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Numbers 8:18

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 8:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And I have taken the Levites instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And I have taken the Levites instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel.
Numbers 8:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tent of meeting: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for a wave-offering.
16For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of all that openeth the womb, even the first-born of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me.
17For all the first-born among the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.
18And I have taken the Levites instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel.
19And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tent of meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel; that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.
20Thus did Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the Levites: according unto all that Jehovah commanded Moses touching the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them.
21And the Levites purified themselves from sin, and they washed their clothes: and Aaron offered them for a wave-offering before Jehovah; and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them.
← Numbers 8:17Numbers 8:19 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.] Gave up his right in the firstborn, and instead of them took the Levites for his use and service: (see <040312>Numbers 3:12).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The Levites could only undertake their duties Numbers 3:0; Numbers 4:0 after the formal exchange of the Levites for the first-born Numbers 3:44-51. The distinction between the “consecration” of the priests Leviticus 8:0 and the less solemn “purification” Numbers 8:21 of the Levites is marked. These rites of purification are similar to those incumbent on the priests of Egypt. Numbers 8:7 Water of purifying - literally, “sin water:” i. e. water to cleanse from sin; no doubt taken from the laver of the sanctuary, which was used by the priests for purification before they went into the tabernacle to minister (compare Numbers 5:17; Exodus 30:18 ff). The “sprinkling” of so large a body of men…”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification