Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 8:21
And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them [as] an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them.
21. purified themselves from sin ] lit. ‘unsinned themselves.’ See on Num 31:19.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 21. And Aaron made an atonement for them] Though the Levites had been most solemnly consecrated to the Lord’s service, and though all legal washings and purifications were duly performed on the occasion, yet they could not approach God till an atonement had been made for them. How strange is it, after all these significations, of the will and purpose of God relative to man, that any priest or any people will attempt to draw nigh to God without an atonement! As sure as God hath spoken it, there is no entrance into the holiest but through the blood of Jesus, Heb 10:19-20.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The Levites were purified by washing and sprinkling and sacrifices. See Lev 15:13-15; Num 19:11, &c.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the Levites were purified,…. From sin, by the sprinkling of the sin water, or water of purification on them, Nu 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 Nu 8:11;
and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them; by offering the sacrifices for them, Nu 8:12.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
21. And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes We have already spoken of the washing, for since it was required of all private individuals, much less would it be allowable for the Levites to handle the sacred things, unless they were first purified. But what follows as to their presentation by the hands of Aaron, was a shadowing forth by symbol of the truth, which at length shone out at the coming of Christ; for it had been of old predicted by the Prophets, that, in the renovation of the Church, those who had hitherto been but of the multitude should become Levites. Therefore, by this figure, God would declare that none even of His elect servants would be approved of and accepted by Him, unless sanctified by the one Priest. (415) And thence an atonement is joined with their offering, in order that the Levites might be pure.
(415) Addition in Fr., “Auquel ceste dignita a este commise;” to whom this dignity has been entrusted.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
21. Aaron offered them As a wave offering, by marching them to and fro before the altar.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Carrying Out of the Purifying, Washing of Clothes And Making of Atonement for the Levites Is Summarised ( Num 8:21 ).
Num 8:21
‘And the Levites purified themselves from sin, and they washed their clothes, and Aaron offered them for a waveoffering before Yahweh; and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them.’
Compare verses 7-8. In accordance with Yahweh’s requirements, the Levites purified themselves from sin by means of the water of the purification for sin offering, shaved their bodies and washed their clothes. Then Aaron offered the Levites as a ‘waveoffering’ before Yahweh, presenting them to Him, and through the offerings made atonement for them to cleanse them.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
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
Reciprocal: Exo 19:10 – wash Lev 14:11 – General Num 8:13 – offer them