Numbers 8:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

And they shall be the ministers of their brethren in the tabernacle of the covenant, to keep the things that are committed to their care, but not to do the works. Thus shalt thou order the Levites touching their charge.
Douay-Rheims

וְשֵׁרֵ֨ת אֶת־אֶחָ֜יו בְּאֹ֤הֶל מוֹעֵד֙ לִשְׁמֹ֣ר מִשְׁמֶ֔רֶת וַעֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֣א יַעֲבֹ֑ד כָּ֛כָה תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה לַלְוִיִּ֖ם בְּמִשְׁמְרֹתָֽם׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

Why did the Lord appoint the Levites to minister in the tabernacle from the ages of twenty-five to fifty (Num. 8:24-26)? This is because those in early adulthood lack the maturity required to make wise distinctions between good and evil, while those in their later years may experience physical frailty. Hence, God graciously excludes both the young and the elderly from service—young individuals due to cognitive immaturity and older individuals due to physical limitations.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.