Numbers 8 3

Numbers 8:3 kjv

And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 8:3 nkjv

And Aaron did so; he arranged the lamps to face toward the front of the lampstand, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 8:3 niv

Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 8:3 esv

And Aaron did so: he set up its lamps in front of the lampstand, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 8:3 nlt

So Aaron did this. He set up the seven lamps so they reflected their light forward, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Numbers 8 verses

Numbers 8 3 Meaning

Numbers 8:3 describes Aaron's precise and immediate obedience to the divine command given to Moses regarding the setting up of the lamps on the Menorah. It underscores the importance of exact adherence to God's instructions in sacred service and highlights the priests' role in maintaining the continuous illumination of the tabernacle, which symbolized God's abiding presence and truth.

Numbers 8 3 Context

Numbers chapter 8 follows detailed instructions for Israel's offerings (Chapter 7) and sets the stage for the specific duties and consecration of the Levites, who will assist the Aaronite priests in the tabernacle. Verse 3 opens the chapter, providing the fulfillment of a prior instruction given to Moses in Numbers 8:1-2 regarding the lamps of the Menorah. This demonstrates Aaron's prompt obedience and attention to detail in priestly service.

The historical context places this event during Israel's wilderness wanderings, soon after the tabernacle's construction and establishment as the center of Israelite worship. The detailed cultic instructions within the Pentateuch, including for the Menorah, emphasize God's absolute holiness, the precise order required for approaching Him, and Israel's unique status as His chosen people. The Menorah itself, always lit, symbolized the perpetual divine presence among Israel, offering light in the darkness of the Holy Place, reflecting God's illuminating presence. These precise instructions would also have served as a subtle but firm polemic against contemporary pagan practices that lacked divine command, often involving arbitrary rituals or deifications of natural elements, stressing Yahweh's orderly and singular sovereignty.

Numbers 8 3 Word analysis

• And Aaron did so: (Wayya'as Aharon - וַיַּעַשׂ אַהֲרֹן). This phrase immediately signals compliance and immediate action. It highlights Aaron's personal obedience, crucial for his priestly role. In the biblical narrative, particularly the Pentateuch, this structure frequently follows a divine command, affirming its fulfillment without delay or alteration.
• he set up: (Wayya'al - וַיַּעַל). The Hebrew root can mean "to go up," "to offer," or "to cause to ascend." In this context, it refers not only to physically placing the lamps on the Menorah but more specifically to igniting them, causing their flame to "go up." It signifies activation and bringing into functional existence. This act was crucial for the continuous illumination of the Holy Place.
• the lamps: (Han-nerot - הַנֵּרוֹת). Refers to the seven specific oil lamps that sat atop the branches of the Menorah. These were not merely decorative but functional light sources within the dim interior of the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. They required daily attention—trimming and refilling with pure olive oil.
• in front of the lampstand: (El-mul ha-menorah - אֶל-מוּל הַמְּנוֹרָה). This phrase describes the specific orientation of the wicks/lamps. It literally means "towards the face of the lampstand." Commentators generally interpret this to mean that the flames/light were directed outwards, forward from the Menorah itself, illuminating the area across the Holy Place, specifically towards the table of showbread and the altar of incense. This precise instruction highlights God's purposeful design for the light's direction and effect.
• as the Lord commanded Moses: (Ka'asher tsivvah Yahweh et-Mosheh - כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה). This concluding phrase is paramount. It stresses that Aaron's actions were not based on human discretion or tradition, but on explicit divine instruction transmitted through Moses. This exactitude underscores the holiness required in service to Yahweh and establishes a precedent for worship—that it must be by divine decree, not human innovation. This phrase is a common refrain in Exodus and Numbers, validating the legitimacy and authority behind every aspect of the Tabernacle and its services.

Numbers 8 3 Bonus section

• The Menorah was crafted from a single piece of pure beaten gold (Exod 25:31), symbolizing the unity, purity, and preciousness required in divine service.
• The perpetual lighting of the Menorah was a crucial part of the daily temple service, distinguishing Israel's unique relationship with the Giver of Light, contrasted with pagan rituals that might invoke lesser deities or chaotic forces.
• The precise instructions given by God and followed by Aaron provide a stark contrast to the tragic error of Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10:1-2), who offered "unholy fire" and died for their disobedience. This highlights the boundary of acceptable worship and the consequences of deviating from God's commands.
• In the New Testament, Jesus proclaims Himself the "Light of the world" (John 8:12, 9:5), taking on the symbolism of divine illumination previously represented by the Menorah. The Church is also depicted as a lampstand (Rev 1:12, 20), charged with reflecting the light of Christ to the world, emphasizing that spiritual light is passed on through faithful obedience.

Numbers 8 3 Commentary

Numbers 8:3 encapsulates the profound principle of unreserved obedience to divine instruction, particularly in the realm of sacred worship. Aaron's actions in carefully setting up and kindling the lamps of the Menorah are not casual acts but a fulfillment of God's precise blueprint for the Tabernacle. The details of the command, previously given in Exodus 25:31-40 and Exodus 27:20-21, demonstrate that every aspect of the Holy Place and its service was meticulously designed by God. The "lamps" were to "burn continually" (Lev 24:2-4), signifying the unbroken presence of God's light, truth, and revelation within Israel. Aaron's prompt and exact compliance illustrates the absolute necessity of faithfully carrying out God's commands without deviation, emphasizing that authentic worship is rooted in divine revelation, not human ingenuity or preference. This adherence prevented common human errors or self-serving adaptations from corrupting the sanctity of God's dwelling place.