The seven lamps are placed on the golden candlestick, to shine towards the loaves of proposition: the ordination of the Levites: and to what age they shall serve in the tabernacle.
Seuen lampes are so placed on the golden candlestucke, that they may shine towardes the breades of proposition. 5. the ordination of the Leuites. 24. And at what age they shal serue in the tabernacle.
1And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:E il Signore parlò a Mosè, e disse:AND our Lord spake to Moyses, saying:Locutusque est Dominus ad Moysen, dicens: 2Speak 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.Parla ad Aronne, e di' a lui: Quando tu avrai messe le sette lucerne sul candelliere, lo collocherai dalla parte di mezzodì. Ordina adunque che le lucerne guardino a settentrione verso la mensa de' pani della proposizione; esse debbon gettare la loro luce in quella parte, che è dirimpetto al candelliere.Speake to Aaron, and thou shalt say to him: When thou shalt place the seuen lampes, let the candlesticke be sette vp in the south part ouer against the north, toward the table of the breades of proposition, ouer against that part toward which the candlesticke looketh, shal they shine.Loquere Aaron, et dices ad eum: Cum posueris septem lucernas, candelabrum in australi parte erigatur. Hoc igitur præcipe ut lucernæ contra boream e regione respiciant ad mensam panum propositionis, contra eam partem, quam candelabrum respicit, lucere debebunt. 3And Aaron did so, and he put the lamps upon the candlestick, as the Lord had commanded Moses.E Aronne fece così, e pose le lucerne sul candelliere, conforme avea ordinato il Signore a Mosè.And Aaron did so, and he put the lampes vpon the candlesticke, as our Lord had cōmanded Moyses. this was the making of the candlesticke,Fecitque Aaron, et imposuit lucernas super candelabrum, ut præceperat Dominus Moysi. 4Now 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.Or il candelabro era fatto in tal guisa: tanto il tronco di mezzo, quanto tutte le braccia, che spuntavano dall'uno e dall'altro lato, erano di un sol pezzo d'oro lavorato a martello: secondo il modello mostratogli dal Signore fabbricò Mosè il candelabro.of beaten gold, as wel the middle shaft, as al thinges that arose of both sides of the branches: according to the example which our Lord shewed to Moyses, so wrought he the candlesticke.Hæc autem erat factura candelabri, ex auro ductili, tam medius stipes, quam cuncta quæ ex utroque calamorum latere nascebantur: juxta exemplum quod ostendit Dominus Moysi, ita operatus est candelabrum.
5And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:E il Signore parlò a Mosè, e disse:And our Lord spake to Moyses saying:Et locutus est Dominus ad Moysen, dicens: 6Take the Levites out of the midst of the children of Israel, and thou shalt purify them,Separa i Leviti di mezzo a' figliuoli d'Israele, e purificagliTake the Leuites out of the middes of the children of Israel, and thou shalt purifie them,Tolle Levitas de medio filiorum Israël, et purificabis eos 7According 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,Con questo rito: si aspergano coll'acqua di espiazione, e radano tutti i peli del loro corpo: e dopo che avranno lavate le lor vesti, e si saranno mondati,according to this rite: Let them be sprinkled with the water of lustration, & shaue al the haires of their flesh. And when they haue washed their garmentes, and are cleansed,juxta hunc ritum: aspergantur aqua lustrationis, et radant omnes pilos carnis suæ. Cumque laverint vestimenta sua, et mundati fuerint, 8They 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:Prenderanno un bue di branco, e per sua libagione del fior di farina aspersa d'olio: un altro bue di branco prenderai tu per lo peccato:they shal take an oxe out of the heardes, and his libament flowre tempered with oyle: and an other oxe out of the heard thou shalt take for sinne:tollent bovem de armentis, et libamentum ejus similam oleo conspersam: bovem autem alterum de armento tu accipies pro peccato: 9And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the covenant, calling together all the multitude of the children of Israel:E condurrai i Leviti dinanzi al tabernacolo dell'alleanza, congregato tutto il concilio de' figliuoli d'Israele.and thou shalt bring the Leuites before the tabernacle of couenant, calling together al the multitude of the children of Israel.et applicabis Levitas coram tabernaculo fœderis, convocata omni multitudine filiorum Israël. 10And when the Levites are before the Lord, the children of Israel shall put their hands upon them:E quando i Leviti saranno dinanzi al Signore, i figliuoli d'Israele porranno le loro mani sopra di essi:And when the Leuites are before the Lord, the children of Israel shal put their handes vpon them.Cumque Levitæ fuerint coram Domino, ponent filii Israël manus suas super eos.
