Week 51, Day 3: Levites cleansed

Today’s Reading:  Numbers 8:1-26

Some thoughts from today’s reading…

The main thrust of this chapter is the cleansing of the Levites.  We are not told all the “whys” in many passages.  I had wondered why the Levites were required to shave all the hair from their body as part of the cleansing process (vs. 7).  But regardless of understanding why they had to, it was what was commanded.  Moses was to cleanse the Levites and present them before the Lord and the sons of Israel.  The sons of Israel were to lay their hands on the Levites.  This too is an interesting action.  In this instance this action of laying on their hands is part of Israel offering the Levites as a wave offering before God.  Again, this is an interesting picture because we do not see such an action happen with people.  Verse 12 has the Levites lay their hands on the bulls, which would be them in some symbolic way imparting their sins onto the animal that is to be sacrificed.

Question:  Why did the Levites have to be cleansed before being able to serve?

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