Numbers 8:16

16 They will be given completely to me from the Israelites; I have taken them for myself instead of the firstborn of every Israelite woman.

Numbers 8:16 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 8:16

For they [are] wholly given unto me from among the children
of Israel
All of them, entirely, and most certainly; or, "given, given" ^F21, which is repeated for the confirmation of it; or because of their being twice given, first to the Lord by the children of Israel, and then by the Lord to Aaron and his sons, as Chaskuni; though Jarchi interprets it of the different parts of their service they were devoted to, given for bearing and carrying the vessels of the sanctuary, and given for the song, or to be singers in the temple:

instead of such as open, every womb, [even instead of] the firstborn
of all the children of Israel have I taken them unto me;
(See Gill on Numbers 3:12), and (See Gill on Numbers 3:13).

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 (Myntn Myntn) "dati, dati", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus; so Drusius and Ainsworth.

Numbers 8:16 In-Context

14 In this way you must set apart the Levites from the other Israelites; the Levites will be mine.

15 "Make the Levites pure, and present them as an offering so that they may come to work at the Meeting Tent.

16 They will be given completely to me from the Israelites; I have taken them for myself instead of the firstborn of every Israelite woman.

17 All the firstborn in Israel -- people or animals -- are mine. When I killed all the firstborn in Egypt, I set the firstborn in Israel aside for myself.

18 But I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn in Israel.