11And Aaron shall offer the Levites, as a gift in the sight of the Lord from the children of Israel, that they may serve in his ministry.E Aronne offerirà i Leviti qual dono de' figliuoli d'Israele al cospetto del Signore, perché a lui servano nel ministero.and Aaron shal offer the Leuites, a gift in the sight of the Lord from the children of Israel, that they may serue in his ministerie.Et offeret Aaron Levitas, munus in conspectu Domini a filiis Israël, ut serviant in ministerio ejus. 12The Levites also shall put their hands upon the heads of the oxen, of which thou shalt sacrifice one for sin, and the other for a holocaust to the Lord, to pray for them.Parimente i Leviti imporranno le mani loro sulle teste de' buoi, de' quali uno lo immolerai per lo peccato, e l'altro in olocausto al Signore affine d'impetrare grazia per essi.The Leuites also shal put their handes vpon the heades of the oxen, of the which thou shalt make one for sinne, and the other for holocauste of the Lord, to pray for them.Levitæ quoque ponent manus suas super capita boum, e quibus unum facies pro peccato, et alterum in holocaustum Domini, ut depreceris pro eis. 13And thou shalt set the Levites in the sight of Aaron and of his, and shalt consecrate them being offered to the Lord,E presenterai i Leviti al cospetto d'Aronne, e dei suoi figliuoli, e offertigli al Signore li consacrerai,And thou shalt sette the Leuites in the sight of Aaron and of his sonnes, and being offered shal consecrate them to the Lord,Statuesque Levitas in conspectu Aaron et filiorum ejus, et consecrabis oblatos Domino, 14And shalt separate them from the midst of the children of Israel, to be mine.E li separerai di mezzo a' figliuoli d'Israele, affinché sieno miei:and shal separate them from the middes of the children of Israel, to be mine.ac separabis de medio filiorum Israël, ut sint mei. 15And afterwards they shall enter into the tabernacle of the covenant, to serve me. And thus shalt thou purify and consecrate them for an oblation of the Lord: for as a gift they were given me by the children of Israel.E dopo di ciò entreranno nel tabernacolo dell'alleanza per servire a me. In tal guisa tu li purificherai, e li consacrerai in offerendogli al Signore: perocché sono stati donati a me da' figliuoli d'Israele.And afterward they shal enter into the tabernacle of couenant, to serue me. And thou shalt so purifie and consecrate them for an oblation of the Lord: because they were geuen me for a gift of the children of Israel.Et postea ingredientur tabernaculum fœderis, ut serviant mihi. Sicque purificabis et consecrabis eos in oblationem Domini: quoniam dono donati sunt mihi a filiis Israël.
16I have taken them instead of the firstborn that open every womb in Israel,Io gli ho accettati in cambio de' primogeniti, che escono i primi dal sen materno in Israele:For the first borne that open euerie matrice in Israel, I haue taken them. For mine are al the first bornePro primogenitis quæ aperiunt omnem vulvam in Israël, accepi eos. 17For all the firstborn of the children of Israel, both of men and of beasts, are mine. From the day that I slew every firstborn in the land of Egypt, have I sanctified them to myself:Perocché sono miei tutti i primogeniti de' figliuoli d'Israele tanto degli uomini, come degli animali: li riserbai per me fin da quel giorno, in cui io uccisi tutti i primogeniti nella terra d'Egitto:of the children of Israel, as wel of men as of beastes. From the day that I smote euerie first borne in the Land of Aegypt, haue I sanctified them to me:Mea sunt enim omnia primogenita filiorum Israël, tam ex hominibus quam ex jumentis. Ex die quo percussi omne primogenitum in terra Ægypti, sanctificavi eos mihi: 18And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel:E io presi i Leviti in vece di tutti i primogeniti dei figliuoli d'Israele:and I haue taken the Leuites for al the first borne of the children of Israel:et tuli Levitas pro cunctis primogenitis filiorum Israël, 19And have delivered them for a gift to Aaron and his sons out of the midst of the people, to serve me for Israel in the tabernacle of the covenant, and to pray for them, lest there should be a plague among the people, if they should presume to approach unto my sanctuary.E trattili di mezzo al