Numbers 8:10
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And you shall bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands on the Levites:
American King James Version (AKJV)
And you shall bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands on the Levites:
American Standard Version (ASV)
and thou shalt present the Levites before Jehovah. And the children of Israel shall lay their hands upon the Levites:
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And you are to take the Levites before the Lord: and the children of Israel are to put their hands on them:
Webster's Revision
And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:
World English Bible
You shall present the Levites before Yahweh. The children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites,
English Revised Version (ERV)
and thou shalt present the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall lay their hands upon the Levites:
Clarke's Numbers 8:10 Bible Commentary
Shall put their hands upon the Levites - It has been argued from this that the congregation had a part in the appointment of their own ministers, and that this was done by the imposition of hands. However that may be, it appears that what was done on this occasion meant no more than that the people gave up this whole tribe to God in place of their firstborn; and that by this act they bound themselves to provide for them who, because of their sacred service, could follow no secular work. And surely it was right, that they who served the altar should live by the altar. The ministers of God perform offices for the people which the people cannot perform for themselves; and nothing can be more reasonable than that the people should give them the necessaries and comforts of life while they are thus employed in their behalf.
Barnes's Numbers 8:10 Bible Commentary
The children of Israel - i. e. through the heads of their tribes, who Numbers 7:2 no doubt acted for their tribesmen. This act, the distinguishing feature of the ceremony, represented the transfer to the Levites of the sacred duties originally incumbent on the whole people.
Wesley's Numbers 8:10 Bible Commentary
8:10 The children of Israel - Not all of them, which was impossible, but some in the name of all the princes or chiefs of each tribe, who used to transact things in the name of their tribes. Put their hands - Whereby they signified their transferring that right of ministering to God from the first - born in whose hands it formerly was, to the Levites, and their entire resignation and dedication of them to God's service.