Numbers 8:1-26
Q.1. Why were Moses and Aaron to take care to follow the instructions regarding the lamps? How do these lights prefigure the role of Jesus? – (Num.8:1-4)
The priests were to keep the lamps burning in the Holy Place, so they could complete their mediatorial role for the people (Num.8:1-3 c.f. Exo.27:20-21). It was a pattern of a more perfect sacrifice that would be made in Heaven for us, so had to be – … according to the pattern which the Lord had shown Moses … (Num.8:4 c.f. Heb.9:23-24). This all pointed to the mediatory role of Jesus, Light of the world, Who is in the presence of the Father in Heaven (c.f. John 14:6; 8:12; 14:6; Heb.4:14-16; 8:5-6; 9:23-24).
Q.2. How were the tribes of Israel involved in the consecration of the Levites? What made the Levites different? – (Num.8:5-22)
The priests were washed and shaven all over. This made it obvious that they were set apart (Num.8:5-7). After this, they were presented before the Lord in the presence of millions of Israelites – 9 … You shall also assemble the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, 10 and present the Levites before the Lord; and the sons of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites (Num.8:9-10). All Israel were to lay hands on the priests, and thus ratify their role on their behalf. Moses was to remind them that the priests represented them before God – 16 for they are wholly given to Me from among the sons of Israel. I have taken them for Myself instead of every first issue of the womb, the firstborn of all the sons of Israel. 17 For every firstborn among the sons of Israel is Mine, among the men and among the animals; on the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for Myself (Num.8:16-17 c.f. Ex.13:11-15). The Lord told the people – 18 I have taken the Levites instead of every firstborn among the sons of Israel … 19 to perform the service of the sons of Israel at the tent of meeting and to make atonement on behalf of the sons of Israel, so that there will be no plague among the sons of Israel by their coming near to the sanctuary” (Num.8:18-19). By the laying of hands on the Levites (and by the sacrifices) the people were taught the principle of substitution (c.f. 1 Pet.2:24, 3:18).
Q.3. Were priests allowed to continue to minister into old age? What do we learn from these guidelines? – (Num.8:23-26)
There were many prohibitions placed on the priesthood. Not only was it restricted to the descendants of Levi, but no one who drew attention away from the Lord to himself, qualified to serve (c.f. Lev.21:1-24). The public priestly functions were also restricted to those of sound mind, and those physically competent – … to perform service in the work of the tent of meeting (Num.8:24). This required that a priest had to be aged at least twenty-five and was to retire upon reaching fifty. Ageing and frailty would prevent a priest from fulfilling the exacting demands of the priesthood. However, there were provisions made to continue – They may, however, assist their brothers in the tent of meeting, to keep an obligation, but they themselves shall do no work (Num.8:26).