popolo gli ho donati ad Aronne, e a' suoi figliuoli, affinché servano a me per Israele nel tabernacolo dell'alleanza, e per lui faccian preghiere, affinché non sia flagellato il popolo, ove ardisse d'accostarsi al santuario.and haue deliuered them for a gift to Aaron and his sonnes out of the middes of the people, to serue me for Israel in the tabernacle of couenant, and to pray for them that there be no plague among the people, if they should presume to approch vnto my Sanctuarie.tradidique eos dono Aaron et filiis ejus de medio populi, ut serviant mihi pro Israël in tabernaculo fœderis, et orent pro eis ne sit in populo plaga, si ausi fuerint accedere ad sanctuarium. 20And Moses and Aaron and all the multitude of the children of Israel did with the Levites all that the Lord had commanded Moses:E Mosè ed Aronne, e tutta la moltitudine de' figliuoli d'Israele fecero riguardo a' Leviti quello che il Signore avea comandato a Mosè:And Moyses and Aaron and al the multitude of the children of Israel did concerning the Leuites the thinges that our Lord had commanded Moyses:Feceruntque Moyses et Aaron et omnis multitudo filiorum Israël super Levitas quæ præceperat Dominus Moysi:
21And they were purified, and washed their garments. And Aaron lifted them up in the sight of the Lord, and prayed for them,E furono purificati, e lavarono le loro vesti, e Aronne gli elevò al cospetto del Signore, e fece orazione per essi:and they were purified, and washed their garmentes. And Aaron eleuated them in the sight of our Lord, and prayed for them,purificatique sunt, et laverunt vestimenta sua. Elevavitque eos Aaron in conspectu Domini, et oravit pro eis, 22That being purified they might go into the tabernacle of the covenant to do their services before Aaron and his sons. As the Lord had commanded Moses touching the Levites, so was it done.Affinché purificati entrassero ad esercitare gli uffizi loro nel tabernacolo dell'alleanza sotto Aronne, e i figliuoli di lui. Quello che il Signore ordinò a Mosè riguardo a' Leviti, fu fatto.that being purified they might enter to their offices into the tabernacle of couenant before Aaron & his sonnes. Fuen as our Lord had cō manded Moyses touching the Leuites, so was it done.ut purificati ingrederentur ad officia sua in tabernaculum fœderis coram Aaron et filiis ejus. Sicut præceperat Dominus Moysi de Levitis, ita factum est. 23And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:E il Signore parlò a Mosè, e disse:And our Lord spake to Moyses, saying:Locutusque est Dominus ad Moysen, dicens: 24This is the law of the Levites: From twenty-five years old and upwards, they shall go in to minister in the tabernacle of the covenant.Questa è la legge riguardo a' Leviti: Da' venticinque anni in là entreranno a servire nel tabernacolo dell'alleanza:This is the law of the Leuites, From twentie fiue yeares and vpward, they shal enter in to minister in the tabernacle of couenant.Hæc est lex Levitarum: a viginti quinque annis et supra, ingredientur ut ministrent in tabernaculo fœderis. 25And when they shall have accomplished the fiftieth year of their age, they shall cease to serve:E compiuto l'anno cinquantesimo dell'età loro, finiranno di servire:And when they shal haue accomplisheth the fiftith yeare of their age, they shal cease to serue:Cumque quinquagesimum annum ætatis impleverint, servire cessabunt, 26And they shall be the ministers of their brethren in the tabernacle of the covenant, to keep the things that are committed to their care, but not to do the works. Thus shalt thou order the Levites touching their charge.E saranno aiuti dei loro fratelli al tabernacolo dell'alleanza per aver cura delle cose, che saranno loro affidate; ma non faranno le funzioni di prima. Così disporrai riguardo alle incumbenze de' Leviti.and shal be the ministers of their brethren in the tabernacle of couenant, to keepe the thinges that are cōmended to them, but not to do the verie workes. Thus shalt thou dispose to the Leuites in their custodies.eruntque ministri fratrum suorum in tabernaculo fœderis, ut custodiant quæ sibi fuerunt commendata: opera autem ipsa non faciant. Sic dispones Levitis in custodiis suis.
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Year of the World 2514, Year before Christ 1490.
