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Numbers 8:1-4 meaning

After the offerings of the tribes in chapter 7, the LORD then told Moses to instruct Aaron concerning the lighting of the lamps in the tabernacle. Aaron obeyed and placed the seven lamps in front of the lampstand. The lampstand’s construction was then described.

The next topic of the purification of the Israelites was introduced by the familiar phrase the Lord spoke to Moses (v. 1). In this word from the LORD, Moses was to speak to Aaron and say to him (v. 2), signifying that this was directed toward the priests.

The LORD commanded them that when you mount the lamps, the seven lamps will give light in the front of the lampstand (v. 2). The seven lamps referred to here are those described in Exodus 25:37–40 and built in Exodus 37:23. The lampstand (Exodus 25:31ff, 37:17 – 20), is a symbol of both the Creator of light (Genesis 1:3), Jesus as the light of the world (John 8:12) and also that His people were to be lights to the world (Matthew 5:14). The tabernacle was an earthly representation of a heavenly reality (Hebrews 8:5). We see in Revelation that the Spirit of God is represented by seven lamps of fire burning before the heavenly throne of God (Revelation 4:5).

The seven lamps were placed on the left side of the Holy Place in the tabernacle (the Table of Showbread being on the right side). These seven lamps were to be placed in such a way as to give light in the front of the lampstand. This would illuminate a large area of the Holy Place to help the priests accomplish their duties.

The priests were commanded to tend the lamps on the golden lampstands and the fire on the altar in the tabernacle continually, even on the sabbath day (Leviticus 24:3). But lighting a fire outside of the tabernacle on the Sabbath Day was punishable by death (Exodus 35:2-3). This is why Jesus says, “Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent?” (Matthew 12:5).

Obediently, Aaron therefore did so (v. 3). He did exactly what the LORD commanded— he mounted its lamps at the front of the lampstand, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Verse 4 summarizes the description of the lampstand given in Exodus. Now this was the workmanship of the lampstand (v. 4). It was constructed of hammered work of gold; from its base to its flowers it was hammered work. Apparently, the lampstand was an exquisite piece of craftsmanship. It was carefully constructed according to the pattern which the Lord had shown Moses in Exodus 25:31–40. Thus, it was to those intricate detailed instructions that he made the lampstand.

Biblical Text:

¹Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ²“Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you mount the lamps, the seven lamps will give light in the front of the lampstand.’” ³Aaron therefore did so; he mounted its lamps at the front of the lampstand, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. ⁴Now this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold; from its base to its flowers it was hammered work; according to the pattern which the Lord had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.

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Additional Resources

Book Theme

The book of Numbers is the fourth of the five books of Moses that comprise the Torah, which means “Law.” It gets its English name from the Greek Old Testament called the Septuagint (or LXX). The LXX named this book, “Arithmoi,” meaning “Numbers.” Its Hebrew name means “in the desert” or “in the wilderness.” Both names are appropriate. The Hebrew name is appropriate because Numbers covers the Israelites’ wanderings in the wilderness (or “desert”) from Sinai to the plains of Moab. The Greek name is also appropriate because of the many lists, and the numbers within those lists.

At the beginning of the book, the Israelites had been camped at Mount Sinai for about a year. The book of Exodus covered their escape from Egypt and their journey to Sinai. The LORD commanded Moses to organize the people in preparation to leave Sinai and go to the Promised Land. The book covers around 38 years of the Israelites’ journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, and describes many of Israel’s failures, including mutinies against Moses and outright disobedience to the word of the LORD. In Numbers, the LORD declares that the generation that left Egypt would die in the wilderness due to their disobedience. Only two, Joshua and Caleb, were allowed to enter the Promised Land, due to their faithfulness. Even Moses died without entering the Land due to disobedience.

The book of Numbers can be outlined in many ways. The most general outline involves the generation that leaves Egypt and the one after it, as seen below:
• Events Involving the Exodus Generation (Num. 1 – 25)
• Events Involving the Second Generation (Num. 26 – 36)

Another outline sees the book having three major divisions based on the major encampments of the Israelites:
• Israel at Sinai (Num. 1:1 – 10:10)
• Israel at Kadesh Barnea (Num. 10:11 – 19:22)
• Israel on the Plains of Moab (Num. 20:1 – 36:13)

Still another outline (the one followed here) is as follows:
• The Exodus Generation in the Wilderness (chaps. 1 – 25)
◦ The Israelites Prepare to Leave Mount Sinai (1:1 – 10:10)
◦ The Israelites Depart to Kadesh Barnea (10:11 – 14:45)
◦ The Israelites Journey to the Plains of Moab (15:1 – 22:1)
◦ The Israelites Are Confronted by Balaam the Prophet (22:2 – 25:18)
• The Second Generation Prepares to Enter the Promised Land (26:1 – 36:13)
◦ The Rules Concerning Inheritance (Num. 26:1 – 27:11)
◦ The Provision for Moses’ Successor (Num. 27:12 – 23)
◦ The Laws Concerning Offerings (Num. 28:1 – 29:40)
◦ The Laws Concerning Vows (Num. 30:1 –16)
◦ The LORD’s Judgment Against the Midianites (Num. 31:1 – 54)
◦ The Inheritance of the Eastern Tribes (Num. 32:1 – 42)
◦ The Review of the Journey to Canaan (Num. 33:1 – 56)
◦ The LORD’s Instructions Before Conquering Canaan (Num. 33:50 – 36:13)

There are two themes that flow from the book of Numbers. The first concerns the LORD’s infinite grace in light of the people’s many failures and transgressions. There is hardly a book in the Bible where the LORD had to exercise His grace to His people more often than this one. The book of Numbers contains a record of Israel’s failure after failure and the LORD’s gracious forgiveness after forgiveness. Even when He judged them, there was grace.

Second, and related to the first, the book stresses the importance of obedience. God chose the Israelites unconditionally; they were the LORD’s chosen people regardless of their behavior. However, He demanded obedience to show His people that their obedience results in blessing. God set forth a way of life for His people in the covenant He and the people entered into at Sinai (Exodus 19:5-8). The Ten Commandments made it clear that God would make the law, and that the pinnacle requirement of His law was for the people to respect and serve one another. The strong were to serve the weak. This was in stark contrast to the surrounding cultures, which centered around the strong exploiting the weak (Leviticus 18). God’s judgment brought discipline upon Israel in order to shepherd them toward living in harmony and service to one another.

Chapter Context

Now that the offerings of the tribal leaders have been made, the LORD then turned to tell Moses about another role of the priest in the tabernacle. In addition to their duties concerning sacrifices, they were also responsible for lighting the seven lamps that were in the tabernacle.

The LORD then commanded Moses to consecrate (or separate) the Levites for special service to the priests and the tabernacle. The ceremony involved inward and outward cleansing and sacrifices. Once these were done, the Levites went to the tabernacle to begin their service. Levites aged 25 to 50 were to be in service, then they were to retire.

Numbers 8 can be outlined as follows:

Lighting of the Seven Lamps (Numbers 8:1 – 4)
Consecration of the Levites (Numbers 8:5 – 26)
- The Outward Purification of the Levites (Numbers 8:5 – 7)
- The Inward Purification of the Levites (Numbers 8:8 – 11)
- The Commitment of the Levites (Numbers 8:12 – 19)
- The Work of the Levites (Numbers 8:20 – 26)

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