Numbers 8:8

8 take they an ox of the droves, and the flowing sacrifice thereof, [tried] flour sprinkled (al)together with oil; forsooth thou shalt take another ox of the drove for sin; (take they an ox from the herd, and its grain offering of fine flour sprinkled with oil; and thou shalt take another ox from the herd for a sin offering;)

Numbers 8:8 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 8:8

Then let them take a young bullock
Of two years old, as the Jewish writers gather from the other in the next clause, being called the second; though the wise men say one of three years old is fit for such a sacrifice; nay, others say, if four or five years old; but the decision is according to the wise men ^F17

with his meat offering, [even] fine flour mingled with oil:
which always went along with a burnt offering, and consisted of three tenth deals of line flour, and half an hin of oil, ( Numbers 28:12 Numbers 28:14 ) ;

and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering;
which was the offering for the sin of the whole congregation of Israel, through ignorance; and this being for all the Levites, and they being instead of the firstborn of Israel, such an offering was required; and though there was no particular sin charged upon them, but it became necessary for their perfect cleansing and expiation.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 Misn. Parah, c. 1. sect. 2. & Bartenora in ib.

Numbers 8:8 In-Context

6 Take thou the Levites from the midst of the sons of Israel; and thou shalt cleanse them by this custom. (Take thou the Levites from the midst of the Israelites; and thou shalt cleanse, or shalt purify, them by this rite.)

7 Be they sprinkled with (the) water of cleansing, or of purification, and shave they all the hairs of their flesh. And when they have washed their clothes and be cleansed,

8 take they an ox of the droves, and the flowing sacrifice thereof, [tried] flour sprinkled (al)together with oil; forsooth thou shalt take another ox of the drove for sin; (take they an ox from the herd, and its grain offering of fine flour sprinkled with oil; and thou shalt take another ox from the herd for a sin offering;)

9 and thou shalt present the Levites before the tabernacle of the bond of peace (and thou shalt bring the Levites before the Tabernacle of the Covenant), when all the multitude of the sons of Israel is called together.

10 And when the Levites be presented before the Lord, the sons of Israel shall set their hands upon them;