The Law · Chapter 8 of 36

Numbers 8

God instructs Aaron to set up the seven lamps so they shine before the lampstand, made of beaten gold as shown to Moses. Then the Levites are cleansed with water, shaving, and washing, and presented as a wave offering to the LORD. Israel lays hands on them, sacrifices atone for them, and they are given to God in place of the firstborn. Their term of service runs from twenty five to fifty years.

What happens in Numbers 8

The LORD tells Moses to have Aaron light the seven lamps so they cast light in front of the golden lampstand, which was made of beaten work according to the pattern God showed. Then God commands the cleansing of the Levites. They are sprinkled with water of purifying, they shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes. Brought before the tent, the whole assembly lays hands on them, and Aaron presents them as a wave offering from Israel to the LORD.

The Levites lay hands on two bullocks, offered for sin and burnt offering, to make atonement. Thus set apart, the Levites are given wholly to God in place of Israel's firstborn, a gift to Aaron to serve and to guard against plague. Their service begins at twenty five, and at fifty they retire from the heavy work but may still assist their brothers.

Numbers 8 in context

Chapter eight continues the consecration of the sanctuary and its ministers. The lighting of the lamps recalls the tabernacle instructions of Exodus, and the cleansing of the Levites parallels the earlier ordination of the priests. Having been counted and assigned in chapters three and four, the Levites are now formally purified and dedicated.

The chapter grounds their whole ministry in atonement and in their standing as substitutes for the firstborn of Israel.

Main themes of Numbers 8

Numbers 8 (KJV)

1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick. 3And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses. 4And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick. 5And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 6Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. 7And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean. 8Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering. 9And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together: 10And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites: 11And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD. 12And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites. 13And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering unto the LORD. 14Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine. 15And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering. 16For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me. 17For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself. 18And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel. 19And 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 tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary. 20And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them. 21And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them. 22And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron, and before his sons: as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them. 23And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: 25And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more: 26But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.

Verses to carry from Numbers 8

“And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.”Numbers 8:11

“Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.”Numbers 8:14

“And 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 tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.”Numbers 8:19

Reflection

The Levites were cleansed, atoned for, and then given wholly to God as a living offering. That pattern still holds: we serve not by raw willingness but from being made clean, and we are called to offer our whole selves. Let your service today flow from grace received, and present your life to God as something no longer your own.

A prayer from Numbers 8