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Numbers Chapter Eight                            

 

Numbers 8

Chapter Contents

The lamps of the sanctuary. (1-4) Consecration of the Levites and their service. (5-26)

Commentary on Numbers 8:1-4

Aaron himself lighted the lamps thus representing his Divine Master. The Scripture is a light shining in a dark place 2 Peter 1:19. A dark place even the church would be without it; as the tabernacle which had no window would have been without the lamps. The work of ministers is to light these lamps by expounding and applying the word of God. Jesus Christ is the only Light of our dark sinful world; and by his atonement by his word and the Holy Spirit he diffuses light around.

Commentary on Numbers 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.

── Matthew HenryConcise Commentary on Numbers

 

Numbers 8

Verse 2

[2] Speak unto Aaron and say unto him When thou lightest the lamps the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.

When thou lightest the lamps — The priests lighted the middle lamp from the fire of the altar; and the rest one from another; signifying that all light and knowledge comes from Christ who has the seven spirits of God figured by the seven lamps of fire.

Over against the candlestick — On that part which is before the candlestick Heb.

over against the face of the candlestick — That is in that place towards which the candlestick looked or where the candlestick stood in full view that is upon the north-side where the table of shew-bread stood as appears from hence because the candlestick stood close to the boards of the sanctuary on the south-side Exodus 26:35. And thus the lights were on both sides of the sanctuary which was necessary because it was dark in itself and had no window.

Verse 4

[4] And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold unto the shaft thereof unto the flowers thereof was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses so he made the candlestick.

Of beaten gold — Not hollow but solid gold beaten out of one piece not of several pieces joined or soldered together.

Verse 7

[7] And thus shalt thou do unto them to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them and let them shave all their flesh and let them wash their clothes and so make themselves clean.

Of purifying — Heb. of sin that is for the expiation of sin. This water was mixed with the ashes of a red heifer Numbers 19:9 which therefore may seem to have been prescribed before though it be mentioned after; such kind of transplacings of passages being frequent in scripture.

Shave all their flesh — This external rite signified the cutting off their inordinate desire of earthly things and that singular purity of heart and life which is required in the ministers of God.

Verse 8

[8] Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering even fine flour mingled with oil and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering.

A young bullock — The same sacrifice which was offered for a sin-offering for the whole congregation because the Levites came in the stead of all the first-born who did in a manner represent the whole congregation.

Verse 10

[10] And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:

The children of Israel — Not all of them which was impossible but some in the name of all the princes or chiefs of each tribe who used to transact things in the name of their tribes.

Put their hands — Whereby they signified their transferring that right of ministering to God from the first-born in whose hands it formerly was to the Levites and their entire resignation and dedication of them to God's service.

Verse 11

[11] And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel that they may execute the service of the LORD.

For an offering — Heb. for a wave-offering. Not that Aaron did so wave them which he could not do but that he caused them to imitate that motion and to wave themselves toward the several parts of the world: whereby they might signify their readiness to serve God according to their capacity wheresoever they should be.

Verse 12

[12] And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering unto the LORD to make an atonement for the Levites.

Lay their hands — To signify that they were offered by them and for them.

Verse 13

[13] And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron and before his sons and offer them for an offering unto the LORD.

Set the Levites before Aaron — Give the Levites to them or to their service.

Unto the Lord — For to him they were first properly offered and by him given to the priests in order to his service.

Verse 15

[15] And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them and offer them for an offering.

Go in — Into the court where they were to wait upon the priests at the altar of burnt-offering; and at present into the tabernacle to take it down and set it up.

Verse 19

[19] And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.

To do the service of Israel — To serve God in their stead to do what otherwise they had been obliged to do in their own persons.

To make an atonement — Not by offering sacrifices which the 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 the tabernacle that they might 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.

Verse 26

[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.

In the tabernacle — By way of advice and assistance in lesser and easier works.

── John WesleyExplanatory Notes on Numbers

 

08 Chapter 8

 

Verses 1-4

Numbers 8:1-4

When thou lightest the lamps.

