Preface:    The sons of the Levites are purified for service. They would perform services between the ages of 25 and 50.

The Bible Summary of Numbers 8 (in 140 characters or less): Present the Levites as a wave offering to the LORD and make atonement for them. I have set them apart to serve at the tent of meeting.

There are many chapter commentaries on the book of Numbers. By the third draft, this should be the most extensive examination of Numbers 8, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text. Every attempt has been made to make this both a complete and self-contained study. Therefore, all references, vocabulary, and related concepts should be found within this extensive study. Easy access links to more in-depth studies of some vocabulary words, concepts and doctrines are also provided.

Outline of Chapter 8:

Introduction

         vv.     1–

         vv. 

         vv. 

         vv. 

         vv. 

Chapter Summary

Addendum

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:

         Preface               Quotations

         Introduction         Titles and/or Brief Descriptions of Numbers 8 (by various commentators)

         Introduction         Brief, but insightful observations of Numbers 8 (various commentators)

         Introduction         Fundamental Questions About Numbers 8

         Introduction         The Prequel of Numbers 8

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         The Principals of Numbers 8

         Introduction         The Places of Numbers 8

         Introduction         By the Numbers

         Introduction         Timeline for Numbers 8

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Numbers 8

         Introduction         Outlines of Numbers 8 (Various Commentators)

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Numbers 8 from the Summarized Bible

         Introduction         The Big Picture (Numbers 1–15)

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         Changes—additions and subtractions (for Numbers 8)

         Introduction 

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         v.      21              The Hithpael of Châţâʾ (חָטָא)

         v. 

         v.      22              The Priests and the Levites

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         Summary            A Set of Summary Doctrines and Commentary

         Summary            Why Numbers 8 is in the Word of God

         Summary            What We Learn from Numbers 8

         Summary            Jesus Christ in Numbers 8

         Summary            Edersheim Summarizes Numbers 8

         Summary 

         Addendum 

         Addendum          Josephus’ History of this Time Period

         Addendum          A Complete Translation of Numbers 8

         Addendum          Doctrinal Teachers Who Have Taught Numbers 8

         Addendum          Word Cloud from a Reasonably Literal Paraphrase of Numbers 8

         Addendum          Word Cloud from Exegesis of Numbers 8

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An Introduction to Numbers 8

I ntroduction: Numbers 8 deals with three different topics: (1) The reassembling of the lampstand is important because the function of the Jews on earth is to be the light of the world to the Gentiles. (2) The Levites are also set aside for service to Yahweh and herein cleansed. A ceremony which sets them apart to Yahweh, bought by the death of the first-born in Egypt, occurs in this chapter. (3) Finally, God sets up specific ages at which time the service of the Levites will begin and at what time they will retire from physical labor (although they might remain on the scene in an advisory position).

The cleansing of the Levites for service takes place in this chapter. I believe that the specific directions to do this have already been given (maybe back in Exodus or Leviticus?), and these directions are being followed here (most of Numbers is a narrative and much of that narrative is doing what God has asked Israel to do).

Exodus was begun around the time that Moses comes across the burning bush; and it is completed about 40 years later when Moses gives his last set of sermons to Israel and then dies. Even the aftermath of Moses’ death is recorded in the final chapter of Deuteronomy (this would have been written by Joshua).

These are God’s instructions of how the Levites are to be purified (Numbers 8:5–22b). Moses does what God tells him to do in Numbers 8:22c. That is, he fulfills these instructions.

God is said to speak to Moses three times in Numbers 8. (1) He tells Moses to light the lampstand in the Tabernacle; (2) He tells Moses to purify the Levites, separating them out from the rest of Israel; and (3) God specifies the ages at which the Levites may serve Him.

The lampstand (Numbers 8:1–4) being lit providing light for a room, which is generally associated with knowledge or revelation (see the reference in Revelation 1:20c (...and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.—ESV) and Revelation 2:1c ([Jesus] ...Who walks among the seven golden lampstands.—ESV; capitalized)

Timeline for Numbers

There is very little narrative in the book of Numbers; so this information may have been given to Moses in a few days or, at most, a few weeks; and Moses both wrote these things down and informed the people. Because of information previously studied in the introduction, we are not 100% certain if all of this material was given to Moses while in the newly erected Tabernacle. I would lean towards that being the case.

As I have done previously, since this chapters is what God is saying to Moses, I will begin and end the chapter with quotation marks. I will not insert a new set of quotation marks for each new paragraph.

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The first verse of this chapter is actually Numbers 7:89.

Numbers 7:89 And so when Moses comes unto the Tent of Meeting, and so he hears the voice [of God] speaking to him from the cover which [is] above the Ark of the Testimony. He [God] keeps on speaking to him from between the two cherubim. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Numbers 7:89 On many occasions, Moses would enter into the Tent of Meeting. He heard God’s voice come to him from behind the curtain, over the Mercy Seat which was on the Ark of the Covenant. God spoke to Moses on many occasions from between the two cherubim which stood on the top of the Mercy Seat. (Kukis paraphrase)

Here is how others have translated this passage:

Ancient texts:                       Note: I compare the Hebrew text to English translations of the Latin, Syriac (= Aramaic) and Greek texts, using the Douay-Rheims translation; George Lamsa’s translation, and Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton’s translation as revised and edited by Paul W. Esposito, respectively. I often update these texts with non-substantive changes (e.g., you for thou, etc.). I often use the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible instead of Brenton’s translation, because it updates the English text.

The Septuagint was the earliest known translation of a book (circa 200 b.c.). Since this translation was made before the textual criticism had been developed into a science and because different books appear to be translated by different men, the Greek translation can sometimes be very uneven.

When there are serious disparities between my translation and Brenton’s (or the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible), I look at the Greek text of the Septuagint (the LXX) to see if a substantive difference actually exists (and I reflect these changes in the English rendering of the Greek text). I use the Greek LXX with Strong’s numbers and morphology available for e-sword. The only problem with this resource (which is a problem for similar resources) is, there is no way to further explore Greek verbs which are not found in the New Testament. Although I usually quote the Complete Apostles’ Bible here, I have begun to make changes in the translation when their translation conflicts with the Greek and note what those changes are.

The Masoretic text is the Hebrew text with all of the vowels (vowel points) inserted (the original Hebrew text lacked vowels). We take the Masoretic text to be the text closest to the original. However, differences between the Masoretic text and the Greek, Latin and Syriac are worth noting and, once in a great while, represent a more accurate text possessed by those other ancient translators.

In general, the Latin text is an outstanding translation from the Hebrew text into Latin and very trustworthy (I say this as a non-Catholic). Unfortunately, I do not read Latin—apart from some very obvious words—so I am dependent upon the English translation of the Latin (principally, the Douay-Rheims translation).

The comparisons which I do are primarily between the English translations which are taken from the ancient tongues. For the most part, the variances are so minor that I rarely investigate them any further than that.

Underlined words indicate differences in the text.

