Numbers 8:24
This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:
Original Language Analysis
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
2 of 14
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לַלְוִיִּ֑ם
This is it that belongeth unto the Levites
H3881
לַלְוִיִּ֑ם
This is it that belongeth unto the Levites
Strong's:
H3881
Word #:
3 of 14
a levite or descendant of levi
מִבֶּן֩
old
H1121
מִבֶּן֩
old
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
4 of 14
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וָמַ֔עְלָה
and upward
H4605
וָמַ֔עְלָה
and upward
Strong's:
H4605
Word #:
8 of 14
properly,the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc
יָבוֹא֙
they shall go in
H935
יָבוֹא֙
they shall go in
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
9 of 14
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
צָבָ֔א
H6635
צָבָ֔א
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
11 of 14
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
Cross References
1 Chronicles 23:3Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.Numbers 4:3From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.
Historical Context
The Levitical minimum age of 25 provided five years of apprenticeship before the full service age of 30 (Numbers 4:3). This training period under experienced Levites ensured proper handling of sacred objects and accurate execution of complex tabernacle procedures.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God use military language ('wage warfare') to describe tabernacle service? What spiritual battles accompany sacred ministry?
- How does the apprenticeship model (25-30) inform modern approaches to leadership development in churches?
- What character qualities and life experiences make someone 'mature enough' for spiritual leadership?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
From twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service—The minimum age (עֶשְׂרִים וְחָמֵשׁ שָׁנָה esrim vechamesh shanah) for Levitical service balances physical maturity with spiritual readiness. The phrase wait upon (לִצְבֹא צָבָא litsvo tzava, literally 'to wage warfare') uses military terminology, revealing that tabernacle service constituted spiritual warfare requiring mature soldiers (cf. Ephesians 6:10-18).
This age requirement (25) differs from the 30-year threshold for priestly service (Numbers 4:3), suggesting graduated responsibility—Levites began apprenticeship at 25 before assuming full duties at 30. Paul's instruction that elders not be recent converts (1 Timothy 3:6) echoes this principle of seasoned maturity before spiritual leadership.