The golden candlestick an emblem of the Church of God

I. The preciousness and sacredness of the church of God.

II. The light of the church of God.

III. The ministers of the church of God and their function.

IV. The function of the church of God. “I would not give much for your religion ” says Spurgeon “unless it can be seen. Lamps do not talk; but they do shine. A lighthouse sounds no drum it beats no gong; and yet far over the waters its friendly spark is seen by the mariner. So let your actions shine out your religion. Let the main sermon of your life be illustrated by all your conduct and it shall not fail to be illustrious.” Application:

1. To individuals. Are our lives luminous in the light of the Lord Jesus Christ?

2. To Churches. Are we making good our claim to a place in “the Church of the living God” by taking our part in performing the Divine function of that Church? Are we diffusing the light of God in Christ in this dark world? (W. Jones.)

Moulded and beaten work

(with Exodus 32:4):--I have chosen these two texts to point out an instructive lesson regardng the easiness of sin and the difficulty of holiness. The material of the golden calf which Aaron constructed was poured into a mould and shaped without trouble; the material of the seven-branched candlestick had to be beaten out carefully and slowly with much toil and pains.

I. The pattern of the calf was easily constructed; it required no originality no effort of thought only an exercise of memory; and Aaron cast their golden jewels into the familiar mould and out of it came the familiar image. So easy so natural so inevitable was the process that Aaron used language regarding it which seemed to imply that when he lighted the furnace and poured into the mould the molten gold the image of the calf came out of its own accord. It may be further remarked that in order to get the image sharp and clear out of the mould Aaron must have put into the gold an alloy of some inferior metal or it was already in the ornaments of the Israelites. And is this not true of all sin? It has a mould prepared for it in a world lying in wickedness and in the deceitful heart of man. The pattern of sin is as old as Adam. The first transgression was not only the root but also the type of every transgression just as the whole plant is a development and modification of the primitive leaf and constructed after its pattern. Why is it that we think so little of articles cast in a mould in comparison with those wrought by hand? Is it not because these moulded articles are easily made involving the smallest expenditure of toil or time or thought? They can be manufactured and multiplied by the thousand with the greatest ease once the mould is formed. The maker puts as little as possible of himself into them. He is not an artist but a mere mechanic. The essence of all sin is a desire to get things in the easiest way--to run things into moulds rather than to hew or carve or build them with slow patient toil and care. And hence when persons do not take thought or trouble to do what is right they always blame circumstances and not themselves for the wrong. When they do not resist temptation they say that they could not help themselves. Sin is regarded as a misfortune demanding pity and not a wilful act drawing down condemnation.

II. The material of the seven-branched golden candlestick was not run into a mould already prepared for it. It was all hand-made work. It was the most elaborate of all the vessels of the sanctuary because it represented the result of what all the other vessels typified and led up to--the light of the world and yet it was beaten out of one solid piece of gold. The workman who fashioned it must have pondered minutely over every part and bestowed immense labour and skill upon all its details; the pattern and symmetry of the whole must have been clearly in his mind while from one mass of metal he beat out each shaft and floral ornament. The whole idea of it implied personal thought and toil and care. While it is easy for man to sin it is difficult for man to be holy. He finds moulds for his sin lying ready to his hand without any trouble. But he has to fashion as it were by the toil of his hands and the sweat of his soul with the Divine help the means by which he may be rescued from his sin and folly. We can mould a false diamond in glass or paste in a few minutes; but nature requires ages of slow patient workmanship to crystallise the real diamond from the dark charcoal. We can cover common deal wood with an exquisitely grained veneer of walnut or mahogany at a small expense and with little effort; but the grain of the walnut or mahogany represents many years of strain and struggle during which the tree grew its beautiful markings. Thus in the human world we can make easy imitations of moral and spiritual qualities which when genuine can only be produced by slow patient self-discipline by many prayers and tears and toils. The paste diamond of religion that glitters so brightly and deceives so many can be manufactured in the mould of easy compliance with outward church duties and rites; the veneer of godliness can be assumed by a profession which costs nothing and makes no demand of self-sacrifice upon the inner nature. But the deliverance from sin and the formation of holiness which the salvation of Christ implies and involves can only be through toil and suffering. (H. Macmillan D. D.)

