8:1 How the lamps are to be lighted;
8:5 The consecration of the Levites;
8:23 The age and time of their service. Verse 1When this was spoken, says Bp. Patrick, is not certain. If Moses went into the tabernacle immediately after the princes had offered - Numbers 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 - 3:1 and 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 7:11.ReciprocalGenesis 46:11 - Levi; Deuteronomy 10:8 - time the Lord Verse 2Exodus 25:37, 37:18, 37:19, 37:23, 40:25; Leviticus 24:1, 24:2; Psalm 119:105, 119:130; Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 5:14; John 1:9; 2 Peter 1:19; Revelation 1:12, 1:20, 2:1, 4:5ReciprocalNumbers 18:5 - And ye; Matthew 5:15 - it giveth Verse 4this workExodus 25:31-39, 37:17-24 beaten work25:18, 37:7, 37:17, 37:22 the pattern25:9, 25:40; 1 Chronicles 28:11-19; Habakkuk 3:1, 3:1ReciprocalExodus 25:36 - beaten Verse 5ReciprocalNumbers 8:22 - as the Lord; 1 Chronicles 6:48 - brethren Verse 6cleanse themExodus 19:15; 2 Corinthians 7:1; James 4:8ReciprocalLeviticus 14:11 - General; Numbers 3:6 - General; 2 Chronicles 29:11 - the Lord Verse 7SprinkleLeviticus 8:6, 14:7; Isaiah 52:15; Ezekiel 36:25; Habakkuk 3:1 waterNumbers 19:9, 19:10, 19:13, 19:17-19; Psalm 51:7; Habakkuk 3:1 let them shaveHeb. let them cause a razor to pass over, etc. Leviticus 14:8, 14:9 wash theirNumbers 19:7, 19:8, 19:10, 19:19, 31:20; Genesis 35:2; Exodus 19:10; Leviticus 15:6, 15:10, 15:11, 15:27, 16:28; Psalm 51:2; Jeremiah 4:14; Matthew 23:25, 23:26; James 4:8; 1 Peter 3:21; Revelation 7:14ReciprocalNumbers 8:21 - were purified; 31:23 - it shall be purified; Habakkuk 3:1 - sprinkled Verse 8a youngExodus 29:1, 29:3; Leviticus 1:3, 8:2 his meatNumbers 15:8, 15:9; Leviticus 2:1 another4:3, 4:14, 16:3; Isaiah 53:10; Romans 8:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21ReciprocalNumbers 8:12 - the one Verse 9thou shalt bringExodus 29:4-37, 40:12 shalt gather the wholeThe words, kol a?dath, which are rendered "the whole assembly," often signify all the elders, or principal persons in the several tribes - Numbers 15:4; 25:7; 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. Leviticus 8:3ReciprocalExodus 27:21 - the tabernacle of the congregation; Ezra 6:18 - as it is written Verse 10Numbers 3:45; Leviticus 1:4; Acts 6:6, 13:2, 13:3; 1 Timothy 4:14, 5:22ReciprocalGenesis 48:14 - and laid; Numbers 8:16 - wholly given; Acts 8:17 - laid Verse 11offerHeb. waveofferingHeb. 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. Numbers 6:20; Exodus 29:24; Leviticus 7:30, 8:27, 8:29 they may executeHeb. they may be to execute, etc. Numbers 1:49-53, 3:5-43Reciprocal3:7 - to do the; 8:13 - offer them; 8:15 - go in; 8:16 - wholly given; 8:21 - offered; Acts 13:2 - Separate Verse 12LevitesExodus 29:10; Leviticus 1:4, 8:14, 16:21 the oneNumbers 8:8, 6:14, 6:16; Leviticus 5:7, 5:9, 5:10, 8:14, 8:18, 9:7, 14:19, 14:20, 14:22; Habakkuk 3:1-10:10 atonementLeviticus 1:4, 4:20, 4:35, 8:34, 16:6, 16:11, 16:16-19; Habakkuk 3:1ReciprocalNumbers 8:21 - Aaron made Verse 13offer themWehainaphta othom tenoophath, literally, as