It appears that the priests are now ready to offer people’s sacrifices to God, Exodus 40:4. Now that the tabernacle was completed, the lighting of lamps showed that God was among His people and ready to receive their sacrifices, Numbers 7:89.
It is back in Exodus 25:31-40, where we read about God’s original design for the lampstand. Later, in Exodus 37:17-34, we read that the lampstand was made as God wanted it, and in Exodus 40:24-25, we read about it being set up, and finally, in Leviticus 24:2, we read about the sacred oil which was to be used. In the passages above, we’re told that Aaron set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, Numbers 8:1-3 / Revelation 1:20.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following concerning the lamps, Numbers 8:2.
‘The whole seven shall be lighted at one time, that seven may be ever burning.’
The lampstand was made of hammered gold from its base to its blossoms, Numbers 8:4 / Exodus 25:31-40 / Revelation 1:12-20. Notice the lampstand was made exactly like the pattern the LORD had shown Moses, Numbers 8:4 / Exodus 25:31-40.
Any work which was to be done within the tabernacle needed to be holy work. The tabernacle was a holy place, and those who worked within it must also be holy.
The priests had their dedication, Leviticus 8-9, and here, we read that the Levites, that is, the priests, needed to be ceremonially clean before doing any work within the tabernacle, Numbers 8:5-7.
Unger, in his commentary, says the following concerning the specifics required for the cleansing of the Levites.
1. By sprinkling with water, Numbers 8:7 / Ezekiel 36:25.
2. By shaving all their flesh, Numbers 8:7 / Leviticus 14:9.
3. By washing their garments, Numbers 8:7.
4. By atonement being made for them, Numbers 8:8-12.
5. By identifying them with all Israel who were represented by them, Numbers 8:9-10.
6. By their being waved before Jehovah, Numbers 8:11-13.
7. By the subordination of the Levites to the priests, Numbers 8:13.
8. By commemorating the event of their being given unto Jehovah instead of the first-born, Numbers 8:16-19.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘As the water by which the Levites were here purified must have been the water prepared from the ashes of the red heifer, this ordinance was undoubtedly instituted before this time, though not described till Numbers 19:1-10 of this book; but that chapter might be in connection with any of the preceding ordinances, as well as where it is now found.’
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following.
‘We see from Hebrews 9:13-14, that these ashes mingled with water, and sprinkled on the unclean, and which sanctified to the purification of the flesh, were intended to typify the blood of Christ, which purges the conscience from dead works to serve the living God, Hebrews 9:15; for as without this sprinkling with the water of the sin-offering the Levites were not fit to serve God in the wilderness, so without this sprinkling of the blood of Christ no conscience can be purged from dead works to serve the living God, Numbers 19:1-10.’
Although we are not told exactly how they did this, as a bull was sacrificed, Numbers 8:8, the children of Israel laid their hands on the Levites, Numbers 8:9-10, to bless them and pray for their dedication before the LORD.
By putting their hands on the Levites, the people were demonstrating that they would accept the Levites for the uniqueness of their God-ordained function among the people.
Thomas, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The ‘laying on of hands’, Numbers 8:10, was likewise ‘done in some representative way, e.g., by the laying on of hands by the twelve tribal leaders upon the heads of the three division leaders of the Levites.’
They were also demonstrating that they would support the Levites as a tribe that was separated from Israel as special priests for the sake of Israel, Numbers 8:11. The Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, using one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering, to make atonement for the Levites, Numbers 8:12. The Levites are stand in front of Aaron and his sons and then present them as a wave offering to the LORD, Numbers 8:13 / Zechariah 11:13.
Cook, in his commentary, says the following concerning the wave offering.
‘Ancient tradition says that Aaron merely pointed to the Levites and then waved his hands appropriately before the altar.’
The Levites are regarded as Israel’s firstborn given to God, Numbers 8:14-19 / Numbers 3:40-51 / Numbers 18:6. Notice that God has 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, Numbers 8:19.
After the cleansing ceremonial, Numbers 8:20-21 / Hebrews 10:19-20, and their commitment to provide for the Levites, the Levities now assume their work, Numbers 8:22.
God tells Moses that men twenty-five years old or more are to come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting, but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer, Numbers 8:23-25.
After they retire, they may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the tent of meeting, but they themselves must not do the work, Numbers 8:26. This is how Moses is to assign the responsibilities of the Levites, Numbers 8:26 / Numbers 1:53.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following concerning the ages mentioned here.
‘There are a number of important considerations in these verses. First, there is the ‘contradiction’ in the giving of age twenty-five as the age when Levites began their service, whereas previously the age of thirty years was specified. Different situations in view explain the difference. The age varied for different kinds of service. 1. For a soldier, it was age twenty. 2. For a priest, it was age thirty. 3. For the Levites, it was age twenty-five.’
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following concerning those twenty-five years old and upwards.
‘The permanent limit as distinguished from the temporary, Numbers 4:3 / Numbers 4:23 / Numbers 4:30, though David found it necessary to extend the period of the Levites’ service by causing it to commence at 20 years of age, 1 Chronicles 23:24-28. This rule continued in force from the time of David downward, 2 Chronicles 31:17 / Ezra 3:8.’