Numbers: Preparing A People To Conquer (VIII)

Setting Apart The Priests (8:1-26)

Neal Pollard

After instructions on setting up the lamps and the lampstand (these would illuminate the area of sacrifice)(1-4), which bridges the material in chapter seven and the tribal contributions to the tabernacle rituals and the Levites’ participation in the work there which we find in chapter eight, Moses goes into the consecration of the Levites (5-26). It parallels the material in Leviticus eight. Notice James Smith’s chart:

ORDINATION TO MINISTRY
THE PRIESTS Leviticus 8	THE LEVITES Numbers 8
Made Holy	Made Clean
Washed with Water	Sprinkled with Water
Put on New Garments	Washed Garments
Blood Applied to Person	Blood “Waved” Before God

(Pentateuch, 423)

THE RITUAL CLEANSING (5-7).  Before they did their spiritual service, they had to make sure they were purified. This included shaving, washing their bodies, and washing their clothes. No doubt, this conveyed symbolism to the Levites of the importance of coming before God having been cleansed. So it does today (1 John 1:7).

THE OFFERING OF SACRIFICES (8-11).  One additional thing was to be done before the Levites sacrificed. They were to have sacrifice made for them (8-10), then they were to be dedicated before the people so as to be fit to make the offerings for Israel. They were to be consecrated before they could consecrate the others. They, like the rest of the nation, were saddled with sin (cf. Heb. 5:1-4). 

THE LAYING ON OF HANDS (12-19). This laying on of hands was ritualistic and symbolic, and it was God’s way of transferring the guilt of the people onto the animal for sacrifice. The Levites were the firstborn of God and were given to Him as a gift (symbolized in verses 8-11), and the Levites thus served as a buffer and intermediary that allowed the people to be able to come to Him for atonement (19; 1:53). Of course, Jesus serves in that role for us today (Heb. 4:16). We need no earthly priest to do what the Levites did for Israel. 

THE CONTINUATION OF MINISTRY (20-26). By performing these rites, the Levites could go about doing their designated work. The Levites having followed their prescribed rituals could go on behalf of the people (20-22). The remainder of the chapter deals with the tenure of these priests, who would step away from the office once they reached 50 years old. They could serve and help the Levites, but they could no longer “do service” (26). Yet again, Christ is contrasted with this ever-changing nature of the Old Testament priesthood. He abides forever, a priest after the order of Melchizedek (cf. Heb. 7:2).

God had rules and expectations for both the priests and the sacrifices. The Levites and priests served as a type and shadow (Heb. 8:5). Christ is come the perfect High Priest who continues forever. But we appreciate that even more as we understand God’s original set up regarding Aaron’s family.