At that time, about that time, i.e. when I was come down from the mount, as was said Deuteronomy 10:5; for these words manifestly look to that verse, the sixth and seventh verses being put in by way of parenthesis, as was said before. Or, if it relate to the words immediately foregoing, this may be meant of a second separation of them upon Aaron's death; and having mentioned the separation of Eleazar to the office of the high priest in his father's stead, Deuteronomy 10:6, he now repeats it, that the Levites who were his, as they had been his father's servants, were separated as before, or were confirmed in their office. To stand before the Lord; a phrase used concerning the prophets, 1 Kings 17:1, 1 Kings 18:15, this being the posture of ministers. Hence the angels are said to stand, 2 Chronicles 18:18 Luke 1:19. To bless in his name; either,
1. Particularly, to pronounce the solemn blessing of God upon the congregation, which was done in God's name, of which see Leviticus 9:23 Numbers 6:23, &c. But that work was peculiar to the priests, not common to all the Levites. Or, more generally, to bless, either,
1. God, i.e. to praise him, which being a considerable part of the Levites work, 1Ch 16, it is not probable it would be omitted here, where their office is so particularly described. Or,
2. The people, whom they did bless by performance of those holy ministrations for the people, and giving those instructions to them, to which God's blessing was promised and usually given; and this they did in God's name, i.e. by command and commission from him.