Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Numbers Chapter 8
Overview
Num 8:1, How the lamps are to be lighted; Num 8:5, The consecration of the Levites; Num 8:23, The age and time of their service.
When this was spoken, says Bp. Patrick, is not certain. If Moses went into the tabernacle immediately after the princes had offered (Num 7:89), it may be thought he then spake these things unto him; but both this and what follows, concerning the Levites, seem rather to have been delivered after the order for giving them to the priests, and appointing their several charges (Num 3:1 and Num 4:1). But some other things intervening, which depended upon what had been ordered respecting their camp, and that of the Israelites, Moses omits this until he had stated them, and some other matters which he had received from God. (See note on Num 7:11.)
Exo 25:37, Exo 37:18, Exo 37:19, Exo 37:23, Exo 40:25; Lev 24:1, Lev 24:2; Psa 119:105, Psa 119:130; Isa 8:20; Mat 5:14; Joh 1:9; Pe2 1:19; Rev 1:12, Rev 1:20, Rev 2:1, Rev 4:5
this work: Exo 25:31-39, Exo 37:17-24
beaten work: Exo 25:18, Exo 37:7, Exo 37:17, Exo 37:22
the pattern: Exo 25:9, Exo 25:40; Ch1 28:11-19; Heb 8:5, Heb 9:23
cleanse them: Exo 19:15; Co2 7:1; Jam 4:8
Sprinkle: Lev 8:6, Lev 14:7; Isa 52:15; Eze 36:25; Heb 9:10
water: Num 19:9, Num 19:10, Num 19:13, Num 19:17-19; Psa 51:7; Heb 9:13
let them shave: Heb. let them cause a razor to pass over, etc. Lev 14:8, Lev 14:9
wash their: Num 19:7, Num 19:8, Num 19:10, Num 19:19, Num 31:20; Gen 35:2; Exo 19:10; Lev 15:6, Lev 15:10, Lev 15:11, Lev 15:27, Lev 16:28; Psa 51:2; Jer 4:14; Mat 23:25, Mat 23:26; Jam 4:8; Pe1 3:21; Rev 7:14
a young: Exo 29:1, Exo 29:3; Lev 1:3, Lev 8:2
his meat: Num 15:8, Num 15:9; Lev 2:1
another: Lev 4:3, Lev 4:14, Lev 16:3; Isa 53:10; Rom 8:3; Co2 5:21
thou shalt bring: Exod. 29:4-37, Exo 40:12
shalt gather the whole: The words, kol âdath, which are rendered "the whole assembly," often signify all the elders, or principal persons in the several tribes (Num 15:4; Num 25:7; Num 35:12). And they cannot well have any other sense here; for it would be impossible for all the children of Israel to put their hands on the Levites, as stated in the next verse. Lev 8:3
Num 3:45; Lev 1:4; Act 6:6, Act 13:2, Act 13:3; Ti1 4:14, Ti1 5:22
offer: Heb. wave
offering: Heb. wave-offering, Not that they were actually waved, but they were presented to God, as the God of heaven, and the Lord of the whole earth, as the wave offerings were; and in calling them wave-offerings, it was intimated to them that they must move to and fro with readiness in the business of their profession. Num 6:20; Exo 29:24; Lev 7:30, Lev 8:27, Lev 8:29
they may execute: Heb. they may be to execute, etc. Num 1:49-53, 3:5-43
Levites: Exo 29:10; Lev 1:4, Lev 8:14, Lev 16:21
the one: Num 8:8, Num 6:14, Num 6:16; Lev 5:7, Lev 5:9, Lev 5:10, Lev 8:14, Lev 8:18, Lev 9:7, Lev 14:19, Lev 14:20, Lev 14:22; Heb 10:4-10
atonement: Lev 1:4, Lev 4:20, Lev 4:35, Lev 8:34, Lev 16:6, Lev 16:11, Lev 16:16-19; Heb 9:22
offer them: Wehainaphta othom tenoophath, literally, as in Num 8:11, "and thou shalt wave them for a wave-offering;" manifestly in allusion to the ancient sacrificial rite of waving the sacrifices before the Lord; and it is probable, that some significant action, analogous to the waving of the sacrifice, was employed on this occasion; for the Levites were considered as an offering to the Lord, to whose service they were wholly dedicated. To this the apostle Paul manifestly alludes, when, in writing to the Romans, he says (Rom 12:1), "I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Num 8:11, Num 8:21, Num 18:6; Rom 12:1, Rom 15:16
separate: Num 6:2; Deu 10:8; Rom 1:1; Gal 1:15; Heb 7:26
and the Levites: Num 8:17, Num 3:45, Num 16:9, Num 16:10, Num 18:6; Mal 3:17
go in: Num 8:11, Num 3:23-37, 4:3-32; 1Chr. 23:1-32, 25:1-26:32
and offer: Num 8:11, Num 8:13, Num 3:12
wholly given: Nethunim, nethunim, "given, given." The word being repeated, "because," says Bp. Patrick, "the children of Israel had devoted them to him, by laying their hands upon them (Num 8:10), and Aaron had waved them as a wave-offering to the Lord" (Num 8:11).