The littered lamp

Who must light the lamps? Aaron himself (Numbers 8:3). As the people’s representative to God he thus did the office of a servant in God’s house lighting his Master’s candle. As the representative of God to the people he thus gave them the significations of God’s will and favour which is thus expressed (Psalms 18:28). And thus Aaron himself was now lately directed to bless the people “The Lord make His face to shine upon thee” (Numbers 6:25). The commandment is a lamp (Proverbs 6:23). The Scripture is a light shining in a dark place (2 Peter 1:19). And a dark place indeed even the Church would be without it as the tabernacle without the lamps for it had no window in it. Now the work of ministers is to light these lamps by expounding and applying the Word of God. The priest lighted the middle lamp from the fire of the altar; and the rest of the lamps he lighted one from another : which signifieth that the fountain of all light and knowledge cometh from Christ who has the seven spirits of God figured by the seven lamps of fire (Revelation 4:5); but that in expounding of Scripture one passage must borrow light from another. He also supposeth that seven being a number of perfection by the seven branches of the candlestick is showed the full perfection of the Scriptures which are able to make us wise to salvation.

2. To what end the lamps were lighted; that they might give light over against the candlestick i.e. to the part of the tabernacle where the table stood with the shewbread upon it over against the candlestick. They were not lighted like tapers in an urn to burn to themselves but to give light to the other side of the tabernacle for therefore candles are lighted (Matthew 5:15). The lights of the world the lights of the Church must shine as lights. Therefore we have light that we may give light. (Matthew Henry D. D.)

Men who would quench the light of truth

No light shone from the Ship Shoal Lighthouse near Morgan City U.S. on two consecutive nights in February. The unusual darkness at that point caused some surprise but surprise was turned into indignation when the facts became known. One of the keepers had seen a man in a boat who needed assistance his vessel being becalmed. The keeper kindly towed the boat to the lighthouse and treated the man hospitably. In the night the guest made a murderous attack on the two lighthouse-keepers shooting both of them and inflicting dangerous wounds. He held possession of the lighthouse for forty-eight hours during which he never lighted the lamps. Then as he could not find food he surrendered. A man more utterly depraved it is difficult to imagine. But there are many infidels who are trying to murder men’s souls and to quench the warning light of the Bible.

Luminous centres:--The globe of the earth is surrounded by a mass of atmosphere extending forty or fifty miles above the surface. Each particle of air is a luminous centre receiving its light from the sun and it radiates light in every direction. Were it not for this the sun’s light could only penetrate those spaces which are directly accessible to his rays. Thus the sun shining upon the window of an apartment would illuminate just so much of that apartment as would be exposed to his direct rays the remainder being in darkness. But we find on the contrary that although that part of the room upon which the sun directly shines is more brilliantly illuminated than the surrounding parts these latter are nevertheless strongly illuminated. In the social world too there are luminous centres. These are noble souls who being especially blessed themselves diffuse in every direction some of the blessings which they have received. Were it not for them and their power of spreading brightness goodness and joy the world would be indeed rayless and cold. (Scientific Illustrations.)

Secondary graces to be kept burning

On a dark stormy night when the waves rolled like mountains and not a star was to be seen a boat was rocking and plunging near the Cleveland harbour. “Are you sure this is Cleveland?” asked the captain seeing only one light from the lighthouse. “Quite sure sir ” replied the pilot. “Where are the lower lights?” “Gone out sir.” “Can you make the harbour?” “We must or perish sir!” And with a strong hand and a brave heart the old pilot turned the wheel. But alas I in the darkness he missed the channel and with a crash upon the rocks the boat was shivered and many a life lost in a watery grave. Brethren the Master will take care of the great lighthouse; let us keep the lower lights burning!

