John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. Take the Levites from among the children of Israel , etc.] Among whom they were mixed, as were all the tribes mixed together as Aben Ezra says, before they took their journey from Mount Sinai; however, from hence forward, they were distinguished from Israelites, as they are both in Scripture and in Jewish writings; (see 1 Chronicles 9:2); though this seems to design no other but their appointment and separation to their work and service, as ministers to the priests of the Lord; and so as Aaron did not assume the honour of priesthood to himself but was called of God, the Levites did not take the honour of their office to themselves but had it by the appointment and call of God: and cleanse them ; with water, by sprinkling the water of purification on them, and by washing their bodies and clothes with water; which outward washing was a sign of moral purity, which was necessary to their employment in the service of the sanctuary; for though there was no particular uncleanness on them, either ceremonial or moral, but what was common to men; yet it was proper, by such outward rites, to put them and others in mind, that they which are employed about holy things should be eminently pure and holy; and as their business was to carry holy things, to bear the sacred vessels of the sanctuary from place to place when needful, they ought of all men to be clean, ( Isaiah 52:11): and in this they were emblems of the ministers of the word, who ought to be pure, as in heart, so in life and conversation, and be examples of purity to others, ( Corinthians 6:6 1 Timothy 4:12).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-26 - Here we have directions for the solemn ordination of the Levites. All Israel must know that they took not this honour to themselves, but wer called of God to it; nor was it enough that they were distinguishe from others. All who are employed for God, must be dedicated to him according to the employment. Christians must be baptized, minister must be ordained; we must first give ourselves unto the Lord, and the our services. The Levites must be cleansed. They must be clean tha bear the vessels of the Lord. Moses must sprinkle the water of purifying upon them. This signifies the application of the blood of Christ to our souls by faith, that we may be fit to serve the livin God. God declares his acceptance of them. All who expect to share in the privileges of the tabernacle, must resolve to do the service of the tabernacle. As, on the one hand, none of God's creatures are his necessary servants, he needs not the service of any of them; so non are merely honorary servants, to do nothing. All whom God owns, he employs; angels themselves have their services _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew קח3947 את853 הלוים3881 מתוך8432 בני1121 ישׂראל3478 וטהרת2891 אתם׃853
