Numbers 8:20 kjv
And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them.
Numbers 8:20 nkjv
Thus Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel did to the Levites; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so the children of Israel did to them.
Numbers 8:20 niv
Moses, Aaron and the whole Israelite community did with the Levites just as the LORD commanded Moses.
Numbers 8:20 esv
Thus did Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the people of Israel to the Levites. According to all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, the people of Israel did to them.
Numbers 8:20 nlt
So Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel dedicated the Levites, carefully following all the LORD's instructions to Moses.
Numbers 8 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 25:9 | "According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle... so you shall construct it." | God's commands are precise patterns. |
| Ex 39:32 | "Thus all the work of the tabernacle... was finished; and the sons of Israel had done according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses; so they did." | Demonstrates completion and precise obedience. |
| Ex 39:42-43 | "According to all that the LORD had commanded Moses, so the sons of Israel had done all the work... Moses examined all the work and behold, they had done it; just as the LORD had commanded..." | Emphasizes faithful adherence to divine instructions. |
| Ex 40:16 | "So Moses did; according to all that the LORD had commanded him, so he did." | Moses' consistent obedience to God's word. |
| Lev 8:36 | "So Aaron and his sons did all the things which the LORD had commanded through Moses." | Priestly obedience in their consecration. |
| Num 1:54 | "Thus the sons of Israel did; according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses, so they did." | General pattern of Israel's obedience. |
| Num 2:34 | "Thus the sons of Israel did; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so they camped by their standards, and so they set out, every one by his family according to his father's household." | Precise ordering according to divine instructions. |
| Num 3:6-9 | "Bring the tribe of Levi near... to serve him... shall attend to the duties for him and for the whole congregation..." | Background to the Levites' service. |
| Num 8:6-7 | "Take the Levites from among the sons of Israel and cleanse them... then have them pass a razor over their whole body and wash their clothes and cleanse themselves." | Specifies the cleansing actions being obeyed. |
| Deut 4:5-6 | "See, I have taught you statutes... just as the LORD my God commanded me... for this will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples." | Obedience brings blessing and distinguishes Israel. |
| Deut 6:3 | "So hear, O Israel, and be careful to do it, that it may be well with you..." | General command to hear and obey for blessing. |
| Deut 11:22-23 | "For if you are careful to keep all this commandment... then the LORD will drive out all these nations before you." | Links full obedience to divine faithfulness. |
| Josh 1:7 | "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you." | Command to future leaders to obey completely. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice." | The core principle of obedience. |
| 1 Chr 23:24-32 | Details of Levite duties, reiterating their role. | Confirms the continuation and importance of the Levites' service. |
| 2 Chr 29:15-19 | Levites carrying out temple cleansing as commanded. | Later example of Levites performing duties meticulously. |
| Ps 119:4 | "You have ordained Your precepts, that we should keep them diligently." | God's design is for complete adherence to His law. |
| Jer 7:23 | "But this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God...'" | Emphasizes God's consistent call for obedience. |
| Acts 5:29 | "We must obey God rather than men." | Prioritizes divine commands over human. |
| Rom 6:17 | "But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed." | Obedience to God is from the heart in new covenant. |
| Phil 2:12 | "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling." | Encourages ongoing and diligent obedience. |
| Heb 5:8-9 | "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered; and having been perfected, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation." | Christ's perfect obedience as the ultimate example. |
Numbers 8 verses
Numbers 8 20 Meaning
Numbers 8:20 asserts the complete and precise obedience of Moses, Aaron, and the entire Israelite congregation to all the specific commands the LORD had given Moses concerning the purification and dedication of the Levites. It emphasizes that what God commanded was perfectly executed by His people. This verse acts as a conclusive statement, affirming that every instruction for establishing the Levitical service was faithfully carried out, ensuring proper worship and order in the wilderness tabernacle.
Numbers 8 20 Context
Numbers chapter 8 meticulously outlines the divine instructions for the cleansing and consecration of the Levites. Preceding this verse, instructions are given regarding the precise method for preparing the lampstand (Nu 8:1-4) and then for the purification and dedication ceremony of the Levites themselves (Nu 8:5-19). This ceremony included symbolic acts of purification, sin offerings, burnt offerings, and a unique "waving" of the Levites before the LORD by Aaron, symbolizing their presentation as a wave offering. The people were also commanded to lay their hands upon the Levites, signifying the Levites' substitution for the firstborn of Israel and their transfer to the service of the LORD. Numbers 8:20 serves as the conclusive statement for this entire section, affirming that every one of these intricate and specific divine commands was fully and faithfully carried out by Moses, Aaron, and the entire congregation, ensuring the proper order and holiness necessary for the Tabernacle service. This act established the Levitical order, foundational for the worship system God ordained for Israel in the wilderness.
