4 And this work H4639 of the candlestick H4501 was of beaten H4749 gold, H2091 unto the shaft H3409 thereof, unto the flowers H6525 thereof, was beaten work: H4749 according unto the pattern H4758 which the LORD H3068 had shewed H7200 Moses, H4872 so he made H6213 the candlestick. H4501
And thou shalt make H6213 a candlestick H4501 of pure H2889 gold: H2091 of beaten work H4749 shall the candlestick H4501 be made: H6213 his shaft, H3409 and his branches, H7070 his bowls, H1375 his knops, H3730 and his flowers, H6525 shall be of the same. And six H8337 branches H7070 shall come H3318 out of the sides H6654 of it; three H7969 branches H7070 of the candlestick H4501 out of the one H259 side, H6654 and three H7969 branches H7070 of the candlestick H4501 out of the other H8145 side: H6654 Three H7969 bowls H1375 made like unto almonds, H8246 with a knop H3730 and a flower H6525 in one H259 branch; H7070 and three H7969 bowls H1375 made like almonds H8246 in the other H259 branch, H7070 with a knop H3730 and a flower: H6525 so in the six H8337 branches H7070 that come H3318 out of the candlestick. H4501 And in the candlestick H4501 shall be four H702 bowls H1375 made like unto almonds, H8246 with their knops H3730 and their flowers. H6525 And there shall be a knop H3730 under two H8147 branches H7070 of the same, and a knop H3730 under two H8147 branches H7070 of the same, and a knop H3730 under two H8147 branches H7070 of the same, according to the six H8337 branches H7070 that proceed H3318 out of the candlestick. H4501 Their knops H3730 and their branches H7070 shall be of the same: all it shall be one H259 beaten work H4749 of pure H2889 gold. H2091 And thou shalt make H6213 the seven H7651 lamps H5216 thereof: and they shall light H5927 the lamps H5216 thereof, that they may give light H215 over against H5676 it. H6440 And the tongs H4457 thereof, and the snuffdishes H4289 thereof, shall be of pure H2889 gold. H2091 Of a talent H3603 of pure H2889 gold H2091 shall he make H6213 it, with all these vessels. H3627 And look H7200 that thou make H6213 them after their pattern, H8403 which was shewed H7200 thee in the mount. H2022
And he made H6213 the candlestick H4501 of pure H2889 gold: H2091 of beaten work H4749 made H6213 he the candlestick; H4501 his shaft, H3409 and his branch, H7070 his bowls, H1375 his knops, H3730 and his flowers, H6525 were of the same: And six H8337 branches H7070 going out H3318 of the sides H6654 thereof; three H7969 branches H7070 of the candlestick H4501 out of the one H259 side H6654 thereof, and three H7969 branches H7070 of the candlestick H4501 out of the other H8145 side H6654 thereof: Three H7969 bowls H1375 made after the fashion of almonds H8246 in one H259 branch, H7070 a knop H3730 and a flower; H6525 and three H7969 bowls H1375 made like almonds H8246 in another H259 branch, H7070 a knop H3730 and a flower: H6525 so throughout the six H8337 branches H7070 going out H3318 of the candlestick. H4501 And in the candlestick H4501 were four H702 bowls H1375 made like almonds, H8246 his knops, H3730 and his flowers: H6525 And a knop H3730 under two H8147 branches H7070 of the same, and a knop H3730 under two H8147 branches H7070 of the same, and a knop H3730 under two H8147 branches H7070 of the same, according to the six H8337 branches H7070 going out H3318 of it. Their knops H3730 and their branches H7070 were of the same: all of it was one H259 beaten work H4749 of pure H2889 gold. H2091 And he made H6213 his seven H7651 lamps, H5216 and his snuffers, H4457 and his snuffdishes, H4289 of pure H2889 gold. H2091 Of a talent H3603 of pure H2889 gold H2091 made H6213 he it, and all the vessels H3627 thereof.
Then David H1732 gave H5414 to Solomon H8010 his son H1121 the pattern H8403 of the porch, H197 and of the houses H1004 thereof, and of the treasuries H1597 thereof, and of the upper chambers H5944 thereof, and of the inner H6442 parlours H2315 thereof, and of the place H1004 of the mercy seat, H3727 And the pattern H8403 of all that he had by the spirit, H7307 of the courts H2691 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and of all the chambers H3957 round about, H5439 of the treasuries H214 of the house H1004 of God, H430 and of the treasuries H214 of the dedicated things: H6944 Also for the courses H4256 of the priests H3548 and the Levites, H3881 and for all the work H4399 of the service H5656 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and for all the vessels H3627 of service H5656 in the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 He gave of gold H2091 by weight H4948 for things of gold, H2091 for all instruments H3627 of all manner of service; H5656 silver also for all instruments H3627 of silver H3701 by weight, H4948 for all instruments H3627 of every kind of service: H5656 Even the weight H4948 for the candlesticks H4501 of gold, H2091 and for their lamps H5216 of gold, H2091 by weight H4948 for every candlestick, H4501 and for the lamps H5216 thereof: and for the candlesticks H4501 of silver H3701 by weight, H4948 both for the candlestick, H4501 and also for the lamps H5216 thereof, according to the use H5656 of every candlestick. H4501 And by weight H4948 he gave gold H2091 for the tables H7979 of shewbread, H4635 for every table; H7979 and likewise silver H3701 for the tables H7979 of silver: H3701 Also pure H2889 gold H2091 for the fleshhooks, H4207 and the bowls, H4219 and the cups: H7184 and for the golden H2091 basons H3713 he gave gold by weight H4948 for every bason; H3713 and likewise silver by weight H4948 for every bason H3713 of silver: H3701 And for the altar H4196 of incense H7004 refined H2212 gold H2091 by weight; H4948 and gold H2091 for the pattern H8403 of the chariot H4818 of the cherubims, H3742 that spread out H6566 their wings, and covered H5526 the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD. H3068 All this, said David, the LORD H3068 made me understand H7919 in writing H3791 by his hand H3027 upon me, even all the works H4399 of this pattern. H8403
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Numbers 8
Commentary on Numbers 8 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 8
Nu 8:1-4. How the Lamps Are to Be Lighted.
