VIII. (2) WHEN THOU LIGHTEST THE LAMPS. — Better, _When thou settest up the lamps._ (Comp. Exodus 25:37.) The golden candlestick was placed against the south wall of the Tabernacle, opposite to the table of shewbread, so that its seven branches were parallel to that wall, with its branches east and... [ Continue Reading ]
HE LIGHTED. — Better, _he set up. _... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS WORK OF THE CANDLESTICK... — Better, _And this was the work of the candlestick, i.e.,_ the material of which it was made. BEATEN GOLD. — Better, _turned_ (or _twisted_)_ gold._ UNTO THE SHAFT THEREOF, UNTO THE FLOWERS THEREOF. — Literally, _unto its base, unto its flower or blossom, i.e.,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES. — As Moses had already officiated in the consecration of the priests (Leviticus 8), so now, notwithstanding the fact that Aaron and his sons were already consecrated, he is commanded to officiate at the cleansing of the Levites.... [ Continue Reading ]
WATER OF PURIFYING. — Literally, _water of sin,_ or, _of sin-offering_ (Hebrew, _hattath_). As in the case of the holy water, to which reference is made in Numbers 6:17, so here also there is no explanation given of the particular water which was to be used in cleansing the Levites. The bullock whic... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL — i.e., as elsewhere, the representatives of the people.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL PUT THEIR HANDS UPON THE LEVITES. — The same phrase is here used as in Numbers 8:12, and elsewhere, of the offerer who was required to lay his hand upon the victim which he offered in sacrifice. By this symbolical act the obligation which rested upon the whole nation in regard to the dedicatio... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AARON SHALL OFFER THE LEVITES BEFORE THE LORD FOR AN OFFERING. — Literally, _and Aaron shall wave the Levites as a wave-offering before the Lord._ The manner in which the Levites were thus set apart to the Lord is not expressed. It may have been done by leading them backwards and forwards in fro... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OFFER THEM FOR AN OFFERING. — Literally, _and wave them as a wave- offering,_ as in Numbers 8:11. So also in Numbers 8:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER THAT SHALL THE LEVITES GO IN... — _i.e.,_ into the court of the Tabernacle to keep watch there, and to assist the priests at the altar of burnt-offering, and to take down and set up the Tabernacle as occasion might require.... [ Continue Reading ]
INSTEAD OF SUCH AS OPEN EVERY WOMB, EVEN INSTEAD OF THE FIRSTBORN OF ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. — It is difficult to determine whether the second clause is to be regarded as an exact equivalent, or as a limitation of the first. If an exact equivalent, a different meaning must be assigned to the _fi... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A GIFT. — Hebrew, _given,_ as in Numbers 8:16. THAT THERE BE NO PLAGUE AMONG THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. — The appointment of the Levites in the place of the firstborn was calculated to insure the reverent and orderly discharge of the duties of the Sanctuary, and to operate as a safeguard against th... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM TWENTY AND FIVE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. — This regulation may be understood as referring to the age at which the Levites were to enter upon their duties after the people had taken possession of the land of Canaan, and it appears to have remained in force until the time of David, who substituted t... [ Continue Reading ]
TO KEEP THE CHARGE. — A clear distinction is here made between the _service_ which involved heavy manual labour in carrying the furniture of the Tabernacle and in slaughtering the victims, and the _charge_ or oversight of the furniture and the vessels of the Sanctuary.... [ Continue Reading ]