Numbers 8:24

_THIS IS IT THAT BELONGETH UNTO THE LEVITES: FROM TWENTY AND FIVE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD THEY SHALL GO IN TO WAIT UPON THE SERVICE OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION:_ From twenty-five years old ... - (cf. Numbers 4:3.) They entered upon their work in their 25th year, as pupils and probationers, under the superintendence and direction of their senior brethren; and they were admitted to the full discharge of their official functions at 30 years of age....

24._This is it, that belongeth to the Levites. _The age is here prescribed when the Levites should begin and end the execution of their office. God commands them to commence in their 25th year and grants them their dismissal in their 50th; and for both these provisions there is very good reason. For, if they had been admitted in early youth, their levity might have greatly detracted from the reverence due to sacred things: not only because those, whose manhood is not yet mature, are generally given to pleasure and intemperance, but because either by negligence, or levity, or want of thought, or ignorance and error, they might have made many grievous mistakes in the service of God; and, whilst they were by no means fitted to exercise their charge until they should have attained prudence and gravity, so also, lest they should fail from old age, it was right that they should be seasonably d...

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 ne...

Verse Numbers 8:24. _FROM TWENTY AND FIVE YEARS OLD_] Numbers 4:3, where the two terms of twenty-five and thirty years are reconciled....

TWENTY AND FIVE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD - 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. This rule continued in force from the time of David downward (compare on 2 Chronicles 31:17; Ezra 3:8)....

EXPOSITION THE HALLOWING OF THE LEVITES (Numbers 8:5-4). NUMBERS 8:5 THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES. At some time subsequent to the command given in Numbers 3:6-4, and no doubt before the passover. NUMBERS 8:6 AND CLEANSE THEM. Before they actually entered upon their new duties they were to be solemnly hallowed. This hallowing, however, is not called קַדֵּשׁ, as is that of the priests ...

THIS [IS IT] THAT [BELONGETH] UNTO THE LEVITES,.... The fixed and settled time for their service, as is after related: FROM TWENTY AND FIVE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD, THEY SHALL GO IN TO WAIT UPON THE SERVICE OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION; in Numbers 4:3; the time for the Levites entering on the work of the tabernacle is fixed to thirty years and upward, which Jarchi reconciles thus; at twenty five years old the Levite goes in to learn the rites of service, and he learns five years, and when thirty years of age he services; the same is observed by others w; but what Aben Ezra proposes seems much better; at thirty years of age a Levite entered into the service of bearing and carrying burdens; and at twenty five years of age he entered into the service of the tent or tabernacle, where he was employed in lighter service, such as opening and shutting the doors of the sanctuary,

6. THE CONSECRATION OF THE LEVITES CHAPTER 8 _ 1. The lighting of the candlestick (Numbers 8:1)_ 2. The consecration of the Levites (Numbers 8:5) 3. The charge to the Levites repeated (Numbers 8:23) The candlestick is the type of Christ as in the sanctuary, that is, Christ in glory. The lighting of the seven lamps introduced in the beginning of the wilderness book is of blessed meaning. The seven lamps were to illuminate the candlestick of beaten gold, throw their light upon the candlestick so that the gold and beautiful workmanship might be seen. The oil in the seven lamps represents the Holy Spirit. Spiritually applied we have the picture here of the Spirit of God shedding light upon Chri

THE AGE-LIMIT FOR THE LEVITES'SERVICE. The limits here given (25 and 50) differ from those fixed in ch. 4 (where they are 30 and 50). NUMBERS 8:24. THIS IS THAT WHICH BELONGETH UNTO: read (Vulg.), This is the law of....

TWENTY AND FIVE YEARS OLD. This was the commencement of. five years' probation. The age, thirty, was the age of their numbering. See note on Numbers 4:3. TO WAIT, &C. Figure of speech _Polyptoton_ (App-6), as in verses: Numbers 8:11; Numbers 8:15; Numbers 8:19. Literally war the warfare....