Numbers 8:1-14 ▼

1 The LORD spoke to Moses:

2 “ Speak to Aaron and tell him: When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps are to give light in front of the lampstand.”

3 So Aaron did this; he set up its lamps to give light in front of the lampstand just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

4 This is the way the lampstand was made: it was a hammered work of gold, hammered from its base to its flower petals. The lampstand was made according to the pattern the LORD had shown Moses.

5 The LORD spoke to Moses:

6 “ Take the Levites from among the Israelites and ceremonially cleanse them.

7 This is what you must do to them for their purification: Sprinkle them with the purification water. Have them shave their entire bodies and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves.

8 “ They are to take a young bull and its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering.

9 Bring the Levites before the tent of meeting and assemble the entire Israelite community.

10 Then present the Levites before the LORD , and have the Israelites lay their hands on them .

11 Aaron is to present the Levites before the LORD as a presentation offering from the Israelites , so that they may perform the LORD’s work.

12 Next the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls. Sacrifice one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the LORD , to make atonement for the Levites.

13 “ You are to have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons, and you are to present them before the LORD as a presentation offering.

14 In this way you are to separate the Levites from the rest of the Israelites so that the Levites will belong to Me.