Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 8:12
And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one [for] a sin offering, and the other [for] a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.
12. For the sin-offering and burnt-offering see on Num 4:11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Upon the heads of the bullocks; to signify, that they were offered by them and for them. See Exo 29:15,19; Le 1:4; 3:2; 4:4.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bullocks,…. Or “on the head” s; on the head of everyone of them, as Aben Ezra, thereby, as it were, transferring their sins to them, for these were to make atonement for them, as the latter part of the verse shows; and this was a figure of the imputation of sin to Christ, and taught that doctrine, and led the faith of the offerers to the sin bearing and sin atoning Saviour:
and thou shall offer the one [for] a sin offering, and the other [for] a burnt offering, unto the Lord; that is, shall order to be offered; for not Moses, but Aaron, offered these offerings, as Aben Ezra observes, of which this is a proof, that Aaron is said to make the atonement for them, Nu 8:21, for which purpose these sacrifices were offered, particularly the first; and the latter by way of thanksgiving for atonement made by the former: so it follows,
to make an atonement for the Levites; who could not be admitted to service until their sins were expiated; as no man is worthy to be employed in the work of God, but such for whom reconciliation for their sins is made by the blood and sacrifice of Christ, by which they are purged from dead works to serve the living God.
s “super caput”, Tigurine version. Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Levites were then to close this transfer of themselves to the Lord with a sin-offering and burnt-offering, in which they laid their hands upon the sacrificial animals. By this imposition of hands they made the sacrificial animals their representatives, in which they presented their own bodies to the Lord as a living sacrifice well-pleasing to Him. The signification of the dedication of the Levites, as here enjoined, is still further explained in Num 8:13-19. The meaning of Num 8:13. is this: According to the command already given (in Num 8:6-12), thou shalt place the Levites before Aaron and his sons, and wave them as a wave-offering before the Lord, and so separate them from the midst of the children of Israel, that they may be Mine. They shall then come to serve the tabernacle. So shalt thou cleanse them and wave them. The same reason is assigned for this in Num 8:16, Num 8:17, as in Num 3:11-13 ( for , cf. Num 3:13); and in Num 8:18 and Num 8:19, what was commanded in Num 3:6-9 is described as having been carried out. On Num 8:19 see Num 1:53.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
12. The Levites shall lay their hands This imposition of hands differs from that in Num 8:10, inasmuch as it symbolically transfers guilt, (see Lev 1:4, note,) which is implied in an atonement. See Lev 4:20; Lev 16:10-34, notes. Even those whom God has accepted as a gift must be atoned for before they can begin to serve around the sanctuary. But there are in the Pentateuch no precepts regulating the personal conduct and life of the Levites as are there given for the priests, Leviticus 21.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 8:12 And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one [for] a sin offering, and the other [for] a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.
Ver. 12. The one for a sin offering. ] The sin offering for actual sin; the burnt offering for original.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the Levites. Figure of speech Epanadiplosis (App-6), the verse beginning and ending with the same word.
offer = prepare. Hebrew. ‘asah. App-43.
atonement. See note on Exo 29:33.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
atonement
(See Scofield “Exo 29:33”)
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Levites: Exo 29:10, Lev 1:4, Lev 8:14, Lev 16:21
the one: Num 8:8, Num 6:14, Num 6:16, Lev 5:7, Lev 5:9, Lev 5:10, Lev 8:14, Lev 8:18, Lev 9:7, Lev 14:19, Lev 14:20, Lev 14:22, Heb 10:4-10
atonement: Lev 1:4, Lev 4:20, Lev 4:35, Lev 8:34, Lev 16:6, Lev 16:11, Lev 16:16-19, Heb 9:22
Reciprocal: Num 8:21 – Aaron made
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 8:12-15. Lay their hands To signify that they were offered by them and for them. Set the Levites before Aaron and his sons Give the Levites to them, or to their service. Unto the Lord For to him they were first properly offered, and by him given to the priests in order to his service. The Levites shall go in Into the court, where they were to wait upon the priests at the altar of burnt-offering; and, at present, into the tabernacle, to take it down and set it up.