in Numbers 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 - Romans 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." Numbers 8:11, 8:21, 18:6; Romans 12:1, 15:16ReciprocalNumbers 8:15 - and offer; 1 Chronicles 15:2 - to minister Verse 14separateNumbers 6:2; Deuteronomy 10:8; Romans 1:1; Galatians 1:15; Habakkuk 3:1 and the LevitesNumbers 8:17, 3:45, 16:9, 16:10, 18:6; Malachi 3:17Reciprocal1 Chronicles 15:2 - to minister Verse 15go inNumbers 8:11, 3:23-37, 4:3-32; 1 Chronicles 23:1-32, 25:1-26:32 and offerNumbers 8:11, 8:13, 3:12Reciprocal3:7 - to do the; 8:21 - offered; 8:22 - after that; 2 Chronicles 29:34 - their brethren; Malachi 2:5 - covenant Verse 16wholly givenNethunim, 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 - Numbers 8:10
and Aaron had waved them as a wave-offering to the Lord" - 8:11.instead of suchHoubigant, on the authority of the Samaritan, reads, "instead of every first-born of the children of Israel, who openeth the womb." 3:12, 3:45ReciprocalExodus 13:2 - Sanctify; Numbers 3:13 - Because; 3:41 - General; 18:6 - given; Luke 2:23 - Every Verse 17all theNumbers 3:13; Exodus 13:2, 13:12-15; Luke 2:23 on the dayExodus 12:29; Psalm 78:51, 105:36, 135:8; Habakkuk 3:1 I sanctifiedExodus 13:14, 13:15, 29:44; Leviticus 27:14, 27:15, 27:26; Ezekiel 20:12; John 10:36, 17:19; Habakkuk 3:1; James 1:18ReciprocalNumbers 8:14 - and the Levites Verse 18ReciprocalGenesis 48:14 - and laid; Numbers 3:12 - General Verse 19I have givenNumbers 3:6-9, 18:2-6; 1 Chronicles 23:28-32; Ezekiel 44:11-14 a giftHeb. giventhat thereNumbers 1:53, 16:46, 18:5; 1 Samuel 6:19; 2 Chronicles 26:16-20ReciprocalNumbers 3:9 - General; 2 Chronicles 29:34 - their brethren; 35:3 - serve now Verse 20ReciprocalNumbers 9:5 - according; 9:22 - abode Verse 21were purifiedNumbers 8:7, 19:12, 19:19 offered8:11-13, 8:15, 3:12 Aaron made8:12ReciprocalExodus 19:10 - wash; Leviticus 14:11 - General; Numbers 8:13 - offer them Verse 22after thatNumbers 8:15; 2 Chronicles 30:15-17, 30:27, 31:2, 35:8-15 as the LordNumbers 8:5-26Reciprocal3:6 - General; 18:2 - minister; Ezra 8:17 - ministers Verse 24from twentyIn Numbers 4:3, the Levites are appointed to the service of the tabernacle at the age of 30 years; and in 1 Chronicles 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 Numbers 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. 4:3, 4:23; 1 Chronicles 23:3, 23:24-27, 28:12, 28:13 wait uponHeb. war the warfare of, etc. 1 Corinthians 9:7; 2 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Timothy 1:18, 6:12; 2 Timothy 2:3-5ReciprocalNumbers 1:53 - and the; 3:7 - to do the; 4:35 - General; 1 Chronicles 15:2 - to minister; 2 Chronicles 31:17 - twenty; Nehemiah 12:44 - Judah rejoiced Verse 25cease waiting upon the service thereofHeb. return from the warfare of the service, Numbers 4:23; 2 Timothy 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.ReciprocalNehemiah 12:44 - Judah rejoiced Verse 26to keepNumbers 1:53, 3:32, 18:4, 31:30; 1 Chronicles 23:32, 26:20-29; Ezekiel 44:8, 44:11 and shall1 Timothy 4:15ReciprocalNumbers 3:7 - keep