Deeper Commentary
Num 8:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying-
This commandment to the tribe of Levi follows straight on from the
description in Num. 7 of the other tribes dedicating the altar. Now the
tribe of Levi were to play their part.
Num 8:2 Speak to Aaron, and tell him, ‘When you light the lamps, the seven
lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand’-
The lampstand faced towards the most holy place. There was no natural
light in the tabernacle. The lampstand is used as a symbol of the church
in Rev. 1:20. We are "the light of the world" in that we provide light
which points men towards entrance into the holiest. Hence the lamps were
to give light "in front of the lampstand", pointing toward the holiest and
the veil which was later brought down at the Lord's death. Now the
tabernacle had been set up, this command to light the lamps was equivalent
to "Let there be light" at creation.
Num 8:3 Aaron did so. He lit its lamps to light the area in front of the
lampstand, as Yahweh commanded Moses-
"The candlestick" or menorah is only ever spoken of in the law of
Moses in the singular, but in 1 Chron. 28:15 David decided there were to
be multiple such candlesticks. By doing so, he ignored the symbolism of
the one candlestick, the one people of God; such was his obsession with
mere religion. The lampstand represents God's people (Rev. 1:20), and it had seven
lamps; the six branches and the central stem, upon which there was also a
lamp. Seven is the number of wholeness and completion. Perhaps the idea is
that there is to be a complete manifestation of God through the witness of
His people, burning the oil of the Spirit. Each component member witnesses
to Him in a slightly different way, not only in this life but throughout
the generations of God's people. Likewise the body of Christ in the same
way manifests Christ to the world. The menorah or "candlestick" is from a root meaning to yoke.
In the Christian context, the yoke, the uniting power, is the Lord Jesus
(Mt. 11:30). He is the unique power which binds together His otherwise
disparate people into one candlestick. Thereby Christian unity becomes a
witness to the world, at least that is the intention. All disunity between
believers therefore causes the candlestick not to function, and the light
of witness is thereby the less.
Num 8:4 This was the workmanship of the lampstand, beaten work of gold-
The candlestick represents the assembly of believers
(Rev. 1:20). It was made of beaten work, representing how all those in the
true church will be beaten into a shape through which they can be lights
for God. "Hammered" or "beaten" suggests that through blow by blow on
material heated in the furnace of affliction (Is. 48:10), God works out a
place where His glory may be revealed. And that place is our lives.
From its base to its flowers, it was beaten work: according to the
pattern which Yahweh had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand-
The lampstand represents God's people (Rev. 1:20), but it is
presented here as a tree with branches, buds and blossoms (Ex. 25:33). In this
sense the ecclesia, the community of believers, is to be as the tree of
life to others by their words (Prov. 3:18; 11:30; 15:4).
The "flowers" were almonds (Ex. 25:33). The almond is the first tree in Palestine to bud, so it means literally the watching tree, as if it were alive and eager to come to life. So it is appropriate for the candlestick, which represented God's people. Jeremiah sees the branch of an almond tree and is comforted that "I watch over My word to perform it" (Jer. 1:11,12). The word translated 'hasten' or "watch over" is very similar to the word for 'almond'. Almonds are associated with God's eyes; the bowls of the lampstands were almonds (Ex. 25:33,34). Zech. 4:2 talks about these almond bowls on the candlestick, and Zech. 4:10 interprets them as the "eyes of the LORD which run to and fro through the whole earth". 2 Chron. 16:9 talks about the Angels in the same way; "the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him". Similarly in Rev. 4:5 the lamps in the bowls of almond are equated with the "seven spirits (or Angels) of God". Rev. 5:6 equates the seven eyes with the seven spirits. Thus the almond rod which Jeremiah saw represented God's eyes or Angels who would watch over the word of God which Jeremiah was to speak to perform it. And He does likewise with the witness of all those represented within the candlestick.
Num 8:5 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying-
This gives more detail about the dedication of the Levites in Num.
3:5-13.