Bracketed portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls are words, letters and phrases lost in the scroll due to various types of damage. Underlined words or phrases are those in the Dead Sea Scrolls but not in the Masoretic text.

I will only list the translation from the Dead Sea Scrolls if it exists and if it is different from the Masoretic text.

The Targum of Onkelos is actually the Pentateuchal Targumim, which are The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan Ben Uzziel. On the Pentateuch With The Fragments of the Jerusalem Targum From the Chaldee by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. From http://www.becomingjewish.org/texts/targum/onkelos_Numbers.html and first published in 1862.

Occasionally, there is an obvious error in the English translation, and I correct those without additional mention or footnoting. For instance, the online version of the Targum of Onkelos which I use has gorund in Ex. 4:9; I simply corrected the text. This may occur once or twice in a chapter.

I attempt to include translations which are different in their vocabulary and phrasing. On many occasions, I may include a translation which is not substantially different than another listed translation.

Most of the translations can be found here.

Ancient texts:

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And so speaks Y^ehowah unto Moses, to say, “And so you speak unto Aaron, and you have said unto him, ‘In your causing to go up the lamps unto a front of faces of the lampstand, to cause to light seven of the lamps.’ ” And so does therefore Aaron unto a front of faces of the lampstand. He caused to go up the lamps as which commanded Y^ehowah Moses. And this [is] a deed of the lampstand, a hammered work, gold, as far as her thigh, as far as her bloom. A hammered work she [is] like a vision which caused to see Y^ehowah Moses. So he made the lampstand.

Dead Sea Scrolls                   .

Targum (Onkelos)                  . Translation for Onkelos and Pseudo-Jonathan by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. (1862).

Targum (Pseudo-Jonathan)   .

Jerusalem targum                  .

Updated Douay-Rheims         .

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

Speak to Aaron, and thou shalt say to him: When thou shalt place the seven lamps, let the candlestick be set up on the south side. Give orders therefore that the lamps look over against the north, towards the table of the loaves of proposition, over against that part shall they give light, towards which the candlestick looketh.

And Aaron did so, and he put the lamps upon the candlestick, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Now this was the work of the candlestick, it was of beaten gold, both the shaft in the middle, and all that came out of both sides of the branches: according to the pattern which the Lord had shewn to Moses, so he made the candlestick.

Aramaic ESV of Peshitta        Mar-Yah spoke to Mosha, saying,

"Speak to Aaron, and tell him, 'When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the menorah.'"

Aaron did so. He lit its lamps to light the area in front of the menorah, as Mar-Yah commanded Mosha.

This was the workmanship of the menorah, beaten work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was beaten work: according to the pattern which Mar-Yah had shown Mosha, so he made the menorah.

Lamsa’s Peshitta (Syriac)     .

V. Alexander’s Aramaic T.     .

Samaritan Pentateuch           And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying

Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.

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

And this work of the candlestick [was of] beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, and unto the flowers thereof, [was] beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.

Updated Brenton (Greek)       And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

Speak to Aaron, and you shall say to him, Whenever you shall set the lamps in order, the seven lamps shall give light opposite the lampstand.

And Aaron did so. On one side opposite the lampstand he lighted its lamps, as the Lord appointed Moses.

And this is the construction of the lampstand: it is solid, golden-- its stem, and its lilies were all solid; according to the pattern which the Lord showed Moses, so he made the lampstand.

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             And the Lord said to Moses, 

Say to Aaron, When you put the lights in their places, the seven lights will give light in front of the support. 

And Aaron did so; he put the lights in their places so that they gave light in front of the support, as the Lord gave orders to Moses. 

The support for the lights was of hammered gold work, from its base to its flowers it was of hammered work; from the design which the Lord had given to Moses, he made the support for the lights.

Easy English                          .

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron to put the seven lamps in the place I showed you. These lamps will light the area in front of the lampstand."

Aaron did this. He put the lamps in the right place so that they lighted the area in front of the lampstand. He obeyed the command that the LORD gave Moses.

This is how the lampstand was made: It was made from hammered gold, all the way from the gold base at the bottom to the gold flowers at the top. It looked just like the pattern that the LORD had shown to Moses.

God’s Word™                         The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to Aaron and tell him: When you set up the seven lamps on the lamp stand, they should light up the area in front of it."

So Aaron set up the lamps on the lamp stand to light up the area in front of it, as the LORD commanded Moses.

This is how the lamp stand was made: The whole lamp stand, from top to bottom, was hammered out of gold. It was made exactly like the one the LORD had shown Moses.

Good News Bible (TEV)         The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron that when he puts the seven lamps on the lampstand, he should place them so that the light shines toward the front."

Aaron obeyed and placed the lamps facing the front of the lampstand.

From top to bottom the lampstand was made of hammered gold, according to the pattern that the LORD had shown Moses.

The Message                         .

Names of God Bible               .

NIRV                                      .

New Simplified Bible              .

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Casual English Bible             .

Contemporary English V.       The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron to put the seven lamps on the lampstand so they shine toward the front."

Aaron obeyed and placed the lamps as he was told.

The lampstand was made of hammered gold from its base to the decorative flowers on top, exactly like the pattern the LORD had described to Moses.

The Living Bible                     .

New Berkeley Version           .

New Life Version                    .

New Living Translation           .

UnfoldingWord (Simplified)    Yahweh said to Moses, "Tell Aaron to put the seven lamps on the lampstand and place them in such a way that they shine toward the front of the lampstand."  

So Moses told him what Yahweh said, and he did that.  

The lampstand had been made from gold that had been hammered from one large lump of gold, from its base to the decorations at the top that resembled flowers. The lampstand was made exactly as Yahweh had told Moses that it should be made.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          .

Beck’s American Translation .

Common English Bible           .

New Advent (Knox) Bible       .

Translation for Translators     .

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Christian Standard Bible        .

Berean Study Bible                . fashioned

Conservapedia                       .

Revised Ferrar-Fenton Bible  .

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           .

The Heritage Bible                          And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you cause the lamps to light up, the seven lamps shall give light to the front of the face of the lampstand.

And Aaron did so; he caused the lamps to light up to the front of the face of the lampstand, as Jehovah commanded Moses.

And this work of the lampstand of beaten gold, its shaft, its flowers, a beaten work, according to the appearance which Jehovah caused Moses to see, so he made the lampstand.

International Standard V        .

Lexham English Bible            .

NIV, ©2011                             .

Unfolding Word Literal Text   .

Urim-Thummim Version         YHWH spoke to Moses saying, Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you light the lamps, the 7 lamps will light the space in front of the lamp stand.

And Aaron did so and positioned the lamps to cast light forward in front of the lamp stand, as YHWH commanded Moses.

And this work of the lamp stand consisted of beaten gold (from its base to its buds) of beaten work according to the visionary pattern that YHWH had shown Moses, so he fashioned the lamp stand.

Wikipedia Bible Project          Wikipedia did not do this chapter (at least, not in the e-sword version).

