Numbers 8:5-22
Summary for Num 8:5-22: 8:5-22 a The Lord prescribed the dedication and cleansing of the Levites.8:7 b The ceremony to make the Levites ceremonially clean consisted of sprinkling with water, shaving all hair, and donning clean clothes; this resembled the ceremonies of cleansing from ritual defilement.
• water of purification: This expression appears only here. This sprinkling symbolized the washing of sin from their lives and thus contained some of the symbolic significance of later Jewish washings and even of Christian baptism. Perhaps this water was the same as the sin-removing mixture that included ashes from the red heifer mentioned in 19:9 c (see Heb 9:13 d).
• The requirement to shave their entire body was also part of the process of being declared clean from the ritual impurity of defiling diseases (Lev 14:8 e).
• The washing of clothing accompanied all instances of cleansing from ritual defilement (e.g., Lev 15:5-27 f).
Summary for Num 8:10-11: 8:10-11 g By the laying on of hands, Israel recognized the Levites’ special status and offered them as their representatives before the Lord (8:16 h).
8:11 i The reference to Aaron’s raised hands suggests that Israel offered the Levites to the Lord as a “wave offering”—the type of offering lifted up to the Lord (cp. Lev 7:30 j). The Levites were dedicated to duties that made them “living and holy sacrifices” (cp. Rom 12:1 k).
Summary for Num 8:12-22: 8:12-22 l The Levites had to offer appropriate sacrifices before they performed their duties in the Tabernacle (8:15 m).
8:19 n A plague was an appropriate punishment for unlawful actions (11:33 o; 14:37 p).
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