Numbers 8 15

Numbers 8:15 kjv

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.

Numbers 8:15 nkjv

After that the Levites shall go in to service the tabernacle of meeting. So you shall cleanse them and offer them like a wave offering.

Numbers 8:15 niv

"After you have purified the Levites and presented them as a wave offering, they are to come to do their work at the tent of meeting.

Numbers 8:15 esv

And after that the Levites shall go in to serve at the tent of meeting, when you have cleansed them and offered them as a wave offering.

Numbers 8:15 nlt

After this, they may go into the Tabernacle to do their work, because you have purified them and presented them as a special offering.

Numbers 8 verses

Numbers 8 15 Meaning

This verse signifies the culmination and activation of the Levites' dedication process. Following their ritual purification, it outlines their immediate purpose: to enter the Tabernacle of Meeting and commence their sacred service. It underscores that this access and performance of duties are conditional upon the prior acts of cleansing and presentation to the Lord, commanded through Moses to Aaron, symbolizing a divinely ordained, sanctified ministry.

Numbers 8 15 Context

Numbers chapter 8 is a continuation of the organization and preparation of Israel for their wilderness journey and establishment as a holy nation, particularly focusing on the role of the Levites. Chapters 7 detailed the offerings from the leaders for the dedication of the Tabernacle. Chapter 8 shifts to the Levites, who, unlike the priests (Aaronic lineage), were not to offer sacrifices, but were indispensable for the daily service, upkeep, transport, and safeguarding of the Tabernacle. This verse immediately follows the description of the purification rites for the Levites (Num 8:6-14), which involved symbolic cleansing (shaving, washing) and sacrificial offerings (bulls), paralleling in a lesser degree the consecration of priests. It also ties into the divine ordinance that the Levites would serve as substitutes for the firstborn sons of Israel, redeemed from the plague in Egypt, signifying God's ownership and claim over all firstborn. This verse, therefore, marks the precise moment when the consecrated Levites are authorized to begin their holy duties within God's sacred dwelling place.

Numbers 8 15 Word analysis

• And after that: Signifies sequence and consequence. This phase of action naturally follows the preceding commands of purification and presentation. It highlights that the "service" (see below) is not possible without the prerequisite consecration.

• the Levites: (Hebrew: Leviim, לְוִיִּם) - The specific tribal group descended from Levi, chosen by God to serve as a divinely appointed priestly assistant tribe for the Tabernacle and its priesthood (Aaron and his sons). They were dedicated to God in place of the firstborn of all Israel (Num 3:12). Their role was distinct from the Aaronic priesthood; they performed all ancillary duties, protecting the sanctity of the sacred space by ensuring only authorized personnel entered.

• go in: (Hebrew: yavo'u, יָבֹאוּ) - To enter, signifying authorized access. This movement implies purpose and function. Only consecrated individuals were permitted to "go in" for sacred duties. This phrase sets a boundary, marking the transition from an unholy state to one permitted to interact with the holy.

• to do the service: (Hebrew: la'avod et-ha'avodah, לַעֲבֹד אֶת־הָעֲבֹדָה) - "to work the work," often translated as "to do the service" or "to perform the duties." The root ‘avod (עָבַד) denotes various forms of work, labor, and servitude, but in a religious context, it signifies dedicated ministry, worship, and obedient service to God. It encompasses the entirety of their divinely mandated tasks, from carrying sacred objects to dismantling/assembling the Tabernacle, assisting priests, and maintaining its purity. This phrase is central to defining their divine function.

• of the tabernacle: (Hebrew: haMishkan, הַמִּשְׁכָּן) - The dwelling place, the sanctuary where God's presence abode among His people. It was the focal point of Israel's worship and served as a visible manifestation of God's covenant with them. The Levites' service was directly connected to maintaining this sacred space. Their labor was in support of God's immediate presence.

• of meeting: (Hebrew: Mo'ed, מוֹעֵד) - This refers to the Tabernacle being the "Tent of Meeting" or "Tent of Appointment," where God would "meet" with Moses and commune with His people (Exod 25:22). This term underscores that the service was performed at the divinely appointed place for revelation and communion with God. It emphasizes the purpose of the Tabernacle as the specific locale where God designated to communicate His will and hear the prayers of His people.

• and you shall cleanse them and offer them: This phrase is a crucial summary referring back to the process initiated in Num 8:6-13.

  • cleanse them: (Hebrew: v'tahartam, וְטִהַרְתָּם) - Refers to the ceremonial purification, which included sprinkling of water of purification, shaving all their body hair, and washing their clothes (Num 8:7). This ritual purification made them ceremonially clean, essential for entering into God's holy presence. It was not merely physical but represented a spiritual cleansing and setting apart.
  • and offer them: (Hebrew: v'hiqravta et-lehem, וְהִקְרַבְתָּ אֹתָם) - "and you shall bring them near." This signifies a presentation, an offering, a dedication to the Lord before the altar. Moses, on God's command, was to present them to Aaron and his sons, who then would "wave" them before the Lord as a wave offering by the children of Israel. This action fully transferred them into God's service, recognizing His ownership over them. It implies dedication and transfer of ownership.

Numbers 8 15 Bonus section

The concept of avodah (service) for the Levites highlights a unique type of worship: practical obedience and diligent labor in support of God's dwelling place. Their work was sacred because it directly facilitated the sacrificial system and maintained the environment where God's presence dwelt. The detailed instructions for their cleansing and offering underscore that service in God's kingdom is not casual but requires specific divine preparation and dedication. Their service freed the rest of the Israelite community from having to attend to the sanctuary duties, thus maintaining the sacred/profane distinction, and serving as a proxy or bridge for the nation to approach God indirectly. Their very existence and function prevented unauthorized intrusion into the holy and therefore protected the lives of the lay Israelites who would otherwise incur divine wrath. This also foreshadows the priesthood of believers in the New Covenant, where all believers, cleansed by Christ's sacrifice, are called to spiritual service and offer spiritual sacrifices (1 Pet 2:5, 9; Rom 12:1).

Numbers 8 15 Commentary

Numbers 8:15 encapsulates the core principle of holiness required for sacred service. The Levites' ministry was not based on inherent right but on divine appointment and thorough consecration. Their ability to "go in" and perform "the service of the tabernacle of meeting" was entirely dependent upon being ceremonially "cleansed" and formally "offered" to the Lord. This established a critical theological truth: approaching God in ministry requires prior sanctification and presentation to Him. This order signifies that God initiates, cleanses, and then empowers for service. For believers under the New Covenant, this principle echoes in the call to be cleansed by Christ's blood and Spirit, then presented as a living sacrifice for divine service, working out God's purposes in the "temple" of the Holy Spirit.

• Practical Example: Just as an instrument must be tuned and dedicated before it can produce beautiful music for a symphony, the Levites had to be purified and presented before they could serve in God's dwelling. Their readiness was paramount for the sacred harmony of worship.