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)           Yahweh spoke to Moses and said: “Say this to Aaron: Set up the lamps, so that the seven lamps throw their light toward the front of the lampstand.”

Aaron set up the lamps to the front of the lampstand, as the Lord had commanded Moses. This lampstand was made of hammered gold; from its stem to its petals, it was of hammered gold. This lampstand had been made according to the pattern Yahweh had shown to Moses. Exodus 25:31-39

New American Bible(2011)    .

The Catholic Bible                  .

New Jerusalem Bible             .

NRSV (Anglicized Cath. Ed.) .

Revised English Bible–1989            .

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           .

Eth Cepher Bible                    AND Yahuah spoke unto El־Mosheh, saying, Speak unto El־Aharon, and say unto him, When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the menorah. 

And Aharon did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the menorah, as Yahuah commanded Mosheh. 

And this work of the menorah was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which Yahuah had showed Mosheh, so he made the menorah.

exeGeses companion Bible   .

Hebraic Roots Bible               .

Kaplan Translation                 .

The Scriptures–2009              And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Speak to Aharon, and say to him, ‘When you ascend to trim the lamps, let the seven lamps give light in front of the lampstand.’ ” 

And Aharon did so. He set up the lamps to face toward the front of the lampstand, as יהוה commanded Mosheh. 

And this is the work of the lampstand: beaten work of gold, from its base to its blossoms it is beaten work. According to the pattern which יהוה had shown Mosheh, so he made the lampstand.

Tree of Life Version                Adonai spoke to Moses saying, “Speak to Aaron and say to him: When you erect the lamps, the seven lamps are to illuminate the area in front of the menorah.”

Aaron did so. He erected the lamps facing forward so they illuminated the area in front of the menorah, just as Adonai had commanded Moses.

Now this is how the menorah was made: hammered gold from its base to its blossoms. Just as was the pattern that Adonai had shown to Moses, so he made the menorah.

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Alpha & Omega Bible            AND JESUS SPOKE TO MOSES, SAYING,

SPEAK TO AARON, AND YOU SHALL SAY TO HIM, WHENEVER YOU SHALL SET THE LAMPS IN ORDER, THE SEVEN LAMPS SHALL GIVE LIGHT IN FRONT OF THE LAMPSTAND.

AND AARON DID SO: ON ONE SIDE OPPOSITE THE LAMPSTAND HE LIGHTED ITS LAMPS, AS JESUS APPOINTED MOSES.

AND THIS IS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LAMPSTAND: IT IS SOLID, GOLDEN―ITS STEM, AND ITS LILIES―ALL SOLID: ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH JESUS SHOWED MOSES, SO HE MADE THE LAMPSTAND.

Awful Scroll Bible                   Sustains To Become persists to be the speaker to Moses, to the intent: Be speaking to Aaron, even is you to have said: As you is to stir up the lamps, seven lamps were to shine, turned towards the front of the lampstand.

Aaron was to effect it, even is he to have stirred up the lamps, turned towards the front of the lamp stand, as Sustains To Become is to have laid charge to Moses.

The work of the lamp stand is a beaten work of gold, from its base to its blossoms, even is it a beaten work, as it is to be shown, that Sustains To Become is to have shown Moses, is he to have made the lamp stand.

Concordant Literal Version    Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying. Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up the lamps, toward the face of the lampstand the seven lamps shall give light.

Aaron did so; toward the face of the lampstand, he set up its lamps just as Yahweh had instructed Moses.

And this was the handiwork of the lampstand:a stiff shell of gold--from its stem unto its buds it was a stiff shell. According to the appearance which Yahweh had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.

exeGeses companion Bible   HOLOCAUST OF THE LAMPS OF THE MENORAH

And Yah Veh words to Mosheh, saying,

Word to Aharon and say to him,

When you holocaust the lamps,

have the seven lamps

illuminate in front of the face of the menorah.

- and thus Aharon works;

he holocausts the lamps

in front of the face of the menorah

- as Yah Veh misvahed Mosheh.

Num 8:4 And this work of the menorah is of spun gold,

to the flank thereof to the blossoms thereof

- spun according to the vision

which Yah Veh shows Mosheh

- thus he works the menorah.

Orthodox Jewish Bible                                                          BEHAALOSECHA

And Hashem spoke unto Moshe, saying,

Speak unto Aharon and say unto him, When thou set up the Nerot (lamps), the seven Nerot (lamps) shall cast light in front of the Menorah.

And Aharon did so; he set up the Nerot (lamps) thereof to give light in front of the Menorah, as Hashem commanded Moshe.

And the Menorah was made thus of hammered zahav, from its base unto its flower was it hammered out; according unto the mar'eh (pattern) which Hashem had shown Moshe, so he made the Menorah.

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. .

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                .

The Expanded Bible              .

International Standard V        The Seven Lamps

(Exodus 25:31-40)

The Lord told Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps will illuminate the area in [The Heb. lacks the area in] front of the lamp stand.’” [Or menorah]

So Aaron did so, setting up the lamps to illuminate the area in [The Heb. lacks the area in] front of the lamp stand, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

This was how the lamp stand was crafted from hammered gold: From its base to its flowers, it was made of hammered gold. Moses crafted the lamp stand just as the Lord had showed him. [Lit. Moses]

Kretzmann’s Commentary    .

Lexham English Bible            The Seven Lamps

Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron, and say to him: ‘When you are setting up the lamps, the seven lamps will give light in front of the face of the lampstand.’ ” And Aaron did so; he set up the lampstand in front of the face of its lamps, just as Yahweh commanded Moses. And this is how the lampstand was made, [Literally “the work of the lampstand”] a hammered-work of gold; from its base up to its blossom, [Or “flower”] it was hammered-work according to the pattern that Yahweh showed Moses; so he made the lampstand.

Syndein/Thieme                     .

The Voice                               .

Bible Translations with Many Footnotes:

The Complete Tanach           .

The Geneva Bible                  .

Kaplan Translation                 Lighting the Lamp

God spoke to Moses, telling him to

speak to Aaron and say to him, 'When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall illuminate the menorah.'

Aaron did that, lighting the lamps to illuminate the menorah, as God commanded Moses.

The menorah was made of a single piece of beaten gold. Everything from its base to its blossom consisted of a single piece of beaten metal. The menorah was thus made exactly according to the vision that God showed Moses. The Kaplan Translation, particularly in Numbers through Deuteronomy, takes note of historic rabbinic opinions.

light

(Targum; Saadia). Or, 'set in order' (Septuagint). Literally, 'raise up.'

illuminate...

Or, 'Shall shine toward the center of the menorah' (Rashi; Rashbam). See Exodus 25:37.

blossom

At the top of the center shaft. According to tradition, however, there was also a flower directly above the base (see note on Exodus 25:31).

NET Bible®                             .

New American Bible(2011)    .

Rotherham’s Emphasized B.                                      § 9. The Priests are to light the Lamps.

The Levites are consecrated in the place of all Israel.

Chapter 8.