1. the Lord spake unto Moses—The order of this chapter suggests the idea that the following instructions were given to Moses while he was within the tabernacle of the congregation, after the princes had completed their offering. But from the tenor of the instructions, it is more likely that they were given immediately after the Levites had been given to the priests (see on Nu 3:1-4:49), and that the record of these instructions had been postponed till the narrative of other transactions in the camp had been made [Patrick].
2. Speak unto Aaron, &c.—The candlestick, which was made of one solid, massive piece of pure gold, with six lamps supported on as many branches, a seventh in the center surmounting the shaft itself (Ex 25:31; 37:17), and completed according to the pattern shown in the mount, was now to be lighted, when the other things in the sanctuary began to be applied to religious service. It was Aaron's personal duty, as the servant of God, to light His house, which, being without windows, required the aid of lights (2Pe 1:19). And the course he was ordered to follow was first to light the middle lamp from the altar-fire, and then the other lamps from each other—a course symbolical of all the light of heavenly truth being derived from Christ, and diffused by His ministers throughout the world (Re 4:5).
the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick—The candlestick stood close to the boards of the sanctuary, on the south side, in full view of the table of showbread on the north (Ex 26:35), having one set of its lamps turned towards the east, and another towards the west; so that all parts of the tabernacle were thus lighted up.
Nu 8:5-22. The Consecration of the Levites.
6, 7. Take the Levites … and cleanse them—This passage describes the consecration of the Levites. Although the tribe was to be devoted to the divine service, their hereditary descent alone was not a sufficient qualification for entering on the duties of the sacred office. They were to be set apart by a special ceremony, which, however, was much simpler than that appointed for the priests; neither washing nor anointing, nor investiture with official robes, was necessary. Their purification consisted, along with the offering of the requisite sacrifices (Le 1:4; 3:2; 4:4), in being sprinkled by water mixed with the ashes of a red heifer (Nu 19:9), and shaved all over, and their clothes washed—a combination of symbolical acts which was intended to remind them of the mortification of carnal and worldly desires, and the maintenance of that purity in heart and life which became the servants of God.
9, 10. thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together, &c.—As it was plainly impossible that the whole multitude of the Israelites could do this, a select portion of them must be meant. This party, who laid their hands upon the Levites, are supposed by some to have been the first-born, who by that act, transferred their peculiar privilege of acting as God's ministers to the Levitical tribe; and by others, to have been the princes, who thus blessed them. It appears, from this passage, that the imposition of hands was a ceremony used in consecrating persons to holy offices in the ancient, as, from the example of our Lord and His apostles, it has been perpetuated in the Christian Church.
11-13. And Aaron shall offer the Levites—Hebrew, "as a wave offering"; and it has been thought probable that the high priest, in bringing the Levites one by one to the altar, directed them to make some simple movements of their persons, analogous to what was done at the presentation of the wave offerings before the Lord. Thus were they first devoted as an offering to God, and by Him surrendered to the priests to be employed in His service. The consecration ceremonial was repeated in the case of every Levite who was taken (as was done at a later period) to assist the priests in the tabernacle and temple. (See on 2Ch 29:34).
14. and the Levites shall be mine—that is, exempt from all military duty or secular work—free from all pecuniary imposition and wholly devoted to the custody and service of the sanctuary.
15. after that, shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation—into the court, to assist the priests; and at removal into the tabernacle—that is, into the door of it—to receive the covered furniture.
19. to make an atonement for the children of Israel, &c.—to aid the priests in that expiatory work; or, as the words may be rendered, "to make redemption for" the Levites being exchanged or substituted for the first-born for this important end, that there might be a sanctified body of men appointed to guard the sanctuary, and the people not allowed to approach or presumptuously meddle with holy things, which would expose them to the angry judgments of Heaven.
24. from twenty and five years old, &c.—(Compare Nu 4:3). They entered on their work in their twenty-fifth year, as pupils and probationers, under the superintendence and direction of their senior brethren; and at thirty they were admitted to the full discharge of their official functions.
25. from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, &c.—that is, on the laborious and exhausting parts of their work.
26. But shall minister with their brethren—in the performance of easier and higher duties, instructing and directing the young, or superintending important trusts. "They also serve who only wait" [Milton].