Numbers 8:26

_BUT SHALL MINISTER WITH THEIR BRETHREN IN THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION, TO KEEP THE CHARGE, AND SHALL DO NO SERVICE. THUS SHALT THOU DO UNTO THE LEVITES TOUCHING THEIR CHARGE._ But shall minister with their brethren - in the performance of easier and lighter duties; instructing and directing the young, or superintending important trusts. 'They also serve who only wait' (Milton)....

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 8:26. _TO KEEP THE CHARGE, AND SHALL DO NO SERVICE._] They shall no longer be obliged to perform any laborious service, but act as general directors and counsellors; therefore they were to be near the camp, sing praises to God, and see that no stranger or unclean person was permitted to enter. So the Jews and many other persons have understood this place. 1. IF it required so much legal purity to fit the Levites for their work in the tabernacle, can we suppose that it requires less spiritual purity to fit ministers of the Gospel to proclaim the righteousness of the Most High, and administer the sacred ordinances of Christianity to the flock of Christ? If these must be without _spot_, as the priests before without _blemish_, and these were only typical men, we may rest assured that a Christian minister requires no ordinary measures of holiness

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 ...

BUT SHALL MINISTER WITH THEIR BRETHREN IN THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION,.... By giving advice, instructing younger Levites, and doing lighter service. Jarchi says, they shall return to shutting of doors, singing and loading wagons; but the last especially seems too burdensome: the ministry of such is explained by the next clause, TO KEEP THE CHARGE; of the tabernacle, to watch and observe that no stranger or unclean person enter into it; and this they were capable of when at the age of fifty, and upwards: AND SHALL DO NO SERVICE; heavy and laborious: THUS THOU SHALL DO UNTO THE LEVITES TOUCHING THEIR CHARGE; dismiss them from service when at such an age, or however make their service easier; for this respects ancient men, as Aben Ezra notes; though it may include both their entrance on their work, and their cessation from it....

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....

FROM THE AGE, &C. Observe the gracious care of Jehovah....

_The Levites_ Numbers 8:5. Their purification and dedication, Numbers 8:23. The age of service. The passage is an expansion of Numbers 3:5-13, with the addition of the rite of purification. The Levites are inferior to the priests, and are therefore merely cleansed from the ceremonial pollution of ordinary life, while the priests receive something higher, an actual quality which the Hebrews called -holiness," i.e. not moral excellence, but separation, exclusiveness (Exodus 29; Leviticus 8)....

BUT SHALL MINISTER WITH THEIR BRETHREN— They were to be dismissed at the age of fifty from all the laborious part of the service, and were afterwards to attend only upon the easier duties of their ministry. The Hebrew words directly suggest this meaning, and do not support _their_ opinion, who would render the passage, _they shall minister to their brethren; i.e._ as counsellors and instructors. REFLECTIONS.—As they who bear the vessels of the Lord must be holy, the Levites are, 1. Enjoined to wash and shave themselves all over; and then water of purifying is sprinkled upon them. Thus must Jesus sprinkle our consciences, ere we can serve the living God. 2. When prepared, they are presented before the Lord, and, instead of the first-born, surrendered up to God's service. Whatever God calls for, we may cheerfully resign, as we shall surely see a blessing from it. 3. Offerings of atonement...