And Yahweh spake unto Mosesˎ saying:

    Speak unto Aaron, and thou shalt say unto him,—

<When thou lightest up the lamps> <over against the front of the lampstand> shall the seven lamps give light.

And Aaron did so, <over against the front of the lampstand> lighted he up the lamps thereof,—

As Yahweh commanded Moses.—

Now ||this|| was the work of the lampstand— beaten work of gold <both in the shaft thereof and in^b the flowers^c thereof> was it ||beaten work|| <according to the appearance which Yahweh caused to appear unto Moses> ||so|| made he the lampstand.

^b Ml.: “even the s.t.ˎ even the f.t.” Some cod. (w. Sam., Onk. MS. and Jon.) have: “and even”—G.n.

^c So it shd. be (w. Sam. and Sep.) [but M.C.T. has lit.: “flower”]—G.n.

Updated ASV                         .

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

A Faithful Version                  . wicks

C. Thomson Updated OT       .

Charles Thomson OT            After filling his own hands, and after the anointing, when Moses went into the tabernacle of the testimony to speak to the Lord, he heard the voice of the Lord speaking to him, from above the propitiatory, which is over the ark of the testimony, between the two cherubims, and he answered him, and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to Aaron, and thou shalt say to him, When thou hast put on the side lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in a range with the front of the candlestick.

And Aaron did so. On each side, on a range with the front of the candlestick, he lighted the lamps thereof as the Lord commanded Moses.

Now the workmanship of the candlestick was of solid gold; both its stem, and its lillies, were of one solid piece. He had made the candlestick according to the pattern which the Lord shewed Moses. Numbers 7:88b–89 are included for context.

Context Group Version          .

English Standard Version      .

Green’s Literal Translation    .

Legacy Standard Bible           .

Literal Standard Version        And YHWH speaks to Moses, saying,

“Speak to Aaron, and you have said to him: In your causing the lights to go up, the seven lights give light toward the front of the face of the lampstand.”

And Aaron does so; he has caused its lights to go up toward the front of the face of the lampstand, as YHWH has commanded Moses.

And this [is] the work of the lampstand: beaten work of gold; from its thigh to its flower it [is] beaten work; as the appearance which YHWH showed Moses, so he has made the lampstand.

Modern English Version         .

Modern Literal Version 2020  And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you light the lamps, the seven lamps will give light in front of the lamp-stand.

And Aaron did so. He lit the lamps of it in front of the lamp-stand, as Jehovah commanded Moses.

And this was the work of the lamp-stand, beaten work of gold. To the base of it, and it was beaten work to the flowers of it. According to the pattern which Jehovah had shown Moses, so he made the lamp-stand.

New American Standard B.    .

New European Version          .

New King James Version       .

Niobi Study Bible                   .

Revised Mechanical Trans.    ...and YHWH spoke to Mosheh saying, speak to Aharon, and you will say to him, in your making the lamps go up[869], to the forefront of the face of the lampstand, the seven lamps will make light, and Aharon will do so to the forefront of the face of the lampstand, and he will make her light go up[870], just as YHWH directed Moshe, and this is the work of the lampstand, a beaten work of gold, unto her midsection, unto her bud, she is a beaten work, like the appearance that YHWH made Mosheh see, so he did do with the lampstand,...

869. Meaning “to light the lamps.”

870. Meaning “to light the lamps.”

Updated ASV                         The Seven Lamps

And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron, and say to him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.” And Aaron did so: he set up its lamps in front of the lampstand, as Jehovah commanded Moses. Now this was the workmanship of the lampstand. It was hammered work of gold. Up to its sides and up to its flowers it was hammered work. According to the pattern that Jehovah had shown Moses, so he had made the lampstand.

Updated Bible Version 2.17   .

A Voice in the Wilderness      .

Webster’s Bible Translation  .

World English Bible                .

Young's Literal Translation     .

Young's Updated LT              .

The gist of this passage: 

Translation: Y^ehowah spoke to Moses, saying,...

God maintained a clear structure of authority. He spoke to Moses, and Moses was to speak to Aaron, to command him what to do.

Nearly always, God speaks to Moses; sometimes, God speaks to Moses and Aaron. I cannot recall off the top of my head God speaking directly to Aaron.

This verse will occur three times in this chapter. Very likely, that represents three different sessions which Y^ehowah had with Moses.

Translation: ...“And you will speak to Aaron and you have said to him,...

God tells Moses that he will need to speak to Aaron and this is what he is going to say to him.

Translation: ...‘When causing to go up the lights in front of the lampstand,...

This is a very literal translation; however, many of the Hebrew verbs have been translated by several words to convey their actual meanings. The lamps (or lights, or candlesticks) will be caused to be put up by aaron, although he may not actually do it himself. Therefore, the word ʿâlâh (עָלָה) [pronounced ģaw-LAWH], meaning to go up, to ascend, to raise up, is in the Hiphil infinitive. In the infinitive, we do not have a subject, per se, but we can affix a suffix. Here, that suffix was the second masculine singular. When we express our verbs in general form, we use the infinitive of the verb, as in to go up, to ascend, to raise up; and I often do that when giving the meaning of a verb. However, in the Hebrew, verbs expressed in the vocabulary form are given in the Qal stem, just as verbs in the Greek in vocabulary form are given in the present active indicative. This accounts for the added word to. The Hiphil stem is causative, meaning that the rendering to raise up is most apropos. Strong's #5927 BDB #748.

I have not yet seen a picture of a lampstand which would actually jive with this description. The prepositions involved indicate clearly that there is a front (and, by implication, a back) to the lampstand. The first preposition is ʾel (אֶל) [pronounced el], which means in, into, toward, unto, to, regarding, against. Strong's #413 BDB #39. This is followed by the preposition mûwl (מוּל) [pronounced mool] and it means in front of. Strong's #4136 BDB #557. ʾel combined with mûwl mean towards, to the front of, in the face of, in front of, towards the front of. This is followed by the word for face. These words together mean that there is a front to the lampstand.

Aaron will cause the lights (or candles) at the top of the lampstand to go up. Because these are candles, that is the direction in which the flame will go.

In the Hebrew, this appears to emphasize the lamps being in front of the lampstand. They are certainly at the top of the lampstand. In studying other translations, the emphasis appears to be that the light is cast forward from the lampstand.

Essentially, Aaron is being told to light the lampstand. This appears to be done every day in the Tabernacle, and that Aaron does not do this himself, but he instructs someone else to take care of this.

Translation: ...to cause to light the seven lamps.’ ”

The Hiphil is used because God is telling Moses to tell Aaron to cause these lamps to be lit. Aaron would instruct those who work inside of the Tabernacle to do this daily.

Even the priests did not stay inside of the Tabernacle. They did the things which they were supposed to do, and then they exited it.

