Numbers 8:1-6

1 God spoke to Moses:
2 "Tell Aaron, Install the seven lamps so they will throw light in front of the Lampstand."
3 Aaron did just that. He installed the lamps so they threw light in front of the Lampstand, as God had instructed Moses.
4 The Lampstand was made of hammered gold from its stem to its petals. It was made precisely to the design God had shown Moses. Purifying the Levites
5 God spoke to Moses:
6 "Take the Levites from the midst of the People of Israel and purify them for doing God's work.

Numbers 8:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 8

In this chapter orders are given for the lighting the seven lamps of the candlestick, Nu 8:1-4; and for the consecration of the Levites to their office, by a purification of them, Nu 8:5-8; by a separation of them from the children of Israel, and the imposition of their hands on them, and of the hands of the Levites on the offerings offered for them, Nu 8:9-15; and being thus given to the Lord, and claimed as his, instead of the firstborn of Israel, they are given to Aaron and his sons to do service in the tabernacle, Nu 8:16-22; and their age at which they were to enter into service and cease from it is fixed, Nu 8:23-26.

Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.