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Calmet
Looketh. This candlestick stood on the south side, with one branch extending towards the altar of incense, on the east; and the other to the west, so as to give light to the loaves of proposition, on the north, Exodus 25:31. (Calmet)
Menochius
It was intended to illumine the holy of holies, where a sort of feast was prepared for God, and where no windows were found. (Menochius)
Haydock
Hebrew simply, "When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against," upon, or near to "the candlestick." (Haydock)
Du Hamel
The lamps might be separated from the branches and stem of the candlestick. (Du Hamel)
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Challoner
Let them be sprinkled with the water of purification. This was the holy water, mixed with the ashes of the red cow, (Numbers xix.) appointed for purifying all that were unclean. It was a figure of the blood of Christ, applied to our souls by his holy sacraments. (Challoner)
Purification, (lustrationis) or "expiation." The water, mixed with ashes, was taken and sprinkled round about the houses, and upon those persons who wished either to be cleansed from some defilement, or to advance in virtue and purity. We use salt instead of ashes. Theocritus (Idyl. 24:100,) puts these words in the mouth of Tiresias, "then mixt with salt, according to the law, with a green branch sprinkle the honoured and pure water, and sacrifice to the supreme Jupiter a hog, if you wish to gain the victory over your adversaries."
Haydock
Flesh, to remind them that they must cut off all superfluous thoughts, the roots of which they will however never be able to destroy entirely, as St. Gregory (Mor. 5:3,) says, "The flesh always produces superfluities, which the spirit must always cut away with the sword of solicitude." See Leviticus 14:8., and 21:5, 10. (Haydock)
Tirinus
The priests serving in the temple were obliged to cut their hair every month; and the Levites probably observed the same regulation, to acknowledge, that they who approach to God, must be pure and detached from earthly cares, (Calmet) and particularly from the works of sin; to remind them of which, they were to be sprinkled with water, their garments washed, and they were to offer two oxen by the hands of Aaron, and to be lifted up or offered to God, to serve in his court. (Tirinus)
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Calmet
Upon them. Some of the princes performed this ceremony, to testify that they gave up the Levites to serve God, (ver. 15,) and would not be answerable, if they were guilty of any irreverence or neglect. (Calmet)
Du Hamel
They offered them as a sort of sacrifice for the people, (Menochius) and gave their approbation to them, setting them at liberty, ver. 14., and 20. (Du Hamel)
8:11
A gift. Hebrew, "he shall heave them as a heave-offering before the Lord." Some assert, that Aaron lifted each of them towards the four quarters of the world; (ver. 21,) or he made them go up towards the altar, and on each side. This ceremony was performed whenever a Levite was taken into the ministry, 2 Paralipomenon 29:34.
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Haydock
Thou, Moses, though the Hebrew here seems to refer it to Aaron, "he shall." But the Septuagint and Arabic agree with the Vulgate, and the context shews that Moses is the person (Calmet) who had chiefly to officiate. Aaron also performed his part, ver. 11. (Haydock)
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Menochius
Mine. Free from the burdens of the state, and employed in singing and keeping the doors of the sanctuary. (Menochius)
8:15
Haydock
Into, or "towards, about;" for the priests alone could enter in. Hebrew, "the Levites shall go in (or be admitted) to do the service of the tabernacle," and to remove it, etc., ver. 19. (Haydock)
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Menochius
Lifted. Hebrew tenupha, Exodus 29:24. Perhaps only a few were received at once. (Menochius)
Prayed. Hebrew means also "to expiate, or redeem," as ver. 19.
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Serve, in any laborious functions, as the original imports.
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Grotius
Ministers. Hebrew, "to watch over," (Calmet) direct, and "train up their brethren," Samaritan. (Grotius)
8:7
Let them be sprinkled with the water of purification.... This was the holy water mixed with the ashes of the red cow, Num. 19., appointed for purifying all that were unclean. It was a figure of the blood of Christ, applied to our souls by his holy sacraments.
8:7
This water was mixed with ashes of a redde. ow sacrificed without the campe. chap. •9.
8:21
Aaron hauing receiued the Leuites, presēted them to God, and so addicted them to their designed offices.
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St Cyprian of Carthage † AD 258 The Epistles of Cyprian 75.12
… And that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of sprinkling hath not been sprinkled upon him.” And again: “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: thou shalt sprinkle them with the water of purification.”
8:2
When thou shalt set up seven lamps, let the candlestick be erected in the southern part,—that is to say, Place seven lamps upon the seven-branched candlestick, and light them, and place the candlestick itself in the southern part of the tabernacle.