Numbers 8:1–2 Y^ehowah spoke to Moses, saying, “And you will speak to Aaron and you have said to him, ‘When causing to go up the lights in front of the lampstand, to cause to light the seven lamps.’ ” (Kukis mostly literal translation)

God tells Moses to tell Aaron to see to the lighting of the lamps of the lampstand, which stood close to the curtain about two-thirds of the way back from the opening. In the middle was the golden lampstand, and on either side would be the table of showbread and the altar of incense.

As the golden lampstand lit up the Tabernacle, so Jesus is the light of the world.

The lamp was in the holy place and the ark was in the Holy of Holies. Because of the Shekinah glory, there was no light needed in the Holy of Holies; in the holy place, the lamp itself provided the light. Was this actually the case in the Holy of Holies once a year when the high priest entered? Did he have light or did he function mostly in the dark?

The lampstand represented the Jews, who were to be the light of the world, just as we as believers have become.

Translation: Therefore, Aaron does [this] to the front of the lampstand:...

Aaron does what he is supposed to do. This does not mean that he personally lights these lights, but he instructs the person who is to take care of this.

Translation: ...he caused the [light of] the lamps to go up just as Y^ehowah commanded Moses.

As a result of God commanding Moses, the lights of the lampstand are lit.

Numbers 8:3 Therefore, Aaron does [this] to the front of the Lampstand: he caused the [light of] the lamps to go up just as Y^ehowah commanded Moses. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

A common objection which I read among atheists is, if God wants something done, why doesn’t He do it? I don’t know if we are to walk away from this objection thinking, “God must not be very powerful if we have to do this stuff.” However, God allows us, as believers, to take part in the Angelic Conflict. We are not nonparticipants who sit along the sidelines, cheering for our team. We are actually on the field, doing that which God commands. There are those on the sidelines watching, and that would be angels, both elect and fallen. They watch and learn.

God always has a chain of command. God spoke to Moses, Moses spoke to Aaron, and Aaron caused, that is delegated this responsibility, to an unnamed Levite (we know this by the continued use of the Hiphil, or causative, stem in this verse and in the previous verse). It is likely that Aaron went to the head of the partial Levitical tribe and spoke to him and he had one of those under him actually do the placement of the lamps. Notice that God does not go directly to the Levite and tell him what to do. Nor does Moses go directly to that Levite and tell him what to do. There is a clear, specific chain of command which is taught to us in the Hebrew.

Translation: And this (is] the work of the lampstand:...

Maʿăseh (מַעֲשֶׂה) [pronounced mah-ğa-SEH] means deed, work; it is a reference to that which has been constructed or made (it comes from the oft used Hebrew verb ׳âsâh). I have translated it craftsmanship. Strong’s #4639 BDB #795. Its verbal cognate does occur in this verse in the Qal perfect with an unnamed subject here. The he does not refer to Moses, Aaron or Yahweh but to the person who actually constructed this lampstand, Bezalel (Exodus 37:1, 17–23).

Moses, as the writer of this portion of Scripture, describes the golden lampstand.

Translation: ...[it is] a hammered work [made of] gold, from its base to its bloom [at the top].

The lampstand is made out of gold. It is not placed into a mold and cast (as is virtually every lampstand made today), but it is slowly and skillfully hammered out, shape into this marvelous lampstand. My guess is, a rough model of the lampstand was made by a mold out of gold, and then a very skilled craftsman hammered it until all of the detail work of the lampstand had been done. It does not appear to be pieced together, which would have been an amazing feat in itself. I think of all the component parts and imagine it being made from those parts, but it seems to me that this is done as a work from one piece to begin with.

Translation: It [is] a hammered work like the vision which Y^ehowah caused Moses to see.

Mar^eʾeh (מַרְאֶה) [pronounced mahr-EH] means vision, appearance, sight, that which is seen. In previous translations, I stretched things somewhat here to use the word blueprint. Strong's #4758 BDB #909. Y^ehowah obviously revealed this to Moses visually and Moses oversaw the work to be certain this is what was constructed.

God caused Moses to see what the end work would look like. However, God did not hand Moses the lampstand and tell him, “Take this and place it into the Tabernacle.” God has His people make it. This represents believers in Y^ehowah Elohim participating in the creation of divine good. God allows us to take part in this.

When we have grown spiritually and start functioning along with our gift, we are actually producing divine good, just as the artisans pressed into service made these things.

Remember when Moses had the Ten Commandments written in stone and he came down the mountain and saw the people just flat out, out of control, and he threw the tablets down on the ground to reveal his disgust? Well, no one appreciated what he had just done, least of all, God. Next time, Moses had to spend time producing the tablet, and then, no matter what was taking place, Moses was not going to throw the new tablets down on the ground. It was too much work!

Even under perfect environment, God does not simply give us stuff and we hang around on easy chairs taking it. God had Adam perform a number of tasks. Adam named all of the animals. He tended the garden in Eden, even though he lived in perfect environment.

Many people are not going to grasp this, but working and creating something can be very, very satisfying. I once built a shed (doing things with my hands is not my strong suit); and I was very proud of how it came out. It had a door, windows, shelves, a foundation; and still stands today.

I am doing my best to explain that doing things on behalf of God is rewarding; it is satisfying. It may require a lot of work, but we believers are greatly blessed by doing this.

R. B. Thieme, Jr. developed a marvelous system of theology along with an updated vocabulary and he inspired thousands of believers to pursue the Word of God. This required a workload that few of us could imagine, but I have no doubt that this was rewarding to him, both in time and in eternity.

Working is a good thing; it is not bad.

Translation: So he [Moses] made the lampstand. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Moses did not personally make the lampstand. He oversaw the construction of the Tabernacle and all of its furniture, which included the lampstand. Then God instructed Moses as to how the lampstand was to be used.

Numbers 8:4 And this (is] the work of the lampstand: [it is] a hammered work [made of] gold, from its base to its bloom [at the top]. It [is] a hammered work like the vision which Y^ehowah caused Moses to see. So he [Moses] made the lampstand. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Numbers 8:1–4 Y^ehowah spoke to Moses, saying, “And you will speak to Aaron and you have said to him, ‘When causing to go up the lights in front of the lampstand, to cause to light the seven lamps.’ ” Therefore, Aaron does [this] to the front of the Lampstand: he caused the [light of] the lamps to go up just as Y^ehowah commanded Moses. And this (is] the work of the lampstand: [it is] a hammered work [made of] gold, from its base to its bloom [at the top]. It [is] a hammered work like the vision which Y^ehowah caused Moses to see. So he [Moses] made the lampstand. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Numbers 8:1–4 Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying to him, “Find Aaron and talk to him about the lighting of the golden lampstand inside of the Tabernacle. ‘Light the seven lamps of the golden lampstand.’ ” Therefore, Aaron did what Gold told Moses to tell him what needed to be done, and the lampstand cast its light forward after being lit. The lampstand had been hammered from a single figure of gold, carefully crafted from the base all the way up to the blooms at the top. God gave Moses a vision as to how it should look; and Moses used this vision to explain to his inspired workers what needed to be done. (Kukis paraphrase)

