---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Numbers 8"
description: "CHAPTER 8   :-. HOW THE LAMPS
ARE TO BE
LIGHTED. 1. the Lord spake unto Moses—The
order of this chapter suggests the idea that the following
instructions"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/numbers/8"
---

CHAPTER 8

. HOW THE LAMPS
ARE TO BE
LIGHTED.

**1. the Lord spake unto Moses**—The
order of this chapter suggests the idea that the following
instructions were given to Moses while he was within the tabernacle
of the congregation, after the princes had completed their offering.
But from the tenor of the instructions, it is more likely that they
were given immediately after the Levites had been given to the
priests (see on [Numbers 3:1](../../../kjv/numbers/3/1)), and
that the record of these instructions had been postponed till the
narrative of other transactions in the camp had been made [PATRICK].

**2. Speak unto Aaron,** c.—The
candlestick, which was made of one solid, massive piece of pure gold,
with six lamps supported on as many branches, a seventh in the center
surmounting the shaft itself ([Exodus 25:31](../../../kjv/exodus/25/31)
[Exodus 37:17](../../../kjv/exodus/37/17)), and completed
according to the pattern shown in the mount, was now to be lighted,
when the other things in the sanctuary began to be applied to
religious service. It was Aaron's personal duty, as the servant of
God, to light His house, which, being without windows, required the
aid of lights ([2 Peter 1:19](../../../kjv/2-peter/1/19)). And
the course he was ordered to follow was first to light the middle
lamp from the altar-fire, and then the other lamps from each other—a
course symbolical of all the light of heavenly truth being derived
from Christ, and diffused by His ministers throughout the world ([2 Peter 1:19](../../../kjv/2-peter/1/19)).
**the seven lamps shall give
light over against the candlestick**—The candlestick stood close
to the boards of the sanctuary, on the south side, in full view of
the table of showbread on the north ([2 Peter 1:19](../../../kjv/2-peter/1/19)), having one set of its lamps turned towards the east, and
another towards the west; so that all parts of the tabernacle were
thus lighted up.
[2 Peter 1:19](../../../kjv/2-peter/1/19). THE
CONSECRATION OF THE
LEVITES.

**6, 7. Take the Levites . . . and
cleanse them**—This passage describes the consecration of the
Levites. Although the tribe was to be devoted to the divine service,
their hereditary descent alone was not a sufficient qualification for
entering on the duties of the sacred office. They were to be set
apart by a special ceremony, which, however, was much simpler than
that appointed for the priests; neither washing nor anointing, nor
investiture with official robes, was necessary. Their purification
consisted, along with the offering of the requisite sacrifices
([Leviticus 1:4](../../../kjv/leviticus/1/4); [Leviticus 3:2](../../../kjv/leviticus/3/2);
[Leviticus 4:4](../../../kjv/leviticus/4/4)), in being sprinkled by
water mixed with the ashes of a red heifer ([Leviticus 4:4](../../../kjv/leviticus/4/4)), and shaved all over, and their clothes washed—a
combination of symbolical acts which was intended to remind them of
the mortification of carnal and worldly desires, and the maintenance
of that purity in heart and life which became the servants of God.

**9, 10. thou shalt gather the whole
assembly of the children of Israel together,** c.—As it was
plainly impossible that the whole multitude of the Israelites could
do this, a select portion of them must be meant. This party, who laid
their hands upon the Levites, are supposed by some to have been the
first-born, who by that act, transferred their peculiar privilege of
acting as God's ministers to the Levitical tribe and by others, to
have been the princes, who thus blessed them. It appears, from this
passage, that the imposition of hands was a ceremony used in
consecrating persons to holy offices in the ancient, as, from the
example of our Lord and His apostles, it has been perpetuated in the
Christian Church.

**11-13. And Aaron shall offer the
Levites**—*Hebrew,* "as a wave offering"; and it
has been thought probable that the high priest, in bringing the
Levites one by one to the altar, directed them to make some simple
movements of their persons, analogous to what was done at the
presentation of the wave offerings before the Lord. Thus were they
first devoted as an offering to God, and by Him surrendered to the
priests to be employed in His service. The consecration ceremonial
was repeated in the case of every Levite who was taken (as was done
at a later period) to assist the priests in the tabernacle and
temple. (See on ).

**14. and the Levites shall be
mine**—that is, exempt from all military duty or secular
work—free from all pecuniary imposition and wholly devoted to the
custody and service of the sanctuary.

**15. after that, shall the Levites go
in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation**—into
the court, to assist the priests; and at removal into the
tabernacle—that is, into the door of it—to receive the covered
furniture.

**19. to make an atonement for the
children of Israel,** c.—to aid the priests in that expiatory
work or, as the words may be rendered, "to make redemption for"
the Levites being exchanged or substituted for the first-born for
this important end, that there might be a sanctified body of men
appointed to guard the sanctuary, and the people not allowed to
approach or presumptuously meddle with holy things, which would
expose them to the angry judgments of Heaven.

**24. from twenty and five years old,**
c.—(Compare [Numbers 4:3](../../../kjv/numbers/4/3)). They
entered on their work in their twenty-fifth year, as pupils and
probationers, under the superintendence and direction of their senior
brethren and at thirty they were admitted to the full discharge of
their official functions.

**25. from the age of fifty years they
shall cease waiting upon the service thereof,** &c.—that is,
on the laborious and exhausting parts of their work.

**26. But shall minister with their
brethren**—in the performance of easier and higher duties,
instructing and directing the young, or superintending important
trusts. "They also serve who only wait" [MILTON].

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