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The second event was the formal setting apart of the Levites, (Numbers 8:5, etc.)
which waspreceded by a significant direction to Aaron in reference to the lighting of
the seven-branchedcandlestick in the sanctuary.
To make the meaning of this symbol more clear, it was added, "the seven lamps shall
give light overagainst the candlestick" - that is, each of the seven lamps (the number
being also significant) shall beso placed as to throw its light into the darkness over
against it. Each separately - and yet each aspart of the one candlestick in the Holy
Place, and burning the same sacred oil, was to shed light intothe darkness over against
the candlestick. For the light on the candlestick was symbolical of themission of Israel
as the people of God, and the Levites were really only the representatives of allIsrael,
having been substituted instead of their firstborn. (Numbers 3:11-13) On this account,
also,the Levites were not specially "hallowed," as the priests had been, but only
"cleansed" for theirministry, and after that presented to the Lord.
The first part of this symbolical service consisted in sprinkling on them "water of sin"
(rendered in ourAuthorized Version "water of purifying"), alike to confess the
defilement of sin and to point to itsremoval. After that they were to shave off all their
hair and to wash their clothes. The Levites werenow "unsinned" (8:21), so far as their
persons were concerned. Then followed their dedication tothe work.
For this purpose the Levites were led "before the Tabernacle" (8:9), that is, probably
into the outercourt, bringing with them two young bullocks - the one for a burnt, the
other for a sin-offering, andeach with its meat-offering. The people, through their
representatives - the princes - now laid theirhands upon them, as it were to constitute
them their substitutes and representatives. Then Aarontook them "before Jehovah"
(ver. 10), that is, into the Holy Place, and "waved them for awave-offering of the
children of Israel" - probably by leading them to the altar and back again -after
which, the Levites would lay their hands upon the sacrifices which were now offered
by Aaron,who so "made an atonement for them" (ver. 21). The significance of all
these symbols will besufficiently apparent. "And after that, the Levites went in to do
service in the Tabernacle of thecongregation" (ver. 22).
The third event recorded was a second celebration of the Passover on the anniversary
of Israel'sdeliverance from Egypt - "in his appointed season, according to all the rites
of it, and according to allthe ceremonies thereof." (Numbers 9:3) We specially mark
how the Lord now again directed all -the injunction to "keep the Passover" being
expressly repeated here, perhaps to obviate thepossibility of such a misunderstanding
as that the Passover was not to be observed from year toyear. Again, when certain
men, "defiled by a dead body," complained that they had thereby beenexcluded from
the feast, Moses would not decide the matter himself, but brought their case
beforeGod. The direction given was, that, under such or similar circumstances, the
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