Now let’s give a full context to the first four verses of Numbers 8:

Numbers 7:89–8:4 And so when Moses comes unto the Tent of Meeting, and so he hears the voice [of God] speaking to him from the cover which [is] above the Ark of the Testimony. He [God] keeps on speaking to him from between the two cherubim. Y^ehowah spoke to Moses, saying, “And you will speak to Aaron and you have said to him, ‘When causing to go up the lights in front of the lampstand, to cause to light the seven lamps.’ ” Therefore, Aaron does [this] to the front of the Lampstand: he caused the [light of] the lamps to go up just as Y^ehowah commanded Moses. And this (is] the work of the lampstand: [it is] a hammered work [made of] gold, from its base to its bloom [at the top]. It [is] a hammered work like the vision which Y^ehowah caused Moses to see. So he [Moses] made the lampstand. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Numbers 7:89–8:4 On many occasions, Moses would enter into the Tent of Meeting. He heard God’s voice come to him from behind the curtain, over the Mercy Seat which was on the Ark of the Covenant. God spoke to Moses on many occasions from between the two cherubim which stood on the top of the Mercy Seat. Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying to him, “Find Aaron and talk to him about the lighting of the golden lampstand inside of the Tabernacle. ‘Light the seven lamps of the golden lampstand.’ ” Therefore, Aaron did what Gold told Moses to tell him what needed to be done, and the lampstand cast its light forward after being lit. The lampstand had been hammered from a single figure of gold, carefully crafted from the base all the way up to the blooms at the top. God gave Moses a vision as to how it should look; and Moses used this vision to explain to his inspired workers what needed to be done. (Kukis paraphrase)

——————————

God’s instructions to Moses will be vv. 6–19.

Here is how others have translated this passage:

Ancient texts:

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And so speaks Y^ehowah unto Moses, to say, “Take the Levites from a midst of sons of Israel and you have cleansed them and thus you will do to them to cleanse them: sprinkle upon them waters of sin, and you have caused to pass a razor upon all their flesh and they have washed their garments and they have cleansed themselves. And they have taken a bull, a son of a herd and his mincah—flour being mixed in fat—and a bull, a second (one), a son of a herd, you will take for a sin.

Dead Sea Scrolls                   .

Jerusalem targum                  .

Targum (Onkelos)                  .

Targum (Pseudo-Jonathan)   .

Aramaic Targum                    .

The Psalms Targum              .

Updated Douay-Rheims         .

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

Take the Levites out of the midst of the children of Israel, and thou shalt purify them,

According to this rite: Let them be sprinkled with the water of purification, and let them shave all the hairs of their flesh. And when they shall have washed their garments, and are cleansed,

They shall take an ox of the herd, and for the offering thereof fine flour tempered with oil: and thou shalt take another ox of the herd for a sin offering:...

Aramaic ESV of Peshitta        Mar-Yah spoke to Mosha, saying,

"Take the Levites from among the B'nai Yisrael, and cleanse them.

You shall do this to them, to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of cleansing on them, let them shave their whole bodies with a razor, and let them wash their clothes, and cleanse themselves.

Then let them take a young bull, and its meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil; and another young bull you shall take for a sin offering.

Original Aramaic Psalms        .

V. Alexander’s Aramaic T.     .

Plain English Aramaic Bible   .

Lamsa’s Peshitta (Syriac)     .

Samaritan Pentateuch           And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying

Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.

And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and [so] make themselves clean.

Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, [even] fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering.

Updated Brenton (Greek)       And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

Take the Levites out of the midst of the children of Israel, and you shall purify them.

And thus shall you perform their purification: you shall sprinkle them with the water of purification, and a razor shall come upon the whole of their body, and they shall wash their garments, and shall be clean.

And they shall take one calf of the herd, and its grain offering, fine flour mingled with oil; and you shall take a calf of a year old of the herd for a sin offering.

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             And the Lord said to Moses, 

Take the Levites out from among the children of Israel and make them clean. 

And this is how you are to make them clean: let the holy water which takes away sin be put on them, and let the hair all over their bodies be cut off with a sharp blade, and let their clothing be washed and their bodies made clean. 

Then let them take a young ox and its meal offering, crushed grain mixed with oil, and take another ox for a sin-offering.

Easy English                          .

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  The LORD said to Moses, "Separate the Levites from the other Israelites. Make these Levites clean. This is what you should do to make them clean: Sprinkle the special water from the sin offering on them. This water will make them clean. Then they must shave their bodies and wash their clothes. This will make their bodies clean.

"They must take a young bull and the grain offering that must be offered with it. This grain offering will be flour mixed with oil. Then take another young bull for a sin offering.

God’s Word™                         The LORD said to Moses, "Separate the Levites from the rest of the Israelites, and make them clean. This is what you must do to make them clean: Sprinkle them with water to take away their sins. Make them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes. Then they will be clean. Next, they must take a young bull and the grain offering of flour mixed with olive oil that is offered with it. You must take a second young bull as an offering for sin.

Good News Bible (TEV)         The LORD said to Moses, "Separate the Levites from the rest of the people of Israel and purify them in the following way: sprinkle them with the water of purification and have them shave their whole bodies and have them wash their clothes. Then they will be ritually clean. Then they are to take a young bull and the required grain offering of flour mixed with olive oil; and you are to take another bull for the sin offering.

The Message                         .

Names of God Bible               .

NIRV                                      .

New Simplified Bible              .

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Casual English Bible             .

Contemporary English V.       The LORD said to Moses: The Levites must be acceptable to me before they begin working at the sacred tent. So separate them from the rest of the Israelites and sprinkle them with the water that washes away their sins. Then have them shave their entire bodies and wash their clothes. They are to bring a bull and its proper grain sacrifice of flour mixed with olive oil. And they must bring a second bull as a sacrifice for sin.

The Living Bible                     .

New Berkeley Version           .

New Life Version                    .

New Living Translation           .

The Passion Translation        .

Unfolding Bible Simplified      Yahweh also said to Moses, "You must cause the descendants of Levi to be acceptable to me by setting them apart from the other Israelite people. Do that by sprinkling them with water which will symbolize their being freed from the guilt of their sins. Then they must shave off all the hair of their bodies and wash their clothes. Then they must bring one bull and some flour mixed with olive oil. Those things will be burned as sacrifices. They must also bring another bull that will be sacrificed to take away the guilt of their sins.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          .

Beck’s American Translation .

Common English Bible           .

New Advent (Knox) Bible       .

Translation for Translators     .

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Berean Study Bible                .

Christian Standard Bible        .

Conservapedia Translation    .

Revised Ferrar-Fenton Bible  .

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           .

The Heritage Bible                          And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

Take the Levites from the midst of the children of Israel, and purify them.

And you shall do like this to them to purify them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let the razor cross over all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make them pure.

And let them take a bullock, a son of cattle, with its food offering, flour mixed with oil, and a second bullock, a son of cattle, you shall take for a sin offering.

International Standard V        .

