Bible Commentaries

When this was spoken, says Bp. Patrick, is not certain. If Moses went into the tabernacle immediately after the princes had offered (Numbers 7:89), it may be thought he then spake these things unto him; but both this and what follows, concerning the Levites, seem rather to have been delivered after the order for giving them to the priests, and appointing their several charges (Numbers 3:1 and Numbers 4:1). But some other things intervening, which depended upon what had been ordered respecting their camp, and that of the Israelites, Moses omits this until he had stated them, and some other matters which he had received from God. (See note on Numbers 7:11.)

Exodus 25:37, 37:18,19,23, 40:25, Leviticus 24:1,2, Psalms 119:105,130, Isaiah 8:20, Matthew 5:14, John 1:9, 2 Peter 1:19, Revelation 1:12,20, 2:1, 4:5

this work

Exodus 25:31-39, 37:17-24

beaten work

Exodus 25:18, 37:7,17,22

the pattern

Exodus 25:9,40, 1 Chronicles 28:11-19, Hebrews 8:5, 9:23

cleanse them

Exodus 19:15, 2 Corinthians 7:1, James 4:8

Sprinkle

Leviticus 8:6, 14:7, Isaiah 52:15, Ezekiel 36:25, Hebrews 9:10

water

19:9,10,13,17-19, Psalms 51:7, Hebrews 9:13

let them shave

Heb. let them cause a razor to pass over, etc.

Leviticus 14:8,9

wash their

19:7,8,10,19, 31:20, Genesis 35:2, Exodus 19:10, Leviticus 15:6,10,11,27, 16:28, Psalms 51:2, Jeremiah 4:14, Matthew 23:25,26, James 4:8, 1 Peter 3:21, Revelation 7:14

a young

Exodus 29:1,3, Leviticus 1:3, 8:2

his meat

15:8,9, Leviticus 2:1

another

Leviticus 4:3,14, 16:3, Isaiah 53:10, Romans 8:3, 2 Corinthians 5:21

thou shalt bring

Exodus 29:4-37, 40:12

shalt gather the whole

The words, kol âdath, which are rendered "the whole assembly," often signify all the elders, or principal persons in the several tribes. (ch. 15:4; 25:7; 35:12.) And they cannot well have any other sense here; for it would be impossible for all the children of Israel to put their hands on the Levites, as stated in the next verse.

Leviticus 8:3

3:45, Leviticus 1:4, Acts 6:6, 13:2,3, 1 Timothy 4:14, 5:22

offer

Heb. wave. offering. Heb. wave-offering. Not that they were actually waved, but they were presented to God, as the God of heaven, and the Lord of the whole earth, as the wave offerings were; and in calling them wave-offerings, it was intimated to them that they must move to and fro with readiness in the business of their profession.

6:20, Exodus 29:24, Leviticus 7:30, 8:27,29

they may execute

Heb. they may be to execute, etc.

1:49-53, 3:5-43

Levites

Exodus 29:10, Leviticus 1:4, 8:14, 16:21

the one

8, 6:14,16, Leviticus 5:7,9,10, 8:14,18, 9:7, 14:19,20,22, Hebrews 10:4-10

atonement

Leviticus 1:4, 4:20,35, 8:34, 16:6,11,16-19, Hebrews 9:22

offer them

Wehainaphta othom tenoophath, literlly, as in ver. 11, "and thou shalt wave them for a wave-offering;" manifestly in allusion to the ancient sacrificial rite of waving the sacrifices before the Lord; and it is probable, that some significant action, analogous to the waving of the sacrifice, was employed on this occasion; for the Levites were considered as an offering to the Lord, to whose service they were wholly dedicated. To this the apostle Paul manifestly alludes, when, in writing to the Romans, he says, (ch. 12:1,) "I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

11,21, 18:6, Romans 12:1, 15:16

separate

6:2, Deuteronomy 10:8, Romans 1:1, Galatians 1:15, Hebrews 7:26

and the Levites

17, 3:45, 16:9,10, 18:6, Malachi 3:17

go in

11, 3:23-37, 4:3-32, 1 Chronicles 23:1-32, 25:1-26

and offer

11,13, 3:12

wholly given

Nethunim, nethunim, "given; given;" The word being repeated, "because," says Bp. Patrick, "the children of Israel had devoted them to him, by laying their hands upon them, (ver. 10,) and Aaron had waved them as a wave-offering to the Lord." (ver. 11.)

instead of such

Houbigant, on the authority of the Samaritan, reads, "instead of every first-born of the children of Israel, who openeth the womb."

3:12,45

all the

3:13, Exodus 13:2,12-15, Luke 2:23

on the day

Exodus 12:29, Psalms 78:51, 105:36, 135:8, Hebrews 11:28

I sanctified

Exodus 13:14,15, 29:44, Leviticus 27:14,15,26, Ezekiel 20:12, John 10:36, 17:19, Hebrews 10:29, James 1:18

I have given

3:6-9, 18:2-6, 1 Chronicles 23:28-32, Ezekiel 44:11-14

a gift

Heb. given. that there.

1:53, 16:46, 18:5, 1 Samuel 6:19, 2 Chronicles 26:16-20

were purified

7, 19:12,19

offered

11-13,15, 3:12

Aaron made

after that

15, 2 Chronicles 30:15-17,27, 31:2, 35:8-15

as the Lord

from twenty

In ch. 4:3, the Levites are appointed to the service of the tabernacle at the age of 30 years; and in 1 Ch 23:24, they are ordered to commence their work at 20 years of age. In order to reconcile this apparent discrepancy, it is to be observed, 1. At the time of which Moses speaks in ch. 4:3, the Levitical service was exceedingly severe, and consequently required full grown, robust men, to perform it; the age of 30 was therefore appointed as the period for commencing this service, the weightier part of which was probably there intended. 2. In this place God seems to speak of the service in a general way: hence the age of 25 is fixed. 3. In David's time, and afterwards, in the fixed tabernacle and temple, the laboriousness of the service no longer existed, and hence 20 years was the age appointed.

4:3,23, 1 Chronicles 23:3,24-27, 28:12,13

wait upon

Heb. war the warfare of, etc.

1 Corinthians 9:7, 2 Corinthians 10:4, 1 Timothy 1:18, 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:3-5

cease waiting upon the service thereof

Heb. return from the warfare of the service.

4:23, 2 Timothy 4:7; The Levites, above fifty years of age, might superintend and assist their junior brethren in the ordinary offices, and give them and the people counsel and instruction; but they were exempted from carrying the tabernacle and from other laborious services. It is remarkable, that no law was made concerning the age at which the priests should begin to officiate, and though various blemishes disqualified them for the service of the sanctuary, yet they continued their ministrations till death, if capable. On the other hand, nothing is said concerning any bodily defects or blemishes disqualifying the Levites; but the time of their service is expressly settled. Their work was far more laborious than that of the priests; it is therefore likely that the priests would not begin very early to officiate; and the wisdom and experience of age would increase, rather than diminish, their fitness for the sacred duties of their office.

to keep

1:53, 3:32, 18:4, 31:30, 1 Chronicles 23:32, 26:20-29, Ezekiel 44:8,11

and shall

1 Timothy 4:15