Deuteronomy 10:8

“At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, etc.] Not at the time that Moses came down from the mount with the tables of the law, but some considerable time after, even after the tabernacle was erected; nor at the time that Aaron died, and Eleazar succeeded him, but many years before that; unless there was a fresh separation of them, or a renewal of it when Eleazar became high priest in his father’s stead; and so that being mentioned is the reason of its being repeated here; to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord; even that into which the law, sometimes called the covenant, was put, and therefore here called the ark of the covenant: when this was carried from place to place, as…”

“These verses are closely connected with the preceding chapter, and state very briefly the results of the intercession of Moses recorded in Deuteronomy 9:25-29. The people are reminded that all their blessings and privileges, forfeited by apostasy as soon as bestowed, were only now their own by a new and most unmerited act of grace on the part of God, won from Him by the self-sacrificing mediation of Moses himself Deuteronomy 10:10. Deuteronomy 10:1-5. The order for making the ark and tabernacle was evidently given before the apostasy of the people (Exo. 25ff); but the tables were not put in the ark until the completion and dedication of the tabernacle Exodus 40:0. But here as elsewhere…”

“At that time - About that time, that is, when I was come down from the mount, as was said, Deu 10:5. To stand before the Lord - A phrase used concerning the prophets, Kg1 17:1, Kg1 18:15, this being the posture of ministers. Hence the angels are said to stand, Ch2 18:18; Luk 1:19. To bless - The people, by performance of those holy ministrations for the people, and giving those instructions to them, to which God's blessing was promised; and this they did in God's name, that is, by command, and commission from him. Deuteronomy 10:9”

“time the Lord: Exod. 29:1-37; Lev 8:9; Num 1:47-53, 3:1-4:49, 8:1-26, Num 16:9, Num 16:10, 18:1-32; Joh 15:16; Act 13:2; Rom 1:1; Co2 6:17; Gal 1:15 bear: Num 3:31, Num 4:15; Kg1 8:3, Kg1 8:4, Kg1 8:6; Ch1 15:12-15, Ch1 15:26, Ch1 23:26; Ch2 5:4, Ch2 5:5 to stand: Deu 18:5; Ch2 29:11; Psa 134:2, Psa 135:2; Jer 15:19; Eze 44:11, Eze 44:15; Rom 12:7 to bless: Deu 21:5; Lev 9:22; Num 6:23-26; Ch2 30:27 Deuteronomy 10:9”

“In Deu 10:8, Moses returns to the form of an address again, and refers to the separation of the tribe of Levi for the holy service, as a manifestation of mercy on the part of the Lord towards Israel. The expression "at that time" is not to be understood as relating to the time of Aaron's death in the fortieth year of the march, in which Knobel finds a contradiction to the other books. It refers quite generally, as in Deu 9:20 and Deu 10:1, to the time of which Moses is speaking here, viz., the time when the covenant was restored at Sinai. The appointment of the tribe of Levi for service at the sanctuary took place in connection with the election of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood (Ex 28…”