Obligation to keep the light burning

It is one of the chief temptations of Christians and not least of those whose candlestick is the lofty one of the pulpit to think unduly of themselves. Our anxiety should be not What do you think of us? but What do you think of our message? Not Do you esteem the light-holder? but Do you walk in the light? This truth has likewise its application on the other hand for the pew. You go away and ask How did you like the sermon? but go home to-day and ask yourselves How did you like the truth? You may be ever so well pleased with sermons and be none the better; but if you receive the truth it will save your soul; if you light your candle at the fire of God’s altar it will burn for ever. And while it shines for your own soul it will shine through your life as through lantern for the good of others also. Only “let your light shine before men ” and they “seeing your good works will glorify your Father in heaven.” Let it! It is its property to shine if it gets fair treatment. It is not a question of the numbers or rank or influence of those who shall see it. Eyes or no eyes you have to shine. The gentian fringes the mountain glacier with its drapery of blue though seldom a human eye may look upon it. The desert melon smells with a refreshing draught for the wayfarer though not a human foot in half a century should pass that way. There God has placed it in readiness. If you help to light to heaven and happiness the humblest of God’s creatures you have done a glorious work. The Admiralty order carries with it a lesson to the believer. “Light the lamps every evening at sunsetting and keep them constantly burning bright and clear till sunrising.” There are no qualifications and no exceptions. If in the world’s night no lamp were dim and no light kindled by God’s hand were shaded it were happier for sinning and suffering humanity. It is only here we have the opportunity to shine in darkness. When the morning of the eternal day dawns upon us our light shall be swallowed up in the surpassing glory that needs no light from sun or moon. No bed or sofa is permitted in the watch-room of the lighthouse. None must be tempted to slumber at a post of so much responsibility. And if such needful guarantees are taken for the safety of those who navigate our seas is there less need for earnestness and watchfulness to remove peril from the way of those whose voyage must conduct either to glory or to ruin? No slumberous hours no unguarded moments for those to whom the heavenly light has been entrusted. Nor must danger keep you back from duty. I have read of the keeper of an island lighthouse whose provisions were exhausted whose frame was emaciated and to whom the stormy sea for weeks suffered no access or relief nightly lighting his lamp with an almost dying hand. Anything better than that no warning ray should stream across that perilous channel (R. H. Lundie M. A )

Importance of a small light

Once I was down a coalmine. The man who received me was black and grimy but he had an honest heart and his smile was like sunlight crossing the grime. Down in the bowels of the mountain dark and cheerless I noticed his little oil-lamp. I knew that there was a sun blazing away up in the solar universe but what was that? What concerned me down in the pit was the miner’s little lamp the wick so tiny the oil so very scanty the flicker of flame so little noticed yet it was more precious to me at that time than the blazing sun. Oh believe me for effective work in the mass of a lost humanity in the blackness and darkness of this fallen world I believe Christ prizes more the little flicker of a humble Christian who will go and visit a sick one this Sabbath afternoon than the blazing sun of this public assembly. Oh you can cheer the heart of God by letting your light shine unnoticed by the world but be assured that He notices it. (John Robertson.)

The glory of an unobtrusive light

The light of a true spiritual life must shine more or less conspicuously. From a gifted speaker or writer it may stream out widely and afar like the gleam of a beacon flaming from a mountain top. From an unendowed retiring obscure disciple it may be only as the light of a lamp in a narrow room noticed by few yet not entirely lost to the view of men. A charming writer speaking of such a modest soul says: A tiny flitting bird of slight song may with careful scrutiny be seen twisting in and out of the drooping fir tassels. Many would pass it unnoticed but the observant eye will detect the gleam of a gold circlet upon the tiny gold-crested wren. Thus men will pass unregarding many a noiseless retired worker for God in some sphere of seclusion and shade. But they who watch and know will be aware at times of the light of a saint’s glory encircling the modest head.”

Liberality and service viewed in the light of the sanctuary

Having read in chapter 7. the lengthened statement of the princes’ liberality we in our wisdom might suppose that the next thing in order would be the consecration of the Levites thus presenting in unbroken connection “our persons and offerings.” But no. The Spirit of God causes the light of the sanctuary to intervene in order that we may learn in it the true object of all liberality and service in the wilderness. Is there not lovely and moral appropriateness in this? Why have we not the golden altar with its cloud of incense here? Why not the pure table with its twelve loaves? Because neither of these would have the least moral connection with what goes before or what follows after; but the golden candlestick stands connected with both inasmuch as it shows us that all liberality and all work must be viewed in the light of the sanctuary in order to ascertain its real worth. Those “seven lamps” express the light of the Spirit in testimony. They were connected with the beaten shaft of the candlestick which typifies Christ who in His Person and work is the foundation of the Spirit’s work in the Church. All depends upon Christ. Every ray of light in the Church in the individual believer or in Israel by and by all flows from Christ. Nor is this all we learn from our type. “The seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.” Were we to clothe this figure in New Testament language we should quote our Lord’s words when He says to us “Let your light so shine before men ” &c. (Matthew 5:16). Wherever the true light of the Spirit shines it will always yield a clear testimony to Christ. It will call attention not to itself but to Him; and this is the way to glorify God. This is a great practical truth for all Christians. The very finest evidence which can be afforded of true spiritual work is that it tends directly to exalt Christ. If attention be sought for the work or the workman the light has become dim and the Minister of the sanctuary must use the snuffers. It was Aaron’s province to light tile lamps; and he it was who trimmed them likewise. In other words the light which as Christians we are responsible to yield is not only founded upon Christ but maintained by Him from moment to moment throughout the entire night. Apart from Him we can do nothing. (C. H. Mackintosh.)