International Standard V        Purifying the Descendants of Levi

Then the Lord told Moses, “Take the descendants of Levi from the Israelis and purify them. This is what you are to do for them in order to purify them: Sprinkle purifying water over them, have them shave their skin, and then have them wash their garments, and they will be purified. They are to take a young bull along with its meal offering made of flour mixed with oil.

“Then you are to take a second young bull as a sin offering.

H. C. Leupold                         .

Lexham English Bible            .

NIV, ©2011                             .

Unfolding Bible Literal Text    .

Urim-Thummim Version         YHWH spoke to Moses saying, Take the Levites from among the children of Israel and cleanse them. And this you will do for cleansing them. Sprinkle water of purification on them and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean. Then let them take a young bull with a Grain-Offering, fine flour mixed with oil, and another young bull take for a Sin- Offering.

Wikipedia Bible Project          .

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)  The Levites are offered to Yahweh

Yahweh spoke to Moses and said: “Sep arate the Levites from the other Israelites and purify them. You shall sprinkle them with the water of purification, and they shall shave their bodies all over and wash their clothing. They will then be clean. They shall next take a young bull, with the accompanying grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you shall take a second young bull for a sacrifice for sin.

Lev 14:8; Ezk 36:25

New American Bible (2011)   .

The Catholic Bible                  .

New Jerusalem Bible             .

NRSV (Anglicized Cath. Ed.) .

Revised English Bible–1989   .

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           .

Eth Cepher Bible                    And Yahuah spoke unto Mosheh, saying, Take the Leviyiym from among the children of Yashar’el, and cleanse them.  And thus shall you do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.  Then let them take a young bullock with his oblation, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shall you take for a sin offering.

exeGeses companion Bible   .

Hebraic Roots Bible               .

Kaplan Translation                 .

The Scriptures–2009              And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Take the Lěwites from among the children of Yisra’ěl, and you shall cleanse them, and do this to them to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of sin offering on them, and they shall shave all their body, and shall wash their garments, and cleanse themselves, and shall take a young bull with its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, while you take another young bull as a sin offering.

Tree of Life Version                Again Adonai spoke to Moses saying, Take the Levites from among Bnei-Yisrael and ceremonially cleanse them. This is what you must do to them to make them clean: Sprinkle the purifying water on them, then have them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes, thus purifying themselves. “Then they are to take a young bull with its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, plus a second young bull for a sin offering.

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Alpha & Omega Bible            AND JESUS SPOKE TO MOSES, SAYING,

TAKE THE LEVITES OUT OF THE MIDST OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND YOU SHALL PURIFY THEM.

AND THUS SHALL YOU PERFORM THEIR PURIFICATION: YOU SHALL SPRINKLE THEM WITH WATER OF PURIFICATION, AND A RAZOR SHALL COME UPON THE WHOLE OF THEIR BODY, AND THEY SHALL WASH THEIR GARMENTS, AND SHALL BE CLEAN.

AND THEY SHALL TAKE ONE CALF OF THE HERD, AND ITS MEAT-OFFERING, FINE FLOUR MINGLED WITH OIL: AND YOU SHALL TAKE A CALF OF A YEAR OLD OF THE HERD FOR A SIN-OFFERING.

Awful Scroll Bible                   Sustains To Become persists to be the speaker to Moses, to the intent, Be taking the Levites from among the sons of Isra-el, and you is to have purified them. These were you to effect to purify them, spring the water of purification on them, and that in a sheath is to have passed over their flesh, and they are to have washed their garments, even are they to have been purified. They are to have taken a young of the large cattle, even a young bull, with it a tribute offering of fine flour, being mingled with oil, and another young of the large cattle, even a young bull were they to take for their misses of the mark.

Concordant Literal Version    Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, Take the Levites from the midst of the sons of Israel and cleanse them. Thus shall you do to them to cleanse them:spatter water of purification from sin over them, let them pass a razor over all their flesh, let them rinse their garments and so cleanse themselves. They will take a young bull (a calf of the herd) and its approach present of flour mingled with oil; then you shall take a second young bull (a calf of the herd) for a sin offering.

exeGeses companion Bible   PURIFYING THE LEVIYM

And Yah Veh words to Mosheh, saying,

Take the Leviym from among the sons of Yisra El

and purify them:

and work thus to them, to purify them:

sprinkle water for the sin on them:

and they pass a razor over all their flesh

and launder their clothes

and thus purify themselves.

And take a bullock son of the oxen and its offering

and flour mixed with oil:

and take a second bullock son of the oxen for the sin;...

Orthodox Jewish Bible           And Hashem spoke unto Moshe, saying,

Take the Levi'im from among the Bnei Yisroel, and make them tahor.

And thus shalt thou do unto them, to make them tahor: Sprinkle water of purification upon them, and let them cause a razor to pass over their basar, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves tahor.

Then let them take a young bull with its minchah, even fine flour mixed with shemen, and another young bull shalt thou take for a chattat.

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                .

The Expanded Bible              .

Kretzmann’s Commentary    

Lexham English Bible            Moses Consecrates the Levites

Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the Levites from the midst of the Israelites [Literally “sons/children of Israel”] and purify them. So you will do to them, to purify them: sprinkle on them waters of purification, and they will shave their whole body [Literally “they will send a razor on all their body”] and wash their garments. And they will take a young bull [Literally “a bull, a son of cattle”] and its grain offering of finely milled flour mixed with oil, and you will take a second young bull [Literally “a bull, a son of cattle”] as a sin offering.

Syndein/Thieme                     .

The Voice                               .

Bible Translations with Many Footnotes:

The Complete Tanach           .

The Geneva Bible                  .

Kaplan Translation                 Inaugurating the Levites

God spoke to Moses, saying:

Take the Levites from among the Israelites and purify them.

In order to purify them, you must sprinkle the water of the sin offering on them after they have shaved their entire bodies with a razor. They shall then immerse [their bodies] and their clothing and they will be clean.

They shall then take a young bull along with its grain offering consisting of the best grade wheat meal mixed with olive oil. You shall also present a second bull as a sin offering.

water of the sin offering

(Ibn Ezra; see Numbers, 19:19). Or, 'water of purification' (Ibn Ezra; Septuagint).

after

(Ibn Ezra; Chizzkuni). Some say that they did not shave the sides of the head and beard, as deliniated in Leviticus 19:27 (Ibn Ezra; Bachya).

immerse...

See Exodus 19:10.

bull

For the burnt offering (Rashi; see Numbers 8:12).

grain offering

Three-tenths of an ephah (6 quarts) as in Numbers 15:19 (Ibn Ezra; Abarbanel).

NET Bible®                             .

New American Bible (2011)   .

New Catholic Bible                 .

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying:

Take the Levites, out of the midst of the sons of Israel,—and thou shalt purify them.

