Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 8:10

10 And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD, and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites g.

Not all of them, which was impossible, but some in the name and stead and by the appointment of all, to wit, either the first-born, or rather the Princes or Chiefs of each Tribe, who used to transact things in the name of their Tribes. Whereby they signified their transferring of that right of Ministring to God from the first-born in whose hands it formerly was, unto the Levites, and their renouncing of their interest in the Levites, from whom they might otherwise have expected help by their persons or purses, as they di[illegible: 1+ letters] from other Tribes, in their common concernments, and [illegible: 1 word] intire resignation and dedication of them to God, service; as the person offering by laying his hand upon the head of his [illegible: 1 word], Levit. 1. 4. signified his translation of his guilt upon the beast and his dedication of it unto God.