Teks -- Numbers 8:19 (NET)

8:19 I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites, to do the work for the Israelites in the tent of meeting, and to make atonement for the Israelites, so there will be no plague among the Israelites when the Israelites come near the sanctuary.”

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Num 8:19 - To do the service of Israel

To serve God in their stead, to do what otherwise they had been obliged to do in their own persons.

Wesley: Num 8:19 - To make an atonement

Not by offering sacrifices, which the priests alone might do, but by assisting the priests in that expiatory work, and by a diligent performance of all the parts of their office, whereby God was pleased both with them and with the people.

Wesley: Num 8:19 - That there be no plague

This is added as a reason why God appointed them to serve in the tabernacle, that they might guard it, and not suffer any of the people to come near it, or meddle with holy things, which if they did, it would certainly bring a plague upon them.

JFB: Num 8:19 - to make an atonement for the children of Israel, &c.

To aid the priests in that expiatory work; or, as the words may be rendered, "to make redemption for" the Levites being exchanged or substituted for the first-born for this important end, that there might be a sanctified body of men appointed to guard the sanctuary, and the people not allowed to approach or presumptuously meddle with holy things, which would expose them to the angry judgments of Heaven.

Calvin: Num 8:19 - And I have given the Levites

19.And I have given the Levites He declares on what terms He desires to have them as His own, viz., that they may be directed by Aaron, and obey his commands; for by “a gift” is not to be understood such an act as that whereby a person resigns and cedes his own right to another; but, when He devotes them to the ministry of the sanctuary, He desires that they should have a leader and master. At the end of the verse, Moses teaches that this is done for the advantage and profit of the whole people: whence it follows, that there was no room for ill-will towards them, unless the people should perhaps be annoyed that God had taken measures for their welfare. A two-fold advantage is pointed out; first, because they were to be the intercessors or ministers of reconciliation, (for either sense would be appropriate;) secondly, because, whilst they would be the guardians of the sanctuary, they would prevent the Israelites from bringing destruction upon themselves, by their rash approach to it.

TSK: Num 8:19 - I have given // a gift // that there

I have given : Num 3:6-9, Num 18:2-6; 1Ch 23:28-32; Eze 44:11-14

a gift : Heb. given

that there : Num 1:53, Num 16:46, Num 18:5; 1Sa 6:19; 2Ch 26:16-20

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Num 8:19 - The service of the children of Israel // In the tabernacle // To make an atonement for the children of Israel

The service of the children of Israel i.e. to serve God in their stead and behalf, to do what otherwise they had been obliged to do in their own persons.

In the tabernacle: how in it, See Poole "Num 8:15" .

To make an atonement for the children of Israel not by offering sacrifices, which the priests alone might do, but by assisting the priests in that expiatory work, and by a diligent performance of all the parts of their office, whereby God was pleased both with them and with the people. That there be no plague : this is added as a reason why God appointed them to serve in or about the tabernacle, that they might watch and guard it, and not suffer any of the people to come near it, or meddle with holy things, which if they did, it would certainly bring a plague upon them.

Gill: Num 8:19 - And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons, from among the children of Israel // to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation // and to make an atonement for the children of Israel // that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh to the sanctuary

And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons, from among the children of Israel,.... Or I have given the Levites that were given; that is, the Lord gave to Aaron and his sons the Levites, that were first given to him; as they were, when brought before him, and the children of Israel laid hands on them, and they were offered before the Lord, Num 8:10,

to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation; to do what otherwise they must have done, watch and guard the tabernacle, carry the sacrifices to the priests, assist them at the altar, take down and set up the tabernacle, and carry it, and the vessels of it, from place to place:

and to make an atonement for the children of Israel; not by offering sacrifices for them, which was the work of the priests, but by being now offered themselves, Num 8:10; that they themselves might be the atonement of their souls as Aben Ezra expresses it, as well as they were by their service hereafter a means of preserving the Israelites from death; which may be interpreted of making an atonement, which Phinehas is said to do by his deed, though no sacrifice was offered, Num 25:7; which sense seems to be confirmed by what follows:

that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh to the sanctuary; by approaching nearer than they should, touching what they ought not, intruding themselves into service they were not called to, or doing it amiss, not being instructed in it, or inured to it as the Levites were. The phrase, "the children of Israel", is five times used in this verse, to denote the love of God to them, as Jarchi observes.