Verses 5-7

Numbers 8:5-7

Take the Levites and cleanse them.

The Divine principle of cleansing

Here we have in type the only Divine principle of cleansing. It is the application of death to nature and all its habits. It is the word of God brought to bear upon the heart and conscience in a living way. Moses as representing the claims of God cleanses the Levites according to those claims; and they being cleansed are able to bring the sharp razor to bear upon all that was the mere growth of nature and to wash their garments which expresses in typical form the cleansing their habits according to the word of God. This was God’s way of meeting all that appertained to Levi’s natural state--the self-will the fierceness and the cruelty. The pure water and the sharp razor were called into action--the washing and shaving had to go on ere Levi was fit to approach the vessels of the sanctuary. Thus it is in every case. There is there can be no allowance of nature among God’s workers. There never was a more fatal mistake than to attempt to enlist nature in the service of God. It matters not how you may endeavour to improve or regulate it. It is not improvement but death that will avail. What is the meaning of the initiatory act of Christianity--the act of baptism? Does it not set forth the blessed fact that “our old man”--our fallen nature--is completely set aside and that we are introduced into an entirely new position? Truly so. And how do we use the razor? By rigid self-judgment day by day; by the stern disallowance of all that is of nature’s growth. This is the true path for all God’s workers in the wilderness. (C. H. Mackintosh.)


Verses 23-26

Numbers 8:23-26

The Levites; from twenty and five years.

Service

I. The service God demands of all levites.

1. Burden-bearing.

2. Singing.

3. Study of the law “Search the Scriptures.”

4. Attendance on the ordinances of the sanctuary.

II. God demands the service in our prime. “From twenty and five.”

III. God demands this service when it can be most easily rendered. He suits the burden to the back. All He asks is that we shall do what we can. (R. A. Griffin.)

The Divine Master and His human servants

I. The necessity of fitness for the divine service. In learning any handicraft or trade years are spent under instructors; for the practice of law or medicine men must have special training; and is it not important that they who engage in religious services should be qualified for such services?

II. The variety of employment in the divine service.

1. An encouragement to persons of feeble powers and narrow opportunities to try to do good.

2. A rebuke to those who plead inability as an excuse for their indolence in religious service.

III. The care of the great master for his servants. Conclusion. This subject supplies--

1. Encouragement to enter into this service. “Come thou with us ” &c.

2. Encouragement to persevere in this service. A glorious reward awaits those who patiently continue in well-doing. (W. Jones.)

Age and youth in relation to service

1. They were to enter upon the service at twenty-five years old (Numbers 8:24). They were not charged with the carrying of the tabernacle and the utensils of it till they were thirty years old (Numbers 4:3). But they were entered to be otherwise serviceable at twenty-five years old--a very good age for ministers to begin their public work. The work then required that strength of body and the work now requires that maturity of judgment and staidness of behaviour which men rarely arrive at till about that age : and novices are in danger of being lifted up with pride.

2. They were to have a writ of ease at fifty years old; then they were to return from the warfare as the phrase is (Numbers 8:25) not cashiered with disgrace--but preferred rather to the rest which their age required to be loaded with the honours of their office as hitherto they had been with the burdens of it. They shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle to direct the junior Levites and set them in; and they shall keep the charge as guards upon the avenues of the tabernacle to see that no stranger intruded nor any person in his uncleanness; but they shall not be put upon any service which may be a fatigue to them. If God’s grace provide that men shall have ability according to their work man’s prudence should take care that men have work but according to their ability. The aged are most fit for truths and to keep the charge; the younger are most fit for work and to do the service. “Those that have used the office of a servant well purchase to themselves a good degree” (1 Timothy 3:13). Yet indeed gifts are not tied to ages (Job 32:9) but “all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit.” (Matthew Henry D. D.)

──The Biblical Illustrator