Numbers 8 (JND) - Bible Truth Library

Verse 23

Verse 25

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Numbers 8

Num. 8:24 KJV (With Strong’s)

This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: froma twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to θwait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:

Num. 4:3• ³from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, all that enter into the service, to do the work in the tent of meeting. (Num. 4:3)

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1 Chron. 23:3,27• ³And the Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward; and their number, by their polls, man by man, was thirty-eight thousand.
²⁷For by the last words of David was this done,--the numbering of the sons of Levi from twenty years old and upward. (1 Chron. 23:3,27)

war the warfare,

1 Cor. 9:7• ⁷Who ever carries on war at his own charges? who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? or who herds a flock and does not eat of the milk of the flock? (1 Cor. 9:7)

More on:

Congregation,

Levites,

The Tabernacle,

Year

Cross References

from twenty.In ch. 4:3, the Levites are appointed to the service of the tabernacle at the age of 30 years; and in 1 Ch 23:24, they are ordered to commence their work at 20 years of age.

In order to reconcile this apparent discrepancy, it is to be observed, 1.

At the time of which Moses speaks in ch. 4:3, the Levitical service was exceedingly severe, and consequently required full grown, robust men, to perform it; the age of 30 was therefore appointed as the period for commencing this service, the weightier part of which was probably there intended.

In this place God seems to speak of the service in a general way:

hence the age of 25 is fixed.

In David's time, and afterwards, in the fixed tabernacle and temple, the laboriousness of the service no longer existed, and hence 20 years was the age appointed.

Num. 4:3,23• ³from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, all that enter into the service, to do the work in the tent of meeting.
²³From thirty years old and upward to fifty years old shalt thou number them; every one that cometh to labour in the work, to perform the service in the tent of meeting. (Num. 4:3,23)

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1 Chron. 23:3,24‑27• ³And the Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward; and their number, by their polls, man by man, was thirty-eight thousand.
²⁴These were the sons of Levi according to their fathers' houses, the chief fathers, as they were reckoned, by number of names by their polls, who did the work of the service of the house of Jehovah, from twenty years old and upward.
²⁵For David said, Jehovah the God of Israel has given rest to his people, and he will dwell in Jerusalem for ever;
²⁶and the Levites also have no more to carry the tabernacle, nor any of its vessels for its service.
²⁷For by the last words of David was this done,--the numbering of the sons of Levi from twenty years old and upward. (1 Chron. 23:3,24‑27)

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1 Chron. 28:12‑13• ¹²and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of Jehovah, and of all the chambers round about, for the treasuries of the house of God, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things;
¹³and for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of Jehovah, and for all the instruments of service in the house of Jehovah: (1 Chron. 28:12‑13)

wait upon.

Heb. war the warfare of, etc.

1 Cor. 9:7• ⁷Who ever carries on war at his own charges? who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? or who herds a flock and does not eat of the milk of the flock? (1 Cor. 9:7)

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2 Cor. 10:4• ⁴For the arms of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful according to God to the overthrow of strongholds; (2 Cor. 10:4)

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1 Tim. 1:18• ¹⁸This charge, my child Timotheus, I commit to thee, according to the prophecies as to thee preceding, in order that thou mightest war by them the good warfare, (1 Tim. 1:18)

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1 Tim. 6:12• ¹²Strive earnestly in the good conflict of faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which thou hast been called, and hast confessed the good confession before many witnesses. (1 Tim. 6:12)

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2 Tim. 2:3‑5• ³Take thy share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
⁴No one going as a soldier entangles himself with the affairs of life, that he may please him who has enlisted him as a soldier.
⁵And if also any one contend in the games, he is not crowned unless he contend lawfully. (2 Tim. 2:3‑5)

J. N. Darby Translation

This is that which concerneth the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward shall he come to laboura in the work of the service of the tent of meeting.

JND Translation Notes

See ch. 4.23.