Numbers 8:15

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.

And after {H310} that shall the Levites {H3881} go in {H935} to do the service {H5647} of the tabernacle {H168} of the congregation {H4150}: and thou shalt cleanse {H2891} them, and offer {H5130} them for an offering {H8573}.

"After that, the L'vi'im will enter and do the service of the tent of meeting. You will cleanse them and offer them as a wave offering,

After you have cleansed them and presented them as a wave offering, they may come to serve at the Tent of Meeting.

And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tent of meeting: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for a wave-offering.

Commentary

Context

Numbers 8:15 falls within a significant section of the book of Numbers (chapters 1-10) that details the organization and preparation of Israel for their journey through the wilderness. Specifically, this verse marks the culmination of the elaborate purification and dedication ceremony for the Levites. Earlier in the chapter, God commands Moses to consecrate the Levites for their unique role as assistants to the Aaronic priests in the service of the Tabernacle of the congregation. The preceding verses (Numbers 8:5-14) describe the specific rituals involved, including their ritual cleansing with water, shaving, and washing of clothes, followed by a symbolic wave offering before the Lord. Once these steps are completed, as stated in verse 15, they are ready to commence their sacred duties.

Key Themes

  • Divine Appointment and Service: This verse underscores God's meticulous plan for the worship and order of His people. The Levites were not self-appointed but divinely chosen for specific, vital service related to the Tabernacle. Their role was to maintain the holiness of the sacred space and its vessels, ensuring proper reverence and preventing common Israelites from approaching too closely (Numbers 1:53).
  • Purity and Consecration: The repeated emphasis on "thou shalt cleanse them" highlights the absolute necessity of ritual and spiritual purity before engaging in sacred service. This physical cleansing symbolized a setting apart for God's holy purposes, a theme that resonates throughout the Old Testament concerning those who minister before the Lord.
  • Substitution and Dedication: The Levites were designated as a substitute for the firstborn sons of Israel, whom God had claimed for Himself after the Passover event in Egypt (Exodus 13:2). Their presentation as an "offering" signifies their complete dedication to God on behalf of the entire nation, embodying the principle of vicarious service.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "offer them [for] an offering" connects directly to the concept of a "wave offering" found in earlier verses (Numbers 8:11, 13). The Hebrew term used for this type of offering is tenuphah (ืชึผึฐื ื•ึผืคึธื”), which literally means "a waving" or "a presentation." In this unique context, it signifies the Levites themselves being presented and dedicated to the Lord through a ceremonial waving motion by Aaron, symbolizing their complete surrender and commitment to God's service. It was a visual act of giving them over to God for His work.

Significance and Application

Numbers 8:15 provides timeless principles for believers today. Just as the Levites were cleansed and dedicated for service, Christians are called to a life of purity and consecration. Our ability to serve God effectively stems from being cleansed by the blood of Christ and by continually yielding ourselves to Him. This verse reminds us that service to God is not merely an activity but a privileged calling that requires spiritual preparation and a heart set apart for His glory. Every believer, as part of the royal priesthood, has a unique role in the body of Christ, and like the Levites, our ministry should be born out of deep dedication and a commitment to holiness.

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Cross-References

  • Numbers 8:11 (4 votes)

    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.

  • Numbers 8:13 (3 votes)

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

  • Numbers 3:12 (2 votes)

    And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;

  • Exodus 29:24 (2 votes)

    And thou shalt put all in the hands of Aaron, and in the hands of his sons; and shalt wave them [for] a wave offering before the LORD.

  • Numbers 4:3 (2 votes)

    From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

  • Numbers 4:32 (2 votes)

    And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden.

  • 1 Chronicles 25:1 (2 votes)

    ยถ Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was: