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Numbers Chapter
Eighteen
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 18
This
chapter gives an account of the distinct work and service of the priests and
Levites
Numbers 18:1; and
of several things given to the priests for their maintenance
Numbers 18:8; and
of the tithes the Levites should have to live upon
since they were to have no
inheritance in the land of Israel
Numbers 18:20; and
of the tenth out of those tithes they were to give to the high priest
Numbers 18:25.
Numbers 18:1 Then the Lord said to Aaron: “You and your
sons and your father’s house with you shall bear the iniquity related to
the sanctuary
and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity associated
with your priesthood.
YLT
1And Jehovah saith unto
Aaron
`Thou
and thy sons
and the house of thy father with thee
do bear the
iniquity of the sanctuary; and thou
and thy sons with thee
do bear the
iniquity of your priesthood;
And the Lord spake unto Aaron
.... As the things spoken
were such as concerned Aaron
he might be only and immediately spoken unto:
thou
and thy sons
and thy father's house with thee; meaning both
priests and Levites
the priests by him and his sons
and the Levites by his
father's house:
shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; the blame of
any evil committed there
the punishment of it; the priests
Aaron and his
sons
if they did not perform the duty of their office aright
he in the most
holy place
and they in the holy place
and at the altar of burnt offering in
the court; and the Levites
if they did not take care to watch in the
tabernacle
and keep out strangers and polluted persons:
and thou
and thy sons with thee
shall bear the iniquity of your
priesthood; be answerable for my sins
errors
and mistakes that should be
committed by them in the discharge of their office
through their own
remissness
or not taking care that the Levites did their duty; this shows that
the office of priesthood
though honourable
was burdensome
and not to be
envied; and that the people needed not to be under such terrible apprehensions
as they were
lest they should come too near the sanctuary
as to be in danger
of death
since it lay upon the priests and Levites especially to take care
thereof
and who
if negligent
would suffer.
Numbers 18:2 2 Also bring with you your brethren of the tribe of Levi
the tribe of your father
that they may be joined with you and serve you while
you and your sons are with you before the tabernacle of witness.
YLT
2and also thy brethren
the
tribe of Levi
the tribe of thy father
bring near with thee
and they are
joined unto thee
and serve thee
even thou and thy sons with thee
before the
tent of the testimony.
And to thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi
the tribe of thy
father
.... For his father Amram was of that tribe
and so the Levites
were his brethren
as he is directed to consider them; which might serve to
conciliate their minds
and make them easy with respect to his enjoyment of the
priesthood:
bring them with thee; into the court of the
tabernacle
for further they might not go:
that they maybe joined unto thee: as their name of Levites
signifies
persons joined and united to others
as they were to the priests:
see reason of their patriarch's name Levi in Genesis 29:34
and minister unto thee: be assisting to the
priests in killing the sacrifices
receiving the blood
and flaying the beasts
and in other things about the sanctuary
Numbers 3:6
but thou
and thy sons with thee
shall minister before the
tabernacle of witness; which was the most holy place
where were the ark of the
testimony or witness
and the tables of the covenant; and they might be said to
minister before that
when they ministered in the holy place
which was before
it
when they burned incense upon the altar of incense
ordered the shewbread
and trimmed the lamps of the candlestick
which none but the priests the sons
of Aaron might do.
Numbers 18:3 3 They shall attend to your needs and all the needs of
the tabernacle; but they shall not come near the articles of the sanctuary and
the altar
lest they die—they and you also.
YLT
3`And they have kept thy
charge
and the charge of all the tent; only
unto the vessels of the sanctuary
and unto the altar they do not come near
and they die not
either they or you;
And they shall keep thy charge
and the charge of all the
tabernacle
.... That is
the Levites
whatever Aaron and his sons
the
priests
should charge them to do
or commit to their care and charge
that
they should observe; as to watch and keep out all unfit persons
to take down
and set up the tabernacle when needful
&c.
only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary; as the ark
and mercy seat in the holy of holies
the shewbread table
and candlestick in
the holy place; wherefore when these were removed from place to place in
journeying
they were covered
that they might not touch them as they carried
them:
and the altar; both of incense and burnt offering
on
neither of which might they offer:
that neither they nor you also die: the priests for
suffering them to meddle with things that did not belong to them
and the
Levites for intruding themselves.
Numbers 18:4 4 They shall be joined with you and attend to the needs
of the tabernacle of meeting
for all the work of the tabernacle; but an
outsider shall not come near you.
YLT
4and they have been joined
unto thee
and have kept the charge of the tent of meeting
for all the service
of the tent; and a stranger doth not come near unto you;
And they shall be joined unto thee
.... As assistants in the
sacred service:
and keep the charge of tabernacle of the congregation
for all the
service of the tabernacle; See Gill on Numbers 3:7 and See
Gill on Numbers 3:8
and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you; not any of
the other tribes
only such as were of the tribe of Levi; they only were to be
brought with them
and joined unto them
and assist them
and minister to them
as in Numbers 18:2;
though the JewsF8Maimon. in Misn. Zebachim
c. 2. sect. 1.
understand by a stranger anyone that was not a priest.
Numbers 18:5 5 And you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and
the duties of the altar
that there may be no more wrath on the children
of Israel.
YLT
5and ye have kept the charge
of the sanctuary
and the charge of the altar
and there is no more wrath
against the sons of Israel.
And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary
.... That is
the priests
Aaron and his sons; the high priest was to keep the charge of the
most holy place particularly
and do what was to be done in that on the day of
atonement; and the common priests to keep the charge of the holy place
and do
everything relating to the altar of incense
the shewbread table
and
candlestick:
and the charge of the altar; of burnt offering
which
stood in the court of the tabernacle:
that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel: as had been
upon Korah and his company
Numbers 16:32
and
as afterwards came on Uzziah
2 Chronicles 26:19.
Numbers 18:6 6 Behold
I Myself have taken your brethren the Levites
from among the children of Israel; they are a gift to you
given by the Lord
to do the work of the tabernacle of meeting.
YLT
6`And I
lo
I have taken
your brethren the Levites from the midst of the sons of Israel; to you a gift
they are given by Jehovah
to do the service of the tent of meeting;
And I
behold
I have taken your brethren the Levites
from among
the children of Israel
.... See Gill on Numbers 3:12; where
the same is said
only they
are here called the brethren of the priests for
the reason given
Numbers 18:2
to you they are given as a gift for the Lord
to do
the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; See Gill on Numbers 3:7
Numbers 3:8
and
See Gill on Numbers 3:9.
Numbers 18:7 7 Therefore you and your sons with you shall attend to
your priesthood for everything at the altar and behind the veil; and you shall
serve. I give your priesthood to you as a gift for service
but the
outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”
YLT
7and thou
and thy sons with
thee
do keep your priesthood
for everything of the altar
and within the
vail
and ye have served; a service of gift I make your priesthood; and the
stranger who is coming near is put to death.'
Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's
office
.... Observe all the duties of it
and keep out others from
intruding into it:
for everything of the altar: both of incense and of
burnt offering with respect to burning incense on the one
and offering
sacrifices on the other; both were to be done by priests
and by no other:
and within the vail; in the most holy place
where the high priest entered but once a year
and he only with incense
and
the blood of sacrifices
see Hebrews 9:7
and ye shall serve; do all the business that is to be done at
either altar
whether in the court
or in the holy place
and whatsoever is to
be done in the most holy place within the vail:
I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of
gift; it was not what they had taken to themselves of their own will
or had thrust themselves into
but what the Lord had called them to
and had
freely invested them with
see Hebrews 5:4
and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death; any common
person
as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; any Israelite
one that is a
stranger from the priests
though a Levite
as Aben Ezra; such an one might not
come either to the altar of burnt offering to offer any sacrifice upon it
or
the altar of incense
to burn incense on that
or trim the lamps
or put the
shewbread in order
or to do anything peculiar to the priest's office.
Numbers 18:8 8 And the Lord spoke to
Aaron: “Here
I Myself have also given you charge of My heave offerings
all
the holy gifts of the children of Israel; I have given them as a portion to you
and your sons
as an ordinance forever.
YLT
8And Jehovah speaketh unto
Aaron: `And I
lo
I have given to thee the charge of My heave-offerings
of
all the hallowed things of the sons of Israel -- to thee I have given them for
the anointing
and to thy sons
by a statute age-during.
And the Lord spake unto Aaron
.... Having pointed out
to him the duty of his office
he now informs him of the perquisites of it; or
having told him what was his work
now what his wages
or what was his service
and now his maintenance:
behold
I also have given thee the charge of my heave offerings
of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; such as the
heave shoulder and wave breast
and firstfruits
and all other holy things in
general
such as were the most holy things; as in Numbers 18:9; and
the lighter holy things
as the Jews call them
Numbers 18:11; the
charge of these was given to keep for themselves
and for their families:
unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing: because of
his office as a priest
to which he was consecrated by anointing:
and to thy sons by an ordinance for ever; see Leviticus 7:34.
Numbers 18:9 9 This shall be yours of the most holy things reserved
from the fire: every offering of theirs
every grain offering and every sin
offering and every trespass offering which they render to Me
shall be
most holy for you and your sons.
YLT
9This is thine of the most
holy things
from the fire: all their offering
to all their present
and to
all their sin-offering
and to all their guilt-offering
which they give back
to Me
is most holy to thee
and to thy sons;
This shall be thine of the most holy things
.... For
as
observed
there were some lighter and lesser holy things or sacrifices
and
others superlatively so: and those are begun with
such as were
reserved from the fire; those parts
of sacrifices which were not burnt with fire on the altar of burnt offerings:
every oblation of theirs; which is a general word
including various offerings
the particulars follow:
every meat offering of theirs: or bread offering
for
they were made of fine flour and oil
and burnt on the altar
the remainder of
which was eaten by Aaron and his sons
Leviticus 6:14
every sin offering of theirs; which was offered to
make atonement for sin
which also belonged to the priests and their sons
excepting such whose blood was carried into the most holy place
Leviticus 6:25
and every trespass offering of theirs
which they shall render
unto me; which was offered for a trespass committed; what remained of
this also
when burnt on the altar
was eaten by the priest and his sons
Leviticus 7:5; and
this sacrifice was a ram
when a trespass was committed
either in the holy
things of the Lord
or in wrongs done to men
Leviticus 5:15;
Jarchi interprets it of an offering for a trespass committed by rapine or
violence to a stranger: these
all of them
it is added:
shall be most holy for
thee and for thy sons; for their use
and for theirs only.
Numbers 18:10 10 In a most holy place you shall eat it; every
male shall eat it. It shall be holy to you.
YLT
10in the holy of holies thou
dost eat it; every male doth eat it; holy it is to thee.
In the most holy place shalt thou eat it
.... Not in
the holy of holies
eminently so called
nor in the holy place
for they were
neither of them places to eat in; but in the tent of the congregation
as Aben
Ezra
or court
as Jarchi; called most holy
in distinction from and in
comparison of the camp of Israel
and their tents
as afterwards of Jerusalem
and their houses there
where they might not eat the most holy things:
every male shall eat it; the sons of priests
and
they only
not their wives
nor their daughters
and therefore not to be eaten
at home
or in their own houses:
it shall be holy unto thee; separated only for the
use of him and his sons.
Numbers 18:11 11 “This also is yours: the heave offering of
their gift
with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel; I have given
them to you
and your sons and daughters with you
as an ordinance forever.
Everyone who is clean in your house may eat it.
YLT
11`And this [is] thine: the
heave-offering of their gift
to all the wave-offerings of the sons of Israel
to thee I have given them
and to thy sons
and to thy daughters with thee
by
a statute age-during; every clean one in thy house doth eat it;
And this is thine
.... What follow
which
appertained to the priests
are the less or lighter holy things:
the heave offering of their gift: the right shoulder
given to the priest for an heave offering of the sacrifices of peace offerings
Leviticus 7:32;
according to Jarchi
it was what was lifted up or heaved from the thank
offering
the peace offerings
and the ram of the Nazarites
see Leviticus 7:14
with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel; which were
waved to and fro before the Lord
as the breast of the peace offerings
called
therefore the wave breast
Leviticus 7:30
I have given them unto thee
and to thy sons
and to thy daughters
with thee
by a statute for ever; for these were to be
eaten in their own houses
and by their families
wives
children
and servants
bought with their money
or born in their houses; but not hired servants
nor
sojourners
nor strangers; nor their daughters married to strangers though
if
widows
or divorced
and without children
and returned to their father's
house
they might eat of them
Leviticus 22:10;
thus a provision was made for the maintenance of the priests of the Lord and
their families
until the Messiah should come; who has also appointed that they
that preach the Gospel should live of it
1 Corinthians 9:13
everyone that is clean in thy house shall eat of it: that was
clean in a ceremonial sense; had not touched a dead body
&c. Jarchi says
this is said to comprehend his wife; but that might be concluded from what is
said before
for if his children
much more might his wife eat of it.
Numbers 18:12 12 “All the best of the oil
all the best of the new wine
and the grain
their firstfruits which they offer to the Lord
I have given them to you.
YLT
12all the best of the oil
and all the best of the new wine
and wheat -- their first-[fruits] which they
give to Jehovah -- to thee I have given them.
All the best of the oil
and all the best of the wine
and of the
wheat
.... Or the "fat"F9חלב
"pinguedinem"
Pagninus
Montanus
&c. of them; the fat of
anything being the best
see Deuteronomy 32:14
the firstfruits of them: the oil
and wine
and
wheat:
which they shall offer unto the Lord
them have I given thee; this Jarchi
calls the great heave offering
the firstfruits of their harvest and vintage
which being offered to the Lord
was given to the priests: the quantity is not
fixed
but left to the generosity of the people
and was a free gift; liberal
men would give a fortieth part
those of a meaner spirit a fiftieth
and
niggardly ones a sixtieth
and less than that was not given See Gill on Exodus 22:29;
compare with this Ezekiel 45:13.
Numbers 18:13 13 Whatever first ripe fruit is in their land
which they
bring to the Lord
shall be yours. Everyone who is clean in your house may eat it.
