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Numbers 8:21

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 8:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And 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 8:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
22And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tent of meeting before Aaron, and before his sons: as Jehovah had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them.
23And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
24This is that which belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service in the work of the tent of meeting:
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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 the Levites were purified, etc.] From sin, by the sprinkling of the sin water, or water of purification on them, (<040807>Numbers 8:7); and they washed their clothes; that they might have no defilement about them, neither in their bodies, nor in their garments: and Aaron offered them [as] an offering before the Lord; a wave offering, as in (<040811>Numbers 8:11); and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them; by offering the sacrifices for them, (<040812>Numbers 8:12).”
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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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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“were purified: Num 8:7, Num 19:12, Num 19:19 offered: Num 8:11-13, Num 8:15, Num 3:12 Aaron made: Num 8:12 Numbers 8:22”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification