Numbers 8:8

8:8 Then they are to take a young bull with its grain offering of fine flour mixed with olive oil; and you are to take a second young bull for a purification offering. ¹ 

Numbers 8:12

8:12 When ²  the Levites lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, offer ³  the one for a purification offering and the other for a whole burnt offering to the Lord, ⁴  to make atonement for the Levites.

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¹ sn The first sacrifice was for the purification of the Levites. The second animal, which Moses was to take, would be used for the purification of the tabernacle from all pollution.

² tn The clause begins with a vav (ו) on the noun “the Levites,” indicating a disjunctive clause. Here it is clearly a subordinate clause prior to the instruction for Moses, and so translated as a circumstantial clause of time.

³ tn The imperative is from the verb “to do; to make,” but in the sentence it clearly means to sacrifice the animals.

⁴ sn The “purification offering” cleansed the tabernacle from impurity, and the burnt offering atoned by nullifying and removing the effects of sin in the Levites.