Numbers 8 20 Word analysis
- Thus did (Hebrew: כֹּה עָשָׂה, koh asah): This phrase emphasizes exactitude and complete adherence. It means "in this manner" or "just as specified," signifying that the preceding instructions were followed precisely, without deviation. It's a concluding statement, validating the successful execution of a divine mandate.
- Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the sons of Israel (Hebrew: מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן וְכָל־קְהַל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, Moshe v'Aharon v'khol qahal bene Yisrael): This group represents the complete leadership structure and the unified participation of the nation.
- Moses: The primary mediator of God's law and chief human leader. His direct obedience ensures the proper conveyance and initiation of God's will.
- Aaron: The High Priest and religious leader. His involvement highlights the priestly role in sacred duties and rituals.
- all the congregation of the sons of Israel: Represents the entire community, underscoring their collective responsibility and active participation. In the Levites' consecration, the people laid hands on them (Nu 8:10), indicating their acceptance of the Levites as their substitutes and their commitment to the covenant. This shows unified compliance from leadership to the people.
- to the Levites (Hebrew: לַלְוִיִּם, la-Levi'im): Specifies the direct recipients and beneficiaries of these actions. The rituals performed were specifically for and upon the Levites, establishing their unique consecrated status for sacred service.
- according to all that the LORD commanded Moses (Hebrew: כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה, k'khol asher tzivah Adonai et Moshe): This phrase stresses the divine origin and the comprehensive nature of the command.
- the LORD (YHWH): Refers to the covenant God of Israel, the ultimate authority. This clarifies that the commands are not human inventions but divine mandates.
- commanded Moses: Establishes Moses as the trustworthy recipient and faithful communicator of God's will.
- all that... commanded: Highlights that every single detail of God's instruction was followed, leaving no part undone or altered. This precise execution underscores the sanctity of God's word.
- concerning the Levites (Hebrew: עַל הַלְוִיִּם, al ha-Levi'im): Delineates the specific subject matter of the divine commands. The instructions pertained entirely to the functions and regulations surrounding the Levitical service, their role, and purification.
- so the sons of Israel did to them (Hebrew: כֵּן עָשׂוּ לָהֶם בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, ken asu lahem bene Yisrael): This concluding clause reiterates and confirms the actions described in the first part of the verse, reinforcing the thoroughness and completion of the obedience by the entire nation. The repetition creates a rhetorical emphasis on the perfect fulfillment of the divine word.
Numbers 8 20 Bonus section
- Model of Obedience: The precise execution described in this verse served as an essential model for future generations in Israel. It set a precedent for how divine commands, especially those concerning worship and holy service, were to be regarded and performed—with meticulous fidelity and complete adherence.
- Completeness of the Narrative: This verse signifies a key completion point in the early books of the Pentateuch regarding the structure of Israel's theocratic life. With the Tabernacle constructed and consecrated, and the priests and Levites duly dedicated for service, the framework for Israel's wilderness journey and divine worship was now fully operational according to God's detailed plan.
- Foundation for Relationship: The obedience demonstrated here was not merely for ritualistic reasons but deeply connected to Israel's covenant relationship with the LORD. It reflected a deep trust in God's wisdom and an acknowledgment that His specific instructions were for their ultimate good, enabling proper access and fellowship with a holy God.
Numbers 8 20 Commentary
Numbers 8:20 stands as a powerful testament to Israel's precise obedience to God's divine mandates regarding the establishment of their worship system. It is more than just a factual statement; it's a theological affirmation that the process of consecrating the Levites—essential for maintaining the holiness and functionality of the Tabernacle—was carried out exactly as the Almighty Lord commanded. The emphasis on "Moses and Aaron and all the congregation" demonstrates a unity in compliance, highlighting that both leadership and the people shared in the responsibility and execution of God's will. This faithful adherence ensured divine approval and underscored a critical principle: God's work must be done God's way. This collective obedience was not merely ceremonial but reflected a foundational commitment to the covenant, vital for their relationship with God and for His dwelling in their midst. It reminds us that spiritual authority and collective action are powerful when aligned with precise divine instructions, ensuring order, purity, and blessing in His service.