Numbers 8:11

11 and {Aaron will offer} the Levites [as] a wave offering {before Yahweh} from the {Israelites}, and they will do the work of Yahweh.

Numbers 8:11 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 8:11

And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord
Or "wave" ^F18 them, as a wave offering, which was moved to and fro, backwards and forwards; not that they were actually so waved and moved to and fro by Aaron, which could not be done by him; though it is possible he might make such a motion himself, and they might do the like after him, thereby signifying that they belonged unto the Lord of the whole earth; and some think this testified their readiness to serve the Lord; to which may be added their constant employment in his service, being always in motion, doing one piece of service or another continually; as the people of God, and especially the ministers of the word, should be always abounding: in the work of the Lord. Ainsworth supposes that the troubles and afflictions of the ministers of God are figured hereby:

[for] an offering of the children of Israel;
to the Lord, hereby devoting them to his service:

that they may execute the service of the Lord;
for them, in their room and stead, do what otherwise they must have done; see ( Numbers 3:7 Numbers 3:8 ) ; with this compare ( Isaiah 66:20 Isaiah 66:21 ) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

F18 (Pynhw) "et motabit", Tigurine version; "et faciet elevare", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus; "et agitabit", Drusius; "et agitato", Piscator.

Numbers 8:11 In-Context

9 You will bring the Levites {before} the tent of assembly, and you will summon the entire community of the {Israelites}.

10 And you will bring the Levites {before Yahweh}, and the {Israelites} will lay their hands on the Levites,

11 and {Aaron will offer} the Levites [as] a wave offering {before Yahweh} from the {Israelites}, and they will do the work of Yahweh.

12 And the Levites will lay their hands on the head of the one bull and offer [it] as a sin offering and the other one as a burnt offering to Yahweh, to make atonement for the Levites.

13 And you will present the Levites {before} Aaron and {before} his sons, and he {will offer} them [as] a wave offering to Yahweh.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "Aaron will wave"
• [b] Literally "in the presence of Yahweh"
• [c] Literally "sons/children of Israel"