Numbers 8

The Lamps Before the Lampstand

1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Speak to Aaron and say to him: When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light toward the front of the lampstand.” 3Aaron did so. He set up its lamps toward the front of the lampstand, as the LORD commanded Moses. 4This was the workmanship of the lampstand: hammered work of gold, from its base to its blossoms it was hammered work. According to the pattern that the LORD showed Moses, so he made the lampstand.

The Levites Cleansed for Service

5The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 6“Take the Levites from among the Israelites and cleanse them. 7Thus you shall do to them for their cleansing: sprinkle purifying water on them, and let them pass a razor over their whole body, wash their clothes, and cleanse themselves. 8Then they shall take a young bull with its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you shall take a second young bull for a sin offering. 9You shall bring the Levites before the Tent of Meeting and assemble the whole congregation of the Israelites. 10When you bring the Levites before the LORD, the Israelites shall lay their hands on the Levites, 11and Aaron shall elevate the Levites before the LORD as an elevation offering from the Israelites, so that they may perform the service of the LORD.

12The Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls. Offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the LORD, to make atonement for the Levites. 13You shall have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons and elevate them as an elevation offering to the LORD. 14Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the Israelites, and the Levites shall be mine. 15After that the Levites may enter to serve the Tent of Meeting, when you have cleansed them and elevated them as an elevation offering.

The Levites Given in Place of the Firstborn

16For they are wholly given to me from among the Israelites. In place of every one who opens the womb, every firstborn among the Israelites, I have taken them for myself. 17For every firstborn among the Israelites is mine, both human and animal. On the day I struck every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated them for myself. 18I have taken the Levites in place of every firstborn among the Israelites. 19And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites, to perform the service of the Israelites at the Tent of Meeting and to make atonement for the Israelites, so that no plague may strike the Israelites when they approach the sanctuary.”

20Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of the Israelites did this to the Levites. According to all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so the Israelites did to them. 21The Levites purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes; Aaron elevated them as an elevation offering before the LORD, and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them. 22Afterward the Levites entered to perform their service at the Tent of Meeting before Aaron and his sons. As the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.

The Years of Levitical Service

23The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 24“This concerns the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall enter to participate in the service at the Tent of Meeting. 25At fifty years old they shall withdraw from the work of the service and shall serve no longer. 26They may assist their brothers at the Tent of Meeting in keeping charge, but they shall perform no service. Thus you shall do concerning the Levites and their responsibilities.”