Numbers 8:10

10 When you present the Levites before the LORD, the people of Israel must lay their hands on them.

Numbers 8:10 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 8:10

And thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord
From the door of the tabernacle, to the altar of burnt offering, where the Lord was in some sense present to accept the sacrifices offered to him:

and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites;
as were used to be put upon sacrifices, for the Levites were themselves offered for an offering of the children of Israel, as is expressed in ( Numbers 8:11 ) ; by which rite they signified that they voluntarily parted with them, and gave them up to the Lord, and transferred their service to them, in which they were to serve in their room and stead; these, according to some Jewish writers, were the firstborn of Israel that laid their hands on the Levites, a type of the general assembly and church of the firstborn; or rather the princes and heads of the tribes, who represented the whole body. Some think by this rite is signified the consent of the people in the designation and appointment of the ministers of the word to their work and office; but what in the New Testament seems to answer to this is, the laying of the hands of the presbytery on ministers of the word, ( 1 Timothy 4:14 ) .

Numbers 8:10 In-Context

8 Have them bring a young bull and a grain offering of choice flour moistened with olive oil, along with a second young bull for a sin offering.

9 Then assemble the whole community of Israel, and present the Levites at the entrance of the Tabernacle.

10 When you present the Levites before the LORD, the people of Israel must lay their hands on them.

11 Raising his hands, Aaron must then present the Levites to the LORD as a special offering from the people of Israel, thus dedicating them to the LORD ’s service.

12 “Next the Levites will lay their hands on the heads of the young bulls. Present one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the LORD, to purify the Levites and make them right with the LORD .