Note: For "shalt set up" the Hebrew is haalot, which word signifies both to elevate and to impose, and also to kindle. Our Interpreter, however, with the Septuagint, more often translates it as to place, to set, to arrange. Whence it appears that these seven lamps, or lights, were not cast or continuous with the candlestick itself, but that they were separate from it, so that they could be imposed upon it, that is, upon its seven branches, and were in fact imposed, whenever they were kindled by the priests. For it was more convenient that they could be removed, in order that they might be better cleansed, refilled and arranged.
Therefore command this, that the lamps face toward the north opposite the table of the bread of proposition. — All these things are not in the Hebrew, but are supplied and added paraphrastically by our Interpreter from Exodus, for the sake of explanation. For in the Hebrew there is only that which follows, namely: On the side which the candlestick faces, they shall shine, that is to say, Set up the candlestick with its lamps in the southern part of the tabernacle, so that its light may be cast toward the opposite northern part, in which is the table of the bread of proposition, that it may illuminate it. For this is the table at which God is, as it were, entertained; but no one is entertained in darkness, but in light: and the tabernacle was covered all around with curtains and had no window, and was therefore dark, and for this reason the candlestick was placed in it to illuminate it: God therefore here commands its seven lamps to be turned, not toward the Holy of Holies, but toward the table of the bread of proposition, so that they may shine toward that part which the candlestick faces, that is, the middle shaft or trunk of the candlestick itself, so that both this trunk of the candlestick and each of its lamps may equally face this table, so that they may illuminate it better and more abundantly.
8:3
And Aaron made, and set the lamps upon the candlestick. — Aaron set and lit the lamps on the eighth day, when his consecration was already completed: for in the first seven days, Moses both set and lit these lamps, and burned incense, and made sacrifice, as I said in chapter VII.
Hence it is clear that there is also here a hysteron proteron; for these things are not recounted here in historical order, because according to that order they should have been placed in Leviticus IX. For there Aaron celebrates his first offerings, of which part was this lighting and arrangement of the lamps. But because there the matter is almost entirely about sacrifices, hence into this place, after the offering of the princes, which occurred at about the same time, they have been transferred.
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Of beaten gold (were) both the middle shaft and all things that were born from either side of the branches, — that is to say, The candlestick was not composed and fitted together from fragments and parts, but the whole was of beaten gold, that is, the whole was drawn out from one mass of gold by hammering; the whole, I say, that is, both the shaft and three branches on either side, and those things that were born from the branches on either side, namely flowers, cups and spherules repeated a third time and distributed into three rows, all these things were drawn out from the same gold: it was otherwise with the lamps, as I said in verse 2.
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Take the Levites and purify them. — These things happened at the same time as the election and offering of the Levites in place of the firstborn of Israel, of which in chapter III, verse 45. For then the Levites, selected by God, were at the same time applied by Moses to God and to the worship of God: but there their election is described, here their consecration, which nevertheless was made at the same time.
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Let them be sprinkled with the water of lustration, — which is mixed with the ashes of the red heifer, of which in chapter XIX; in Hebrew this water is called the water of sin, that is, expiatory of sin, by metonymy. Note: This was the rite of consecration of the Levites, as is clear from the text: first, Moses sprinkles them with the water of lustration; second, they themselves shaved all the hair of their flesh; third, they washed their garments; fourth, they offered two oxen, one to be immolated for sin, the other as a holocaust; fifth, Moses stood them before God in the tabernacle, before all the people; sixth, the sons of Israel laid their hands upon them; seventh, Aaron by the rite of the wave offering, of which verse 15, offered the Levites, as it were a gift of the people, to God, to serve him in the tabernacle; eighth, the Levites laid their hands upon their two oxen, which Aaron then immolated, praying for the Levites.
Tropologically St. Gregory, book V of the Morals, chapter XXIII, and from him Rupert: "The hairs of the flesh," he says, "are any superfluous things of human corruption. It is necessary therefore that the Levites shave the hair of their flesh; because he who is assumed in divine services ought to appear before the eyes of God clean from all thoughts of the flesh. Whence also the hairs of the Levites were commanded to be shaved, not plucked out: for when hairs are shaved, the roots remain in the flesh and grow again, so that they may be cut off; because indeed superfluous thoughts must be cut off with great effort, but nevertheless cannot be cut off entirely: for the flesh always generates superfluous things, which the spirit always cuts off with the knife of solicitude."
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They shall take a bullock from the herds, — that they may offer it to you, O Moses, to be immolated as a holocaust, just as they will offer the other, which you likewise shall receive from them, to be immolated for sin.
