mean that they went in after the holy things had been packed up in order to take the fabric to pieces; no one but the priests went into the tabernacle for any other p…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:24
From twenty and five years old and upward. A short time before the minimum age had been fixed at thirty (Numbers 4:3). That direction, however, concerned the transport of the tabernacle and its belongings; this was a pe…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:26
Shall minister … to keep the charge, and shall do no service. The word "charge" (Hebrew, mishmereth) seems to signify the care of the furniture and belongings of the tabernacle, while "service" means the laborious work…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 9:1-14
THE PASCHAL FEAST In the keeping of the passover we have, under the law, what the celebrating of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper is under the gospel; for it was the nature and use of that to show the Lord's death unt…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 9:1-14
THE LETTER AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW OF THE PASSOVER We learn from this narrative certain lessons which may illustrate the relation of the letter to the spirit of Divine precepts on other subjects beside the passover. I…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 9:1-5
A NEEDED REMINDER When Jehovah ordered Moses to prepare the Israelites against the visit in which he smote the firstborn, he also said the day was to be kept as a feast through all their generations by an ordinance for…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 9:1-14
EXPOSITION THE PASSOVER AT SINAI (Numbers 9:1-14).
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 9:1
In the first month of the second year. Before the census, and all the other events recorded in this hook, except in part the offerings of the princes (see Numbers 7:1). There was, however, an obvious reason for mentioni…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 9:2
Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season. Septuagint, ποιείτωσαν τὸ πάσχα. Cf. Matthew 26:18, ποιῶ τὸ πάσχα, and Luke 22:19, τοῦτο ποιεῖτε εἰς τὴν ἐμὴν ἀνάμνησιν. They may…