Commentary LibraryCommentaries on Numbers 8:17
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John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO Numbers 8 In this chapter orders are given for the lighting the seven lamps of the candlestick, Numbers 8:1; and for the consecration of the Levites to their office, by a purification of them, Numbers 8:5; by a separation of them from the children of Israel, and the imposition of their hands on them, and of the hands of the Levites on the offerings offered for them, Numbers 8:9;...
John Gill
For all the firstborn of the children of Israel [are] mine, [both] men and beasts,.... Not only in common with other of his creatures, but in a special respect on account of his signal deliverance of them; they were his, as Jarchi expresses it, by the line of judgment, or rule of justice and equity, because he protected them among the firstborn of the Egyptians, saved them when he slew theirs, as...
Matthew Henry
This chapter is concerning the lamps or lights of the sanctuary. I. The burning lamps in the candlestick, which the priests were charged to tend, ver. 1-4. II. The living lamps (if I may so call them), The Levites, who as ministers were burning and shining lights. The ordination of the priests we had an account of, Lev. viii. Here we have an account of the ordination of the Levites, the inferior...
Charles H. Spurgeon
Instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me. For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself. And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel. God’s people are the elect;...