8:10
And when the Levites shall be before the Lord, the sons of Israel shall lay their hands upon them, — so that by this laying on of hands they may signify and testify that they renounce their fellow Levites from themselves, and offer them to the Lord as it were a gift or sacrifice, and transfer them into his dominion and ministry. For the Levites were a gift and offering of the people, just as the ox was a victim. See what is said in Leviticus I, 4. Whence it follows:
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Aaron shall offer the Levites. — From this it is gathered that Aaron offered and consecrated the Levites, not Moses. The same is evident from verse 21. For this consecration of the Levites properly pertained to the high priest; and the high priest was Aaron. Therefore, what is said to Moses in verse 12, "thou shalt make," that is, "thou shalt immolate a bullock for sin," and in verse 14, "thou shalt consecrate," understand it as: thou shalt command it to be immolated and consecrated, namely through Aaron. Moses therefore offered the Levites to Aaron: but Aaron offered and consecrated them to God, with Moses also interceding at the same time.
8:13
Then they shall enter the tabernacle of the covenant. — In Hebrew, they shall enter to their ministry in the tabernacle of the covenant, namely that they might carry it, as was said in chapter IV: for this was the only office of the Levites; for to sacrifice, to light the lamps, to burn incense, to place the shewbread upon the table, these, I say, were the duties of priests alone.
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Thou shalt consecrate them in an oblation, — In Hebrew, thou shalt elevate, or thou shalt wave them with a waving, or with the rite and ceremony of tenufah, namely by waving and slightly elevating them toward the four quarters of the world, in the manner of a cross, so that it might be signified that they are offered to God, who is the Lord of the whole world, concerning which rite I have spoken in Leviticus VII, 30. Here it is evident that the Levites were elevated with this certain rite, by which also the victims were elevated. The same thing our Interpreter indicates more clearly in verse 21. Hence also it is probable that not all the Levites were consecrated at this time, but only those who were about to serve the tabernacle at that very moment: the rest were consecrated later in Chanaan. For Aaron could not conveniently offer so many thousands of Levites individually to the Lord by this rite, since just as the consecration of newly ordained priests was proper and peculiar to individual heads, as is evident from Exodus XXIX, 29, and II Paralipomenon XXIX, 34, so also it was peculiar to individual Levites, as is evident in the same place of Paralipomenon. Except the time of wandering in the desert: for just as after the departure from Sinai, sacrifice was never again offered in the desert, so after this consecration of the Levites, there was no other in the desert; but Levites succeeded, when they had reached the thirtieth year, to the burdens of carrying, even though not consecrated, with those over fifty retired. Thus Abulensis.
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That there be no plague, — as if to say: The Levites will be in the ministry of the sanctuary, lest the people wish to undertake it upon themselves, and thus be punished by me, because, being a layman and profane, he has meddled in sacred office against my commandment.
8:21
And Aaron lifted them up. — In Hebrew it is, he waved them with a waving, or with the rite of tenufah, concerning which I have spoken in verse 15.
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From five and twenty years old and upward, they shall enter (the Levites) to minister in the tabernacle of the covenant. — Note: In chapter IV, verse 3, and I Paralipomenon XXIII, 3, the Levites are numbered from the thirtieth year, those who properly ministered in the tabernacle and carried it with its vessels; therefore, what is here commanded from the 25th year, that they enter to minister in the tabernacle, understand that they were consecrated in the 25th year for this purpose, that they might serve the senior Levites and prepare themselves, so that in the 30th year they might properly minister in the tabernacle, carrying its vessels, and this until the 50th year. For after the 50th year they were retired from this service of the tabernacle, and did not bear burdens, but only kept watch, as is said in the last verse. Furthermore, in the time of David, when the Hebrews rested in Chanaan, and no longer had those heavy burdens of the tabernacle to carry through the desert; and since more persons were needed for the offices of doorkeepers, singers and the like, which David instituted, then David commanded that Levites be numbered from the twentieth year of age and minister in the tabernacle, as is evident from I Paralipomenon XXIII, 27.
8:26
Thus thou shalt appoint the Levites in their watches, — so that namely they might guard the vessels of the tabernacle, at that age and in the manner which I have already prescribed. He calls watches in the plural, because various things were given to be guarded by various families, whence there were several watches. Thus the Franciscans in various provinces have various Custodies, as they themselves call them.
Machine translation from the Latin, not reviewed.