instead of such: Houbigant, on the authority of the Samaritan, reads, "instead of every first-born of the children of Israel, who openeth the womb." Num 3:12, Num 3:45
all the: Num 3:13; Exo 13:2, Exo 13:12-15; Luk 2:23
on the day: Exo 12:29; Psa 78:51, Psa 105:36, Psa 135:8; Heb 11:28
I sanctified: Exo 13:14, Exo 13:15, Exo 29:44; Lev 27:14, Lev 27:15, Lev 27:26; Eze 20:12; Joh 10:36, Joh 17:19; Heb 10:29; Jam 1:18
I have given: Num 3:6-9, Num 18:2-6; Ch1 23:28-32; Eze 44:11-14
a gift: Heb. given
that there: Num 1:53, Num 16:46, Num 18:5; Sa1 6:19; Ch2 26:16-20
were purified: Num 8:7, Num 19:12, Num 19:19
offered: Num 8:11-13, Num 8:15, Num 3:12
Aaron made: Num 8:12
after that: Num 8:15; Ch2 30:15-17, Ch2 30:27, Ch2 31:2, Ch2 35:8-15
as the Lord: Num. 8:5-26
from twenty: In Num 4:3, the Levites are appointed to the service of the tabernacle at the age of 30 years; and in Ch1 23:24, they are ordered to commence their work at 20 years of age. In order to reconcile this apparent discrepancy, it is to be observed:
1. At the time of which Moses speaks in Num 4:3, the Levitical service was exceedingly severe, and consequently required full grown, robust men, to perform it; the age of 30 was therefore appointed as the period for commencing this service, the weightier part of which was probably there intended.
2. In this place God seems to speak of the service in a general way. hence the age of 25 is fixed.
3. In David's time, and afterwards, in the fixed tabernacle and temple, the laboriousness of the service no longer existed, and hence 20 years was the age appointed. Num 4:3, Num 4:23; Ch1 23:3, Ch1 23:24-27, Ch1 28:12, Ch1 28:13
wait upon: Heb. war the warfare of, etc. Co1 9:7; Co2 10:4; Ti1 1:18, Ti1 6:12; Ti2 2:3-5
cease waiting upon the service thereof: Heb. return from the warfare of the service, Num 4:23; Ti2 4:7; The Levites, above fifty years of age, might superintend and assist their junior brethren in the ordinary offices, and give them and the people counsel and instruction; but they were exempted from carrying the tabernacle and from other laborious services. It is remarkable, that no law was made concerning the age at which the priests should begin to officiate, and though various blemishes disqualified them for the service of the sanctuary, yet they continued their ministrations till death, if capable. On the other hand, nothing is said concerning any bodily defects or blemishes disqualifying the Levites; but the time of their service is expressly settled. Their work was far more laborious than that of the priests; it is therefore likely that the priests would not begin very early to officiate; and the wisdom and experience of age would increase, rather than diminish, their fitness for the sacred duties of their office.
to keep: Num 1:53, Num 3:32, Num 18:4, Num 31:30; Ch1 23:32, Ch1 26:20-29; Eze 44:8, Eze 44:11
and shall: Ti1 4:15