YLT
13`The first-fruits of all
that [is] in their land
which they bring in to Jehovah
are thine; every clean
one in thy house doth eat it;
And whatsoever is first ripe
in the land
.... Of any other sort of fruit
figs
pomegranates
apples
plums
pears
&c. besides olives and vines:
which they shall bring unto the Lord
shall be thine; which they
shall bring in a basket to the tabernacle
where it was
or to the temple
when
built: this the priests were to have
see Deuteronomy 26:2
everyone that is clean in thine house shall eat of it; See Gill on Numbers 18:11.
Numbers 18:14 14 “Every devoted thing in Israel shall be yours.
YLT
14every devoted thing in
Israel is thine
Every thing devoted in Israel shall be thine. Fields
houses
cattle
&c. if absolutely devoted to the Lord
they were the
priest's; but if devoted to certain uses
they were appropriated to those uses
as the repairs of the temple
&c. see Leviticus 27:1.
Numbers 18:15 15 “Everything that first opens the womb of all flesh
which they bring to the Lord
whether man or beast
shall be
yours; nevertheless the firstborn of man you shall surely redeem
and the
firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.
YLT
15every one opening a womb of
all flesh which they bring near to Jehovah
among man and among beast
is
thine; only
thou dost certainly ransom the first-born of man
and the
firstling of the unclean beast thou dost ransom.
Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh
.... The
firstborn of every creature:
which they bring unto the Lord; as they were obliged
he
claiming it as his own
Exodus 13:2
whether it be of men or
beasts
shall be thine; every firstborn of either
being the Lord's
became the priest's
by his gift:
nevertheless
the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem; that is
take
the redemption price for it
which was five shekels
as in Numbers 18:16; for
the original proprietor was
strictly speaking
the redeemer
and paid the
money
and the priest was the receiver
to whom it was paid; see Exodus 13:13
and the firstlings of unclean beasts shall thou redeem; with lambs
as an ass
which is put for unclean beasts
is ordered to be redeemed with a
lamb
or its neck to be broken
Exodus 13:13; the
Africans
the shepherds among them
as Herodotus relatesF11Melpomene
sive
l. 4. c. 188.
of their firstlings they cut off the ear of the beast and
throw it over a house
and then turn its neck back
for they worship only the
sun and moon; which seems to be an imitation of this law.
Numbers 18:16 16 And those redeemed of the devoted things you shall
redeem when one month old
according to your valuation
for five shekels of silver
according to the shekel of the sanctuary
which is twenty gerahs.
YLT
16`And their ransomed ones
from a son of a month
thou dost ransom with thy valuation
of silver
five
shekels
by the shekel of the sanctuary
twenty gerahs it [is].
And those that are to be redeemed
.... Which is to be
understood not of unclean beasts last mentioned
for they were redeemed with
lambs and not with money; and after they were eight days and not a month old
as follows
Exodus 13:13; but
of the firstborn of men:
from a month old shalt thou redeem
according to thine estimation: that is
take
the redemption money next mentioned; and though both time and price are fixed
yet said to be according to the estimation of the priest; see Leviticus 27:5
for the money of five shekels; which was about eleven
or twelve shillings of our money
and is the price given for the redemption of
the firstborn
when the Levites were taken in their stead
Numbers 3:47
after the shekel of the sanctuary
which is twenty gerahs; see Gill on Numbers 3:47; of
the manner of redeeming the firstborn; see Gill on Exodus 13:15.
Numbers 18:17 17 But the firstborn of a cow
the firstborn of a sheep
or the firstborn of a goat you shall not redeem; they are holy. You
shall sprinkle their blood on the altar
and burn their fat as an
offering made by fire for a sweet aroma to the Lord.
YLT
17`Only
the firstling of a
cow
or the firstling of a sheep
or the firstling of a goat
thou dost not
ransom
holy they [are]: their blood thou dost sprinkle on the altar
and of
their fat thou makest perfume
a fire-offering of sweet fragrance to Jehovah
But the firstling of a cow
or the firstling of a sheep
or the
firstling of a goat
thou shalt not redeem
.... That is
shalt not
take the redemption price for them
but the creatures themselves; which they
the priests
were to take for their own use:
they are holy; separated to the Lord
and therefore not to be used in common by men
but were sacred to the Lord
or
became the property of his priests; see Deuteronomy 15:19;
how they were to be made use of follows:
thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar; for they were
to be sacrificed
and their blood used as in other sacrifices:
and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire; for
a sweet savour unto the Lord; as the fat of other sacrifices was
and
particularly of the peace offerings
which were wholly eaten otherwise
Leviticus 7:31.
Numbers 18:18 18 And their flesh shall be yours
just as the wave
breast and the right thigh are yours.
YLT
18and their flesh is thine
as the breast of the wave-offering
and as the right leg
it is thine;
And the flesh of them shall be thine
.... For him
and his family to eat of
whether blemished or