Numbers 8:1-7

Setting Up the Lamps

1 The LORD said to Moses,

2 “Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the lamps, see that all seven light up the area in front of the lampstand.’ ”

3 Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the LORD commanded Moses.

4 This is how the lampstand was made: It was made of hammered gold—from its base to its blossoms. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern the LORD had shown Moses.

The Setting Apart of the Levites

5 The LORD said to Moses:

6 “Take the Levites from among all the Israelites and make them ceremonially clean.

7 To purify them, do this: Sprinkle the water of cleansing on them; then have them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes. And so they will purify themselves.

Numbers 8:1-7 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.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 25:37; Leviticus 24:2,4
• 2. S Exodus 25:18,36">Ex Exodus 25:18,36; Exodus 25:18
• 3. S Exodus 25:9
• 4. Leviticus 22:2; Isaiah 1:16; Isaiah 52:11
• 5. Numbers 19:9,17; Numbers 31:23
• 6. S Leviticus 14:9; Numbers 6:9; Deuteronomy 21:12
• 7. S Genesis 35:2; Leviticus 14:8
• 8. S Genesis 35:2