The Levites are Dedicated to the Lord

The Levites are Dedicated to the Lord

The Lord said to Moses, 

“Now set the Levites apart, from the rest of the people of Israel, and make them ceremonially clean. 

Do this, by sprinkling them, with the water of purification… have them shave their entire body, and wash their clothing. 

Then, they will be ceremonially clean. 

Have them bring a young bull, and a grain offering, of choice flour, moistened with olive oil, along with a second young bull, for a sin offering. 

Then, assemble the whole community of Israel, and present the Levites, at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 

When you present the Levites, before the Lord, the people, of Israel, must lay their hands on them. 

Raising his hands, Aaron must then present the Levites, to the Lord, as a special offering, from the people of Israel, thus dedicating them, to the Lord’s service. 

“Next the Levites will lay their hands, on the heads, of the young bulls. 

Present one, as a sin offering, and the other, as a burnt offering, to the Lord, to purify the Levites, and make them right with the Lord. 

Then, have the Levites stand, in front of Aaron and his sons… raise your hands, and present them, as a special offering, to the Lord. 

In this way, you will set the Levites apart, from the rest of the people of Israel, and the Levites will belong to Me (said the Lord).

After this, they may go into the Tabernacle, to do their work, because you have purified them, and presented them, as a special offering. 

“Of all the people of Israel, the Levites are reserved for Me (said the Lord).

I have claimed them for Myself, in place of all the firstborn sons, of the Israelites; I have taken the Levites, as their substitutes. 

For all the firstborn males, among the people of Israel, are Mine, both of people and of animals. 

I set them apart for Myself, on the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. 

Yes, I have claimed the Levites, in place of all the firstborn sons, of Israel. 

And of all the Israelites, I have assigned the Levites to Aaron and his sons. 

They will serve in the Tabernacle, on behalf of the Israelites, and make sacrifices, to purify the people …so, no plague will strike them, when they approach the sanctuary.” 

So Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel, dedicated the Levites, carefully following all the Lord’s instructions, to Moses. 

The Levites purified themselves, from sin, and washed their clothes, and Aaron lifted them up, and presented them, to the Lord, as a special offering. 

He then offered a sacrifice, to purify them, and make them right, with the Lord. 

After that, the Levites went into the Tabernacle, to perform their duties, assisting Aaron and his sons. 

So, they carried out all the commands, which the Lord gave, to Moses, concerning the Levites. 

The Lord also instructed Moses, (and said)…

“This is the rule the Levites must follow: 

They must begin serving, in the Tabernacle, at the age of twenty-five, and they must retire at the age of fifty. 

After retirement, they may assist their fellow Levites, by serving, as guards, at the Tabernacle, but they may not officiate, in the service. 

This is how you must assign duties, to the Levites.” 

Numbers 8:5–26 (NLT)

Praise be to God!