The Method of Cleansing. The Purifying, Washing of Clothes and Preparation For The Making of Atonement (Numbers 8:7-8).
“ And thus shall you do to them, to cleanse them. Sprinkle the water of sin on them, and let them cause a razor to pass over all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and cleanse themselves.”
The only water ever described as sprinkled was the ‘water of uncleanness' described in Numbers 19:9; Numbers 19:17-19. This was water which had been purified by the use of the ashes of the red heifer. It is probable therefore that we are to see this as ‘the water of sin (or ‘of the purification for sin offering)' which was to be sprinkled on them, for the ashes are described as a ‘purification for sin offering' (same word as for ‘sin' - 19:9). The water would therefore be ‘the water of the purification for sin offering'. The second thing required was that they were to shave themselves all over, and the third that they washed their clothes. But there is no suggestion that they wash themselves. The sprinkled sacrificial water would make atonement, and purify them from any taint of death, the shaving was for the removal of uncleanness, and the washing of clothes was for the removal of earthiness. All symbolised a setting apart from the earth to be holy to Yahweh.
The ceremony was dissimilar to all others. In the case of the priests they were washed with water by Moses, but they did not shave themselves all over, nor wash their clothes. The lack of the latter may, however, have been because they wore special garments for entry into the Sanctuary. In the case of the skin diseased they shaved themselves fully, washed their clothes and bathed themselves (Leviticus 14:4), possibly because they had been living outside the camp, and were now entering its special holiness. Those who had been in contact with the dead had only to wash their clothes and bathe themselves (19:19).
The washing of clothes was thus a regular feature for the removal of external earthiness preparatory to meeting with God or entering a holy place, but the shaving of themselves all over seems to indicate a more in depth removal of uncleanness, a moving up a stage in removing every last taint of uncleanness.
“ Then let them take a young bull ox, and its grain offering, milled wheat grain mingled with oil; and another young bull ox shall you take for a purification for sin offering.”
As always the shedding of blood was required. A bull ox was required to cover the many (Leviticus 4:13-14). One was to be a whole burnt offering (verse 12; compare Leviticus 1:3), and would be accompanied by a grain offering, the other was to be a purification for sin offering. The Levites were being both dedicated and purified.