Numbers 8:1-26 NIV
Setting Up the Lamps
1The 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.’ ”
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.’ ”
3Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, Just As The LORD Commanded Moses. 4This 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
12“Then the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, using one for a sin offering To The LORD and the other for a burnt offering, to make atonement for the Levites. 13Have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons and then present them as a wave offering To The LORD. 14In this way you are to set the Levites apart from the other Israelites,
15“After you have purified the Levites and presented them as a wave offering, they are to come to do their work at the tent of meeting. 16They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly To ME. I Have Taken them as My Own in place of the firstborn, the first male offspring from every Israelite woman. 17Every firstborn male in Israel, whether human or animal, is MINE. When I Struck Down all the firstborn in Egypt, I Set them Apart For Myself. 18And I Have Taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons in Israel. 19From among all the Israelites, I Have Given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons to do the work at the tent of meeting on behalf of the Israelites and to make atonement for them so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the Sanctuary.”
20Moses, Aaron and the whole Israelite community did with the Levites Just As The LORD Commanded Moses. 21The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes. Then Aaron presented them as a wave offering Before The LORD and made atonement for them to purify them. 22After that, the Levites came to do their work at the tent of meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons. They did with the Levites Just As The LORD Commanded Moses.
24“This applies to the Levites:
Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting, 25but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. 26They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the tent of meeting, but they themselves must not do the work. This, then, is how you are to assign the responsibilities of the Levites.”
The Setting Apart of the Levites
Here we have directions for the solemn ordination of the Levites. All Israel must know that they did not take this honor to themselves, but were called of GOD to it; nor was it enough that they were distinguished from others. All who are employed for GOD must be dedicated to HIM.
Christians must be baptized, ministers must be ordained; we must first give ourselves To The LORD, and then our services. The Levites must be cleansed. They must be clean that bear the vessels of The LORD. Moses must sprinkle the water of purifying upon them. This signifies the application of the Blood of CHRIST to our souls by faith, that we may be fit to serve The LIVING GOD.
GOD Declares HIS Acceptance of them. All who expect to share in the privileges of the Tabernacle, must resolve to do the service of the Tabernacle. As, on the one hand, none of GOD'S creatures are HIS necessary servants and HE Does Not Need the service of any of them; so none are merely honorary servants to do nothing. All whom GOD Owns, HE Employs; angels themselves have their own services To The LIVING GOD.