The Lampstand
(Exodus 25:31–40; Exodus 37:17–24)
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron and tell him: ‘When you set up the seven lamps, they are to light the area in front of the lampstand.’” Exo 25:372Pe 1:19Exo 37:18-19Exo 37:23Exo 40:25Jhn 1:9Lev 24:1-2Lev 24:4
And Aaron did so; he set up the lamps facing toward the front of the lampstand, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
This is how the lampstand was constructed: it was made of hammered gold from its base to its blossoms, fashioned according to the pattern the LORD had shown Moses. Exo 25:18Exo 25:31-40Exo 25:9Exo 37:17-241Ch 28:11-19Exo 37:7Heb 8:5Heb 9:23
Cleansing the Levites
Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Take the Levites from among the Israelites and make them ceremonially clean. 2Co 7:1Jas 4:8Exo 19:15Isa 52:11 This is what you must do to cleanse them: Sprinkle them with the water of purification. Have them shave their whole bodies and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves. Lev 8:6Num 19:13Num 19:7-101Pe 3:21Exo 19:10Gen 35:2Heb 9:10Heb 9:13
Then have them take a young bull with its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering. Lev 2:12Co 5:21Exo 29:1Exo 29:3Isa 53:10Lev 1:3Lev 16:3Lev 4:14 Bring the Levites before the Tent of Meeting and assemble the whole congregation of Israel. Exo 40:12Lev 8:3Exo 29:4-37 You are to present the Levites before the LORD and have the Israelites lay their hands upon them. Act 6:6Lev 1:41Ti 4:141Ti 5:22Act 13:2-3Num 3:45 Aaron is to present the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the sons of Israel, so that they may perform the service of the LORD. Lev 7:30Exo 29:24Lev 8:27Lev 8:29Num 1:49-53Num 3:5-43Num 6:20 And the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and offer to the LORD one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, to make atonement for the Levites. Heb 10:4-10Exo 29:10Heb 9:22Lev 1:4Lev 8:14Num 8:8Lev 14:19-20Lev 14:22
You are to have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons and then present them before the LORD as a wave offering. Num 8:11Num 8:21Num 18:6Rom 12:1Rom 15:16 In this way you shall separate the Levites from the rest of the Israelites, and the Levites will belong to Me. Mal 3:17Num 18:6Num 3:45Deu 10:8Gal 1:15Heb 7:26Num 16:9-10Num 3:12 After you have cleansed them and presented them as a wave offering, they may come to serve at the Tent of Meeting. Num 8:11Num 8:131Ch 23:1-321Ch 25:1-26Exo 29:24Num 3:12Num 3:23-37Num 4:3-32
For the Levites have been wholly given to Me from among the sons of Israel. I have taken them for Myself in place of all who come first from the womb, the firstborn of all the sons of Israel. Num 3:12Num 3:45Num 3:9 For every firstborn male in Israel is Mine, both man and beast. I set them apart for Myself on the day I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. Exo 13:2Luk 2:23Exo 13:12-15Exo 12:29Exo 29:44Ezk 20:12Heb 10:29Heb 11:28 But I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel. And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites, to perform the service for the Israelites at the Tent of Meeting and to make atonement on their behalf, so that no plague will come against the Israelites when they approach the sanctuary.” Num 1:53Num 16:462Ch 26:16-201Ch 23:28-321Sa 6:19Ezk 44:11-14Num 18:2-6Num 3:6-9
So Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of Israel did with the Levites everything that the LORD had commanded Moses they should do. The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes, and Aaron presented them as a wave offering before the LORD. Aaron also made atonement for them to cleanse them. Num 8:7Num 19:19Num 8:11-13Num 8:15Num 19:12Num 3:12 After that, the Levites came to perform their service at the Tent of Meeting in the presence of Aaron and his sons. Thus they did with the Levites just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 2Ch 30:15-172Ch 30:272Ch 31:22Ch 35:8-15Num 8:15
Retirement for Levites
And the LORD said to Moses, “This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years of age or older shall enter to perform the service in the work at the Tent of Meeting. Num 4:31Ch 23:3Num 4:231Ch 23:24-271Ch 28:12-131Co 9:72Co 10:42Ti 2:3-5 But at the age of fifty, they must retire from performing the work and no longer serve. Num 4:232Ti 4:7
After that, they may assist their brothers in fulfilling their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves are not to do the work. This is how you are to assign responsibilities to the Levites.” Num 1:531Ch 23:321Ch 26:20-291Ti 4:15Ezk 44:11Ezk 44:8Num 18:4Num 3:32