The word hakraiv, here rendered bring near, is properly a sacrificial word, and signifies the presenting of a sacrifice or offering to the Lord. As an offering, the tribe of Levi was entirely given up to the service of the sanctuary, to be no longer their own, but the Lord's. "Only¹ thou shalt not¹ numberª°¹ the tribeª of Levi,ª neither¹ takeª° the sumª of them amongª the childrenª of Israel:ª ... But the Levitesª shall pitchª° round aboutª the tabernacleª of testimony,ª that there be¹ no¹ wrathª upon¹ the congregationª of the childrenª of Israel:ª and the Levitesª shall keepª°¹ the chargeª of the tabernacleª of testimony.ª" {Num 1:49-53} + "Then the tabernacleª of the congregationª shall set forwardª° with the campª of the Levitesª in the midstª of the camp:ª as¹ they encamp,ª° so¹ shall they set forward,ª° every manª in¹ his placeª by their standards.ª" {Num 2:17} + "But the Levitesª were not¹ numberedª° amongª the childrenª of Israel;ª as¹ the LORDª commandedª°¹ Moses.ª" {Num 2:33} + "Takeª°¹ the Levitesª from amongª¹ the childrenª of Israel,ª and cleanseª° them. ... And afterª that¹ shall the Levitesª go inª° to do the serviceª°¹ of the tabernacleª of the congregation:ª and thou shalt cleanseª° them, and offerª° them [for] an offering.ª" {Num 8:6-15} + "And afterª that¹ went²° the Levites² in¹¹ to doª°¹ their serviceª in the tabernacleª of the congregationª beforeª Aaron,ª and beforeª his sons:ª as¹ the LORDª had commandedª°¹ Mosesª concerning¹ the Levites,ª so¹ didª° they unto them. ... But shall ministerª° with¹ their brethrenª in the tabernacleª of the congregation,ª to keepª° the charge,ª and shall doª° no¹ service.ª Thus¹ shalt thou doª° unto the Levitesª touching their charge.ª" {Num 8:22-26} + "[Seemeth it but] a small thingª unto¹ you, that¹ the Godª of Israelª hath separatedª° you from the congregationª¹ of Israel,ª to bring you nearª°¹ to¹ himself to doª°¹ the serviceª of the tabernacleª of the LORD,ª and to standª° beforeª the congregationª to ministerª° unto them? ... For which causeª [both] thou¹ and all¹ thy companyª [are] gathered togetherª° against¹ the LORD:ª and what¹ [is] Aaron,ª that¹ ye murmurª°°° against¹ him?" {Num 16:9-11} + "And¹ thy brethrenª also¹ of the tribeª of Levi,ª the tribeª of thy father,ª bringª° thou with¹ thee, that they may be joinedª° unto¹ thee, and ministerª° unto thee: but thou¹ and thy sonsª with¹ thee [shall minister] beforeª the tabernacleª of witness.ª ... And I,¹ behold,¹ I have takenª°¹ your brethrenª the Levitesª from amongª¹ the childrenª of Israel:ª to you [they are] givenª° [as] a giftª for the LORD,ª to doª°¹ the serviceª of the tabernacleª of the congregation.ª" {Num 18:2-6} + "Then Mosesª stoodª° in the gateª of the camp,ª and said,ª° Who¹ [is] on the LORD'Sª side? [let him come] unto¹ me. And all¹ the sonsª of Leviª gathered²° themselves together¹ unto¹ him. ... For Mosesª had said,ª° Consecrate¹¹ yourselves²°² to dayª to the LORD,ª evenª every manª upon his son,ª and upon his brother;ª that he may bestowª° upon¹ you a blessingª this day.ª" {Exd 32:26-29} + "And of Leviª he said,ª° [Let] thy Thummimª and thy Urimª [be] with thy holyª one,ª whom¹ thou didst proveª° at Massah,ª [and with] whom thou didst striveª° at¹ the watersª of Meribah;ª ... Who saidª° unto his fatherª and to his mother,ª I have not¹ seenª° him; neither¹ did he acknowledgeª° his brethren,ª nor¹ knewª° his own children:ª for¹ they have observedª° thy word,ª and keptª° thy covenant.ª" {Deu 33:8-9} + "And ye shall knowª° that¹ I have sentª° this¹¹ commandmentª unto¹ you, that my covenantª might be¹ with¹ Levi,ª saithª° the LORDª of hosts.ª" {Mal 2:4}