« | Numbers 8 | » |
1 And Jehovah spoke to Moses saying,
2 Speak to Aaron, and say to him, When you bring the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.
3 And Aaron did so. He lighted its lamps in front of the lampstand, as Jehovah commanded Moses.
4 And this work of the lampstand was of beaten gold, to its base and to its blossoms; it was beaten work. According to the pattern which Jehovah had showed Moses, so he made the lampstand.
5 And Jehovah spoke to Moses saying,
6 Take the Levites from among the sons of Israel, and purify them.
7 And in this way shall you do to them to purify them. Sprinkle water of sin-offering on them, and let them shave all their flesh and wash their clothes, and make themselves clean.
8 Then let them take a young bull with its food offering, fine flour mixed with oil, and another young bull shall you take for a sin offering.
9 And you shall bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation. And you shall gather the whole assembly of the sons of Israel together.
10 And you shall bring the Levites before Jehovah. And the sons of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites.
11 And Aaron shall offer the Levites before Jehovah for an offering of the sons of Israel, so that they may do the service of Jehovah.
12 And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bulls. And you shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, to Jehovah, to make an atonement for the Levites.
13 And you shall set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering to Jehovah.
14 So you shall separate the Levites from among the sons of Israel. And the Levites shall be Mine.
15 And after that the Levites shall go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. And you shall purify them and offer them for a wave offering.
16 For they are wholly given to Me from among the sons of Israel, instead of those that open every womb. The first-born of all the sons of Israel, I have taken them to Me.
17 For all the first-born of the sons of Israel are Mine, both man and animal. On the day that I struck every first-born in the land of Egypt I set them apart for Myself.
18 And I have taken the Levites for all the first-born of the sons of Israel.
19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the sons of Israel, to do the service of the sons of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the sons of Israel, so that there may be no plague among the sons of Israel when the sons of Israel come near the sanctuary.
20 And Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the sons of Israel did to the Levites according to all that Jehovah commanded Moses concerning the Levites. So the sons of Israel did to them.
21 And the Levites purified themselves, and they washed their clothes. And Aaron offered them, an offering before Jehovah. And Aaron made an atonement for them to purify them.
22 And after that the Levites went in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron and before his sons. Even as Jehovah had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.
23 And Jehovah spoke to Moses saying,
24 This is that which pertains to the Levites. From twenty-five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
25 And from the age of fifty years they shall stop waiting upon the service, and shall serve no more.
26 But they shall minister with their brothers in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge; only he shall not serve at a service. So you shall do to the Levites as to their duties.
The Modern King James Version (MKJV)
The Modern King James Version (MKJV) is a contemporary English translation of the Bible that aims to preserve the majesty and accuracy of the original King James Version (KJV) while updating its language for modern readers. Developed by Jay P. Green Sr. and first published in 1990, the MKJV seeks to maintain the literary beauty and doctrinal reliability of the KJV, making only necessary adjustments to archaic terms and phrases to enhance readability. This careful balance allows the MKJV to retain the classic feel of the KJV while making it more accessible to today’s audience.
One of the standout features of the MKJV is its commitment to formal equivalence, or word-for-word translation. The translators have meticulously preserved the structure and vocabulary of the KJV, only updating words and phrases that have become outdated or whose meanings have shifted over time. This approach ensures that the MKJV remains faithful to the original texts and maintains the theological and literary integrity of the KJV. By preserving the cadence and phrasing of the original, the MKJV offers a reading experience that is both familiar and refreshed for modern readers.
The MKJV also pays special attention to the textual basis of the translation. Like the KJV, it relies on the Textus Receptus for the New Testament and the Masoretic Text for the Old Testament. This adherence to traditional source texts underscores the MKJV’s commitment to continuity with the historic Christian tradition. The translation is designed to serve both devotional and scholarly purposes, providing a text that is suitable for study, teaching, and public reading in a variety of settings.
Despite its strengths, the Modern King James Version has faced some criticism. Some scholars and readers argue that the translation could benefit from a more extensive revision to fully embrace contemporary language, suggesting that the MKJV’s adherence to the structure and style of the KJV may still pose challenges for modern readers. Others appreciate the balance it strikes but note that it occupies a niche space, appealing primarily to those who have a strong attachment to the KJV. Nonetheless, the MKJV remains a respected and valued translation for those seeking a modern update of the KJV that honors its rich heritage and timeless message.