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The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:1-4
THE SACRED LAMPS In this section we have, spiritually, the Divine concern that the light of revelation should be made to shine out and to illumine the whole Church of God by the ministers of his word. Consider, therefor…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:1-4
THE LAMPS OF THE SANCTUARY This passage is to be considered in connection with Revelation 1:9-20. Moses had revelations in Sinai even as John had in Patmos. Matthew 5:14-16 will serve for a link to connect the two passa…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:1-4
EXPOSITION THE LIGHTING OF THE LAMPS (Numbers 8:1-4).
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:1
The Lord spake unto Moses. It does not appear when. The attempt of modern commentators to find a real connection between this section and the offering of the princes or the consecration of the Levites is simply futile.…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 8:2
When thou lightest the lamps. The command to light the lamps had been given generally ("they shall light the lamps thereof") in Exodus 25:37, and the care of them had been specially confided to Aaron and his sons ("from…
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…
Matthew Henry on Numbers 8:5-26
Here we have directions for the solemn ordination of the Levites. All Israel must know that they took not this honour to themselves, but were called of God to it; nor was it enough that they were distinguished from othe…
The Consecration of the Levites. (b. c. 1490.)
THE CONSECRATION OF THE LEVITES. (B. C. 1490.) We read before of the separating of the Levites from among the children of Israel when they were numbered, and the numbering of them by themselves (Numbers 3:6), that they…
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…