And ||thus|| shalt thou do unto themˎ to purify them, sprinkle upon them sin-cleansing water,^d—then shall they cause a razor to pass over all their flesh, and shall wash their clothesˎ and so make themselves pure. Then shall they take a choice young bullock, with the meal-offering thereofˎ even fine meal overflowed with oil,—and <a second choice young bullock> shalt thou takeˎ as a sin-bearer.

^d Or: water prepared by contact with a “sin-bearer.”

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. .

Updated ASV                         .

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

A Faithful Version                  .

C. Thomson Updated OT       .

Charles Thomson OT            Moreover the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and purify them. And in this manner thou shalt perform their purification. Thou shalt sprinkle them with the water of purification, and a razor shall pass over their whole body, and they shall wash their clothes, and they will be clean. V. 8 will be placed with the next passage for context.

Context Group Version          And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, Take the Levites from among the sons of Israel, and cleanse them. And thus you shall do to them, to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of expiation on them, and let them cause a razor to pass over all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and cleanse themselves. Then let them take a young bull, and its tribute [offerings], fine flour mingled with oil; and another young bull you shall take for a purification-offering.

English Standard Version      .

Green’s Literal Translation    .

Legacy Standard Bible           .

Literal Standard Version        .

Modern English Version         .

Modern Literal Version 2020  And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, Take the Levites from among the sons of Israel and cleanse them. And you will do thus to them to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of sin offering upon them and let them cause a razor to pass over all their flesh and let them wash their clothes and cleanse themselves. Then let them take a young bull and its food-offering– fine flour mingled with oil. And you will take another young bull for a sin-offering.

New American Standard B.    .

New European Version          .

New King James Version       .

Niobi Study Bible                   .

Owen's Translation                .

Revised Mechanical Trans.    ...and YHWH spoke to Mosheh saying, take the ones of Lewi from the midst of the sons of Yisra'eyl, and you will declare them clean, and in this way you will do for them, to declare them clean, spatter the waters of failure upon them, and they will make a razor cross over upon all their flesh, and they will wash their garments, and they will be declared clean, and they will take a bull, a son of the cattle, and his deposit of flour mixed in the oil, and a second bull, a son of the cattle, you will take for a failure,...

Updated ASV                         Cleansing the Levites, Begin Serving

And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the Levites from among the sons of Israel, and cleanse them. And thus you shall do to them, to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of purification on them and let them go with a razor over all their body and wash their clothes and cleanse themselves. Then let them take a young bull, and its grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil; and another young bull you shall take for a sin offering.

Updated Bible Version 2.17   .

A Voice in the Wilderness      .

Webster’s Bible Translation  .

World English Bible                .

Young's Literal Translation     .

Young’s Updated LT             .

The gist of this passage: 

5-8

Translation: And so Y^ehowah speaks to Moses, saying,...

Most of the time, we are not told exactly when and where God spoke to Moses. However, there seem to be three specific places where this occurs: (1) when Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving the Law from God; (2) when Moses went into the prototype Tabernacle to commune with God; and (3) when Moses entered into the actual Tabernacle to speak with God, and God spoke to Moses from the Mercy Seat, which sat upon the Ark of the Covenant.

This is #3, given the final verse of Numbers 7, which should have been the first verse of Numbers 8: And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him. (Numbers 7:89; ESV)

Now, here is how I see this. Moses—and this is completely unique with him (until we come to David)—walks into the front section of the Tabernacle. Moses oversaw everything that took place when it came to the construction of the Tabernacle and of all the related articles and furniture. Moses knows that God has manifested His Presence inside of the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:34–35 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. —ESV) So, it would never even occur to Moses that he could not enter into the Tabernacle, unless God made that impossible, as He did when He filled the Tabernacle with the Cloud of His Presence (compare this to Exodus 40:36–38).

I don’t quite have Moses’ motivation in mind yet. Did he simply want to talk to God; was he moved to talk to God? Did God, in some way, draw Moses to the Tabernacle? Or, did Moses simply walk into the Tabernacle and stand there each and every day to become prepared for that day? I believe that, if the latter were true, then there would be a number of Scriptures which would suggest this. Somewhere, we would read something like, and as was his daily ritual, Moses entered into the Tabernacle. On the other hand, I don’t believe that God the Holy Spirit meant for someone to read the Law of Moses and suddenly decide, “Moses went into the Tabernacle all of the time, so that is what I should be doing.” I have been studying the Law of Moses off and on for about 30 years and only today is it clear to me that Moses entering into the Tabernacle was a normal thing for him to do. It was as normal for him to enter into the Tabernacle and it was for 99.99999% of Israel not to enter the Tabernacle.

I believe that we may infer from this a super-status for Moses at this point in time. Whether we want to designate this as supergrace or as ultra supergrace; and the key to Moses having both the gift and office of prophet (a distinction which has eluded me personally).

In any case, I don’t think it ever occurred to Moses that the Tabernacle was off limits to him; and there is nothing which God says to indicate that God was displeased with this.

There is certainly a double-edged sword here. The more that God entrusts you with, the more that He expects from you and the more discipline that God may bring to you. Moses is an excellent illustration here. Moses will make one mistake—a mistake that nearly all of Christendom does not understand—and that one mistake will keep him from entering into the land of promise. Moses was given great grace and great blessing and great understanding—no one comes close to Moses until David—but God expects so much more from him than from anyone else of his era.

Translation: ...“Take the Levites out from the midst of the sons of Israel...

The Levites had a special position among the Israelites. They had a part to play in the spiritual development of Israel. This means that they needed to be purified. Now, this is a ritual purification.

All people are made clean by the offering of Jesus Christ on the cross. These ceremonies represent what Jesus would do. These ceremonies are types and Jesus on the cross is the antitype.

Translation: ...and you have cleansed them...

The Levites had a number of things done to them to cleanse them prior to the purification ceremony.

Numbers 8:5–6 And so Y^ehowah speaks to Moses, saying, “Take the Levites out from the midst of the sons of Israel and you have cleansed them and so [this is what] you will do to them to cleanse them:... (Kukis mostly literal translation)

In his attempt to be literal, Young translates perfect tense of a verb and translates it as though it is a completed action. So, if you are following along in his translation, it reads and thou hast cleansed them. However, the Hebrew does not have a past, present or future tense; the context determines the timing of the verb. The perfect tense examines this as a completed action, not as a series of actions; however, if God is speaking to Moses, He is not telling Moses what he has done but rather what he will do; therefore, I have used the English future tense. I say this on behalf of anyone who knows that I use Young's Translation as a guide (as well as Owen's terrific Analytical Key to the Old Testament). The Levites have been set apart for service directly to God, to assist Aaron and his sons, and therefore anyone in service to God must be cleansed. No matter how good, kind and nice a person is, they are not in service to God if (1) they are not saved and (2) they are not in fellowship. If I give all my possessions and if I deliver my gody to be burned, but I do not have love [a reference to the filling of the Spirit in this context], [then] it profits me nothing (1Corinthians 13:3). The ceremonial cleansing speaks of the perfection of Jesus Christ in His, the ultimate work; and on a less important level, of our service as Christians.