Seder 109: Numbers 8 and 9---Offering of the Levites, Second Passover

 Numbers 7 celebrates the large, identical gifts presented by the tribes of Israel at the dedication of the altar.  The tribe of Levi did not give one of those gifts because of its special role,  Instead it was receiving and processing those gifts.  

Moreover, the tribe of Levi itself constituted a gift to God, replacing the firstborn sons that God had saved at Passover.  They were presented to God as a "wave offering" (Num 8:11) as a kind of "living sacrifice" (think of Rom 12:1).    

Service at the tabernacle involved strenuous physical work.  A male Levite's active service extended from age 25 to age 50 (vv 24-26).  The census of Levites had counted men from ages 30-50 (Num 4:3).  Perhaps a Levite's service began with a 5-year apprenticeship.  On the other hand, the DSS and LXX have the census in Num 4:3 covering ages 25-50 years.  

Later in Israel's history, during the time of the kings, a Levite's service began at age 20 (1 Chron 23:24-27; 2 Chron 31:16-17).  By that point their duties were a little less strenuous and sensitive than they were at the tabernacle in the wilderness.

At Sinai the Israelites celebrated Passover on the anniversary of their rescue from Egypt.  Some who could not participate because of ritual uncleanness asked about the possibility of an opportunity for them to celebrate their redemption (Num 9:6-7).  Moses took the matter to God, who set up a "second Passover" for those unable to participate in the first one.  Here we see God acting as a patient and effective teacher.  

Planning was required for the celebration.  In the days of Jesus many arrived in Jerusalem early to take care of any ritual purification that would be required (John 11:55).  Of course, in the year of the crucifixion, there were some who were plotting Jesus' death, which would certainly lead to some additional "corpse uncleanness" (v 57).  

Seder 105: Numbers 4-5---Further Preparations for Breaking Camp

 When the Israelites departed from Sinai, and thereafter when they traveled in the wilderness, they would need to disassemble and transport the tabernacle.  Numbers 4 details how this important task would be divided up among the priests and Levites.  The holy articles of the tabernacle needed to be handled carefully.  For example, there would be three layers of covering for the ark of the covenant (Num 4:5-6).

The Kohathites, the subset of the Levites who would be transporting the holiest articles of the tabernacle, were cautioned not to directly touch, or even look at, those articles, which were prepared by the priests for transport (Num 4:17-20).  

The duties of the Gershonites and Merarites were less sensitive than those of the Kohathites, but those duties were just as important.  To transport and reassemble the tabernacle, all the pieces would have to be preserved and organized carefully.  Christians can see an analogy with the variety of gifts and callings that are brought together in the Body of Christ (Rom 12:3-8; 1 Cor 12:4-7).  

Purity of the camp, both ritual and moral, was another key issue.  Both types of purity are addressed in Num 5:1-10.

In a sermon at Church of the Messiah on June 11, 2022, Rob Wilson spoke on the importance of acting according to, and not overstepping, our callings, learning from the example of Nadab and Abihu (Num 3:4).  He highlighted some lessons from a teaching by Henri Nouwen on the temptations of Jesus in Matthew 4.  Satan tried to tempt Jesus to be relevant, popular/spectacular, and powerful, but Jesus resisted those temptations.  Christian leaders should do the same.  The path of Jesus is one of "downward mobility," heading to the cross.