Num 8:6 Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse
them-
The Levites and priests weren't part-timers. They gave their lives to God in
recognition of the fact that God had saved the lives of the firstborn at
the Passover and Red Sea deliverance (Num. 3:12). Our deliverance from the
world at baptism was our Red Sea. We have been saved. Those firstborns
represent us, the ecclesia of firstborns (Heb. 12:23 Gk.). We are now
being led towards that glorious Kingdom, when by rights we ought to be
lying dead in that dark Egyptian night. The wonder of it all demands that
like the Levites, we give our lives back to God, in service
towards His children.
Num 8:7 You shall do this to them, to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of
cleansing on them, let them shave their whole bodies with a razor, and let
them wash their clothes, and cleanse themselves-
Washing and becoming like new born children, with no body hair, looks
forward to baptism. We’re not baptized just for the sake of it; we do this
so that we may be made holy or separated unto the service of God. We are
God’s, just as they were (:14).
Num 8:8 Then let them take a young bull, and its grain offering, fine
flour mixed with oil; and another young bull you shall take for a sin
offering-
Just as the Nazirite had to make a sin offering at the end of his
period of devotion (Num. 6:16), and the princes who offered voluntary
offerings had to add a sin offering to them (Num. 7:16). The need for a sin offering at the end of
special devotion was maybe to remind them that their extra special devotion didn’t take away
the reality of sin and need for grace; for relationship with God depends upon this
rather than upon our works and special efforts. Again, we can take that
principle to ourselves in our age.
Num 8:9 You shall present the Levites before the Tent of Meeting. You
shall assemble the whole congregation of the children of Israel-
Now that the tabernacle had been erected, the Levites were now to
come out from the various other tribal encampments where they had been
living (:6), and establish their tents around the newly erected
tabernacle. But firstly they stood as a group before the tent.
Num 8:10 You shall present the Levites before Yahweh. The children of
Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites-
God intended Israel to be "a Kingdom of priests" (Ex. 19:6). “All the
people of Israel” were the builders of the spiritual house of God, i.e.
His people (Acts 4:10,11). All Israel were to lay their hands on the
Levites to show that they were truly Israel’s representatives (Num. 8:10).
When Israel were rejected, they were told that they as a nation could no
longer be God’s priest (Hos. 4:6). By baptism, we become spiritual Israel;
and this idea is relevant to us too. Peter picks up these words in Exodus
and applies them to every one of us: "You also are built up a spiritual
house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices" (1 Pet.
2:5,9).
"Come near before Yahweh" is usually translated "offer [sacrifice] before Yahweh", and is translated that way multiple times. Although rarely (Ex. 16:9; Lev. 9:5) it is used of the congregation coming near before Yahweh. But the congregation didn't generally want to come before Yahweh, and so He chose just the Levites to come before Yahweh (Num. 8:10; 16:9 s.w.). It was God's intention that all Israel should be His servants, a nation of priests. But He changed and ammended His approach, and chose just the Levites for this. We see here how open God is to change, so that by all means He may have relationship with His people. Under the new covenant, all believers are part of a royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:5) as He initially intended even under the old covenant. And yet there is always the tendency to leave the priestly work to specialists rather than perceiving our personal call to do it.
Num 8:11 and Aaron shall offer the Levites before Yahweh for a wave
offering, on the behalf of the children of Israel, that it may be theirs
to do the service of Yahweh-
The portion to be waved was placed on the priests hands (Ex. 29:25),
and then 'waved' or 'swung' towards the altar and then back- not from
right to left. The idea was that the offerings were first given to God,
recognizing they should be consumed on the altar to God; but then given
back to the priest by God. So they ate them having first recognized that
their food was really God's, all was of Him, and He had given it back to
them to eat. This should be our spirit in partaking of any food, as we are
the new priesthood. Our prayers of thanks for daily food should include
this feature. All things are God's and anything we 'offer' to Him is only
giving Him what He has given to us (1 Chron. 29:14,16).
