Numbers 8

The Seven Lamps

1Then the LordH3068 spokeH1696 to MosesH4872, sayingH559, 2“SpeakH1696 to AaronH175 and sayH559 to him, ‘When you 1mountH5927 the lampsH5216, the sevenH7651 lampsH5216 will 2giveH215 lightH215 in the frontH6440 of the lampstandH4501.’” 3AaronH175 therefore didH6213 soH3651; he 3mountedH5927 its lampsH5216 at the frontH6440 of the lampstandH4501, justH3512 as the LordH3068 had commandedH6680 MosesH4872. 44Now thisH2088 was the workmanshipH4639 of the lampstandH4501, hammeredH4749 workH4749 of goldH2091; from its baseH3409 to its flowersH6525 it was hammeredH4749 workH4749; 5according to the patternH4758 whichH834 the LordH3068 had shownH7200 MosesH4872, soH3651 he madeH6213 the lampstandH4501.

Cleansing the Levites

5Again the LordH3068 spokeH1696 to MosesH4872, sayingH559, 6“TakeH3947 the LevitesH3881 from amongH8432 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 and 6cleanseH2891 them. 7ThusH3541 you shall doH6213 to them, for their 7cleansingH2891: sprinkle 8purifyingH2891 9waterH4325 on them, and let them 1011useH5674 a razorH8593 overH5921 their wholeH3605 12bodyH1320 and 13washH3526 their clothesH899, and they will be cleanH2891. 8Then let them takeH3947 a 14bullH6499H1121H1241 with 15its grain offeringH4503, fineH5560 flourH5560 mixedH1101 with oilH8081; and a secondH8145 16bullH6499 you shall takeH3947 for a sinH2403 offeringH2403. 9So 17you shall presentH7126 the LevitesH3881 beforeH6440 the tentH168 of meetingH4150. 18You shall also assembleH6950 the wholeH3605 congregationH5712 of the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478, 10and presentH7126 the LevitesH3881 beforeH6440 the LordH3068; and the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 19shall layH5564 their handsH3027 on the LevitesH3881. 11AaronH175 then shall 20presentH5130 the LevitesH3881 beforeH6440 the LordH3068 as a 21waveH8573 offeringH8573 from the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478, that they may 22qualifyH1961 to performH5647 the serviceH5656 of the LordH3068. 12Now 23the LevitesH3881 shall layH5564 their handsH3027 on the headsH7218 of the bullsH6499; then offerH6213 the oneH259 for a sinH2403 offeringH2403 and the otherH259 for a burntH5930 offeringH5930 to the LordH3068, to makeH3722 atonementH3722 for the LevitesH3881. 13You shall have the LevitesH3881 standH5975 beforeH6440 AaronH175 and beforeH6440 his sonsH1121 so as to presentH5130 them as a waveH8573 offeringH8573 to the LordH3068.

14“Thus you shall separateH914 the LevitesH3881 from amongH8432 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478, and 24the LevitesH3881 shall be Mine. 15Then afterH310 that the LevitesH3881 may goH935 in to serveH5647 the tentH168 of meetingH4150. But you shall cleanseH2891 them and 25presentH5130 them as a waveH8573 offeringH8573; 16for they are 26whollyH5414 givenH5414 to Me from amongH8432 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478. I have takenH3947 them for Myself 27insteadH8478 of everyH3605 firstH6363 issueH6363 of the wombH7358, the firstbornH1060 of allH3605 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478. 17For 28everyH3605 firstbornH1060 among the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 is Mine, among the menH120 and among the animalsH929; on the dayH3117 that I struckH5221 downH5221 allH3605 the firstbornH1060 in the landH776 of EgyptH4714 I sanctifiedH6942 them for Myself. 18But I have takenH3947 the LevitesH3881 insteadH8478 of everyH3605 firstbornH1060 among the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478. 1929I have givenH5414 the LevitesH3881 as 30a giftH5414 to AaronH175 and to his sonsH1121 from amongH8432 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478, to performH5647 the serviceH5656 of the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 at the tentH168 of meetingH4150 and to makeH3722 atonementH3722 on behalfH5921 of the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478, so that there will be noH3808 31plagueH5063 among the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 by 32their comingH5066 nearH5066 to the sanctuaryH6944.”

20Thus didH6213 MosesH4872 and AaronH175 and allH3605 the congregationH5712 of the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 to the LevitesH3881; according to allH3605 that the LordH3068 had commandedH6680 MosesH4872 concerning the LevitesH3881, soH3651 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 didH6213 to them. 2133The LevitesH3881, too, purifiedH2398 themselves from sinH2398 and washedH3526 their clothesH899; and AaronH175 presentedH5130 them as a waveH8573 offeringH8573 beforeH6440 the LordH3068. AaronH175 also madeH3722 atonementH3722 for them to cleanseH2891 them. 22Then afterH310 that the LevitesH3881 wentH935 in to performH5647 their serviceH5656 in the tentH168 of meetingH4150 beforeH6440 AaronH175 and beforeH6440 his sonsH1121; justH3512 as the LordH3068 had commandedH6680 MosesH4872 concerningH5921 the LevitesH3881, soH3651 they didH6213 to them.

Retirement

23Now the LordH3068 spokeH1696 to MosesH4872, sayingH559, 24“ThisH2088 is whatH834 applies to the LevitesH3881: from 34twenty-fiveH6242H2568 yearsH8141 oldH1121 and upwardH4605 35they shall enterH935 to performH6633 serviceH6635 in the workH5656 of the tentH168 of meetingH4150. 25But at the ageH1121 of fiftyH2572 yearsH8141 they shall 36retireH7725 from serviceH6635 in the workH5656 and not workH5647 anyH5750 moreH5750. 26They may, however, 37assistH8334 their brothersH251 in the tentH168 of meetingH4150, 38to keepH8104 an obligationH4931, but they themselves shall doH5647 noH3808 workH5656. ThusH3602 you shall dealH6213 with the LevitesH3881 concerning their obligationsH4931.”