Numbers 8:20

The phrase, "the children of Israel", is five times used in this verse, to denote the love of God to them, as Jarchi observes. Numbers 8:20 Ver. 20. And Moses and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel,.... The several parties concerned in the consecration of the Levites: these did to the Levites according unto all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel unto them: which, as Jarchi notes, is said to the praise of them that did it, and of what was done by them; everything was done that was ordered, and in the manner in which it was prescribed; Moses sprinkled, or ordered to be sprinkled, the water of purification on them, and set them before the tabernacle, and before the Lord; the children of Israel laid their hands on them, and Aaron waved them, offered the sacrifices for them. Numbers 8:21 Ver. 21. And the Levites were purified,.... From sin, by the sprinkling of the sin water, or water of purification on them, Numbers 8:7; and they washed their clothes; that they might have no defilement about them, neither in their bodies, nor in their garments: and Aaron offered them [as] an offering before the Lord; a wave offering, as in Numbers 8:11; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them; by offering the sacrifices for them, Numbers 8:12. Numbers 8:22 Ver. 22. And after that went the Levites in,....

8:5-26 Here we have directions for the solemn ordination of the Levites. All Israel must know that they took not this honour 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, according to the employment. Christians must be baptized, ministers must be ordained; we must first give ourselves unto 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, he needs not 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 services.

And Moses and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel,.... The several parties concerned in the consecration of the Levites: these did to the Levites according unto all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel unto them: which, as Jarchi notes, is said to the praise of them that did it, and of what was done by them; everything was done that was ordered, and in the manner in which it was prescribed; Moses sprinkled, or ordered to be sprinkled, the water of purification on them, and set them before the tabernacle, and before the Lord; the children of Israel laid their hands on them, and Aaron waved them, offered the sacrifices for them.

Make an atonement for the children of Israel - i. e. by performing those services which were due from the children of Israel; the omission of which by the children of Israel would, but for the interposition of the Levites, have called down "wrath" from God, or Numbers 1:53 "plague." The institution of the Levites was an extension of that mediatorial system which the people themselves, terrified at the direct manifestations to them of the divine presence, desired; see Deuteronomy 5:25 . Further, it is suggested to us here as an act of mercy on the part of God; yet even the priests and Levites themselves were not always sufficiently heedful and reverent. Compare Numbers 17:10 ; Leviticus 10:1 ff; 2 Samuel 6:6 following.

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.

[Reformed Biblical] e priests alone might do, but by assisting the priests in that expiatory work, and by a diligent performance of all the parts of their office, whereby God was pleased both with them and with the people. That there be no plague : this is added as a reason why God appointed them to serve in or about the tabernacle, that they might watch and guard it, and not suffer any of the people to come near it, or meddle with holy things, which if they did, it would certainly bring a plague upon them. Numbers 8:20 Numbers 8:21 The Levites were purified by washing and sprinkling and sacrifices. See Lev_15:13-15 Num_19:11, &c. Numbers 8:22 ## Before Aaron and his sons; in their presence, and by their direction and appointment. Numbers 8:23 Numbers 8:24 ## From twenty and five years old. See Poole " Num_4:3 " . Numbers 8:25 i.e. Upon the difficult and cumbersome part of their work. Numbers 8:26 ## With t heir brethren, by way of advice, and assistance in lesser and easier works. ## Numbers 9:1 NUMBERS CHAPTER 9 The passover kept in the wilderness on the fourteenth day of the first month, Num_9:1-5. By those who were then unclean or journeying, the fourteenth day of the second month, Num_9:6-12. They who otherwise neglect it to be put to death, Num_9:13. Proselytes are to observe the same, Num_9:14. God manifests himself to Israel in a cloud by day, and fire b

[Reformed Biblical] o the prophets, 2Ch_36:16; and to Haggai, Hag_1:13; yet it is not probable that he is meant, partly, because Moses was the person that sent this message; partly, because there was no reason why he should express himself by such a dark and doubtful title to them: and partly, because another Angel besides and above Moses did conduct them, and the mention hereof to the Edomites was likely to give more authority and efficacy to their present message. ## In Kadesh, i.e. near the city Kadesh, the particle in being oft so used, as we have showed. Numbers 20:17 Wells, or pits , which any of you have digged for your private use, to wit, without paying for it, Num_20:19 Deu_2:6; but only of the waters of common rivers, which are free to all passengers, and will not be prejudicial to thee. Numbers 20:18 i.e. Through my country, as thou desirest; I will not suffer time to do so: which was an act of common policy to secure themselves from so numerous a host. Numbers 20:19 ## Children of Israel said unto him, i.e. their messengers replied unto them what here follows. ## I will pay for it; for water was a scarce commodity in those parts. Numbers 20:20 Numbers 20:21 ## Through his border, but permitted them to go by their border, Deu_2:4 ,8 Jude 11:18 , and furnished them with victuals for their money, Deu_2:29. ## Israel turned away, according to God’s command, Deu_2:5. Numbers 20:22 Whose inhabitants were then called Horims , Deu_2:12, and Esau the Horite , Gen_36:20.

The word occurs in the same sense Leviticus 8:15 (of the altar, as here), Leviticus 14:49 (of a leprous house), Leviticus 14:52 , Numbers 19:19 (RV. purify ); Ezekiel 43:20 ; Ezekiel 43:22 (twice), 23 (all of the altar, Ezekiel 45:18 (of the sanctuary); Psalm 51:7 ( purge )†; and in the reflexive conj., Numbers 8:21 ; Numbers 19:12 (twice), Numbers 19:13 , Numbers 19:20 , Numbers 31:19-20 ; Numbers 31:23 †. by thy making (marg.) atonement for it ] on account of its being regarded as infected with sin. For other cases of ‘atonement’ being made for a material object—regarded either as affected by the natural impurity of human workmanship, or as tainted by contact with a sinful people—see (of the altar of burnt-offering) Lev Exo 8:15 (the execution of the present injunction), Ezekiel 43:20 ; Ezekiel 43:26 , Leviticus 16:18 ; Leviticus 16:20 ; Leviticus 16:33 ; (of the altar of incense) ch. Exodus 30:10 b; (of the sanctuary) Ezekiel 45:20 , Leviticus 16:16 ; Leviticus 16:20 ; Leviticus 16:33 ; (of a leprous house) Leviticus 14:53 ( DB. iv. 131b). thou shalt anoint it ] Cf. Lev Exo 8:11 (in the insertion referred to on v. 7 above, between the words corresponding to v. 7a and v. 7b here). See on Exodus 30:26-29 (at the end). 36, 37. The altar to be fitted for sacred uses by atonement being made for it: the ceremony to be repeated, like the installation-ceremony, every day for seven days.