8:1
Nisān (From Babylonian Nisannu)
On the 13th of N., Num. 8:1-4 is read in the synagogue. …
8:6
Levites (Heb. Lēwī, pl. Lēwījīm; Gr. Lēwījī, pl. -ai)
Their initiation took place with rites (Ex. 29; cf. Ex. 40; Lev. 8-9; 21), which thereafter remained traditional, including especially the imposition of hands (Num. 8:6-15). In the first census they numbered 8,580 (ibid. 4:48). To the three groups, Gershonites, Kohathites, Merarites, specialized functions and particular places were assigned near the …
The Aaronites fit for the exercise of divine worship were publicly consecrated, before beginning the sacred service, by the "sanctification" (described in Ex. 20:1-37; 40:12-15; Lev. 8:1-36), which consisted of a double rite, of purgation (Num. 8:6-7) and of oblation. …
8:10
… Ephraim and Manasseh: "Extendens manum dexteram, posuit super caput Ephraim... sinistram autem super caput Manasse"; Lev. 9:22 it is said of Aaron: "Extendens manus ad populum, benedixit ei... b) As a rite of consecration to God, either of persons: Num. 8:10 it is established with regard to the Levites: "Cumque levitae fuerint coram Domino, ponent filii Israel manus super eos"; or of the victims for sacrifice: Ex. 29:10-11: "Imponent …
8:12
… Lev. 16:20-21, for the sacrifice of the scapegoat it is prescribed: "Offerat hircum viventem, et posita utraque manu super caput eius, confiteatur omnes iniquitates filiorum Israel"; other examples ibid. 1:4; 3:2; 4:4, 24, 29, 33; 8:14, 18, 22; 16:21; Num. 8:12; II Par. 29:23 etc. This laying on of hands upon the victim, according to the nature of the sacrifice, was performed either by the high priest (cf. Lev. 16:21), or by ordinary …
8:16
… sick animals or animals destined for pagan worship, the precept of Lev. 22, 28 and of Ex. 23, 19; 34, 26; Deut. 14, 21 and Deut. 22, 6. d) Bēkhōrōth "first-born", in 9 chapters: it concerns the precepts of Ex. 13, 2.12 f.; 34, 19 f.; Lev. 27, 26 f.; Num. 8, 16 f.; 18, 15 f. and Deut. 15, 19 f. e) 'Arākhīn "valuations": concerning vows (Lev. 25, 25 f.; 17, 2-20) and the persons who make the vows. f) Tēmūrāth "exchange", 7 chapters: substitution …
Nathinei (Hebr. Nēthānīm; Septuagint Nēthānīm, rarely Nēthānīm and Nēthānīm; Vulg. Nathinae)
… The name is connected with the root nāthān "to give" (a nominal formation with passive sense, qāṭīl), whence today it is usually translated "oblates," "offered" for sacred service, as were the Levites themselves (called nēthānīm "given," passive participle, in Num. 3:9; 8:16, 19). There is no record of them in the period before the exile; it is known, however, that they existed in Babylon, whence a group returned with Ezra to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:7; 8:17, 20), …
8:17
… This consecration was linked to the destruction of the Egyptian firstborn (ibid. 13:14 ff.; Num. 3:13; 8:17).
8:18
… Although he was for the most part young (Iud. 17:5-18:20), the priest was honored with the title of "father" (ibid. 17:10; 18:19). Moses "set apart" the sons of Levi, consecrated to God in place of the firstborn of Israel who belonged to God (Ex. 22:29; Num. 3:13; 8:18) to make of them a special body of priests (Ex. 32:26-29); among the Levites (v.) he chose Aaron (v.) and his sons and consecrated them priests (Ex. 28-29, 39; Lev. 6-10. 21-22). …
8:24
Levites (Heb. Lēwī, pl. Lēwījīm; Gr. Lēwījī, pl. -ai)
Service began at the age of 25 (Num. 8:24), but only from the age of 30 did it include heavy work, such as carrying the Ark (ibid. 4:3, 47), and it lasted until the age of 50. It does not appear that they then had special garments. …
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · Vulgata Clementina · original Douay-Rheims (Douay 1609-10), transcription by EEBO-TCP (CC0) · La Sacra Bibbia, tradotta dalla Volgata da Antonio Martini (1769-1781) (LaParola (laparola.net), Martini OSIS text, Public domain (LaParola's electronic edition marks it 'Dominio pubblico')). Public domain.