John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation , etc.] Not without it, but within it, in the court of the tabernacle, at least at the door of it, where stood the altar of burnt offering, on which sacrifices for them were now to be offered: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together ; the heads of the tribes, and elders of the people, as Aben Ezra interprets this phrase in ( Leviticus 8:3); where the whole congregation is said to be assembled at the consecration of the priests, as here at the consecration of the Levites, having a concern therein, as well as to be spectators and witnesses of this solemn affair; and no doubt as many of them as could conveniently assemble at the door of the tabernacle did, though every individual of that large body of people could not possibly do it.
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 והקרבת7126 את853 הלוים3881 לפני6440 אהל168 מועד4150 והקהלת6950 את853 כל3605 עדת5712 בני1121 ישׂראל׃3478
