Numbers 8:5-8

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.

8 Have them take a young bull with its grain offering of the finest flour mixed with olive oil; then you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering.^[a]

Numbers 8:5-8 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. Leviticus 22:2; Isaiah 1:16; Isaiah 52:11
• 2. Numbers 19:9,17; Numbers 31:23
• 3. S Leviticus 14:9; Numbers 6:9; Deuteronomy 21:12
• 4. S Genesis 35:2; Leviticus 14:8
• 5. S Genesis 35:2
• 6. Leviticus 2:1; Numbers 15:8-10
• 7. Leviticus 4:3

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "purification offering" ; also in verse 12