Num 8:12 The Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and
you shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt
offering to Yahweh, to make atonement for the Levites-
The sin offering always preceded the burnt offering. Dedication to
God, represented by the burnt offering, is on the basis of our recognizing
first of all our sinfulness and need for His grace. This is why the sin
offering always precedes the burnt offering in the Mosaic rituals. We too
have been cleansed by the blood of Christ in order to serve Him and His
Father (Heb. 9:14; 1 Thess. 1:9).
Num 8:13 You shall set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and
offer them as a wave offering to Yahweh-
The idea of all believers being a living sacrifice alludes here (Rom.
12:1,2). For we are all called to be the new priesthood (1 Pet. 2:5).
Num 8:14 Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the children of
Israel, and the Levites shall be Mine-
The Levites were God's (Num. 3:12,13,45; 8:14), and the Lord alludes to
this: "I pray not for the (Jewish) world, but for them (the disciples, cp.
the Levites) which thou hast given me; for they are thine" (Jn. 17:9). The
Levites represent us (Jn. 17:6 = Dt. 33:9); the relationship between Moses
and the Levites represents that between Christ and us. Moses' thankfulness
that they remained faithful during the golden calf crisis, that sense of
being able to rely on them, will be reflected in the Lord's feelings
toward the faithful.
Num 8:15 After that, the Levites shall go in to do the service of the Tent
of Meeting: and you shall cleanse them, and offer them as a wave offering-
Although the Levites had been set apart for Divine service
immediately after God's meeting with Israel at Sinai, as outlined in
Leviticus and Numbers, it seems that not until Aaron died at the end of
the 40 years wandering did they actually in practice begin to serve as
intended (Dt. 10:8). It could be that the reason was that the Levites were
ever slow to accept their responsibilities. And they generally failed in
their calling over Israel's history, climaxing in the priests arranging
the murder of God's own Son.
Num 8:16 For they are wholly given to Me from among the children of
Israel; instead of all who open the womb, even the firstborn of all the
children of Israel, I have taken them to Me-
The Levites were separated unto God’s service; it wasn’t so much that
they were separate from others
in a negative sense; rather they were positively separated
unto God’s service. We shouldn’t
see holiness as negative- that we can no longer do certain things; but
instead focus on what positively we have been separated
unto.
Num 8:17 For all the firstborn among the children of Israel are Mine, both
man and animal. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of
Egypt, I sanctified them for Myself-
It had been God's intention that the Levites were "His" from Passover
night. But it was their actions at the time of the golden calf which as it
were operationalized this, so that this intended "blessing" of being
sanctified for God was realized in practice: "The sons of Levi did
according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day
about three thousand men. Moses said, Consecrate yourselves today to
Yahweh, yes, every man against his son, and against his brother; that He
may bestow on you a blessing this day" (Ex. 32:28,29). And this is how God
works with us. A potential blessing and sanctification unto Himself is
planned, but we have to consecrate ourselves in order to realize that
potential. And so much potential is wasted and left unrealized. By so many
people, and by us in so many aspects of our potential ministry.
Num 8:18 I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the
children of Israel-
"The men which You gave me out of the (Jewish) world... they have kept
Your word" (Jn. 17:6) compares with the Levites being "given" to Aaron /
the priesthood out of Israel (Num. 3:9; 8:19; 18:6); at the time of the
golden calf they "observed thy word, and kept thy covenant" (Dt. 33:9), as
did the disciples. The relationship between Moses and the Levites was
therefore that between Christ and the disciples- a sense of thankfulness
that at least a minority were faithful.
Num 8:19 I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from
among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel
in the Tent of Meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel
that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of
Israel come near to the sanctuary-
The spiritual and physical wellbeing of others can
depend upon third parties, in this case the faithfulness of the Levites.
Others can suffer because of our lack of diligence; it’s not that if we
don’t do our part for them, then God will raise up others to do what we
ought to have done. He may do
this, as He was prepared to at the time of Esther, but He wishes us to see
the eternal consequence of our actions upon others.
Num 8:20 Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of
Israel did so to the Levites. According to all that Yahweh commanded
Moses concerning the Levites, so the children of Israel did to them-
What Israel did to them is recorded in :10,11. They placed their hands
upon the Levites as if they were their representative sacrifice.
Num 8:21 The Levites purified themselves from sin, and they washed their
clothes; and Aaron offered them for a wave offering before Yahweh; and
Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them-
This reference to purification could refer to a ritual purification.
But the word for "purified themselves" is used of actual rather than
general sin (Lev. 19:22). I have noted earlier that the small size of the
tribe of Levi is one of a number of indications that they were not
spiritually strong at this time. Seeing that idolatry was rife in Israel
at this time (Ez. 20:6-8; Acts 7:43), it could be that there is reference
here to something more than a purification ritual- an actual separation
from idolatry or other sin which required a personal atonement to be made
for them.
Num 8:22 After that, the Levites went in to do their service in the Tent
of Meeting before Aaron, and before his sons, as Yahweh had commanded
Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them-
"After that" connects with the repentance and forgiveness of the
Levites in :21. it demonstrates that acceptable service to God is only
possible once personal sin and failure has been faced and dealt with.
Num 8:23 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,-
David numbered the Levites from 30 years old (1 Chron. 23:3), in
accordance with the law which said Levites were to serve between the ages
of 30 and 50 (Num. 4:3,23,35,39). But in 1 Chron. 23:24 we are told that
David numbered the Levites from 20 years old. We note in Num. 8:23 that
there appeared some flexibility within the Mosaic law; the Levites could
be numbered from 25 years old. This is one of many examples of how the
Mosaic law was not set in stone. It was principle and spirit rather than
letter of the law, and within it there are examples of where one law
overrode another, or one principle overrode letter of the law. The law was
not designed as a simple test of obedience, for it was far more detailed
than that. It was designed to inculcate a spirit of living which looked
forward to the spirit of the Lord Jesus. And so David felt free to number
the Levites from 20 years old, even though we also read that he numbered
'the Levites from 30 years old', suggesting that this was a technical term
rather than a literal description. This would go toward explaining why
38,000 Levites were numbered by David, although "thousand" may mean a
division rather than a literal 1000. At the time of Num. 4:47,48 there
were only 8,580.
Num 8:24 This is that which belongs to the Levites: from twenty-five years
old and upward they shall go in to serve in the service in the work of the
Tent of Meeting-
"This is that which belongs to the Levites" is a reference to the
fact the Levites had no possessions of land within Israel. What belonged
to them was the honour of serving God; whether or not we own property in
this present age, our eternal possession is the honour of being God’s
servants. To be a servant, in a world where perceived ‘freedom’ is so
cherished, is to be our greatest possession.
Num 8:25 and from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting on the
work, and shall serve no more-
The Levites were counted as fit for service from 30 years old in Num.
4:3, here from 25 to 50, and later from 20 years old with no maximum age
(1 Chron. 23:27). We see here how the law of Moses was not a set of
statutes which were set in stone for all time. There was constant
flexibility of the letter of the law, in harmony with the spirit of the
law. All suggestions that God's statutes once given can never be changed
are simply failing to actually read the law of Moses and spot the
intentional conflicts between the letters of the law. God is not a
legalist nor a literalist, and His law was open to interpretation and
ammendment, as we see in the 'second law' given in Deuteronomy. This was
because He wanted His people to thoughtfully reflect upon His statutes,
and to see them not as chain or leash, but as a springboard to personal
relationship with Him.
Num 8:26 but shall minister with their brothers in the Tent of Meeting, to
perform the duty, and shall do no service. You shall do thus to the
Levites concerning their duties-
"Service" is the word for military service; as "To wait upon the
service" (:24) is literally "to war the warfare". The Levites were to see
themselves as on constant, active service for Yahweh in the endless battle
against sin and the flesh- which with their help was to move constantly
towards the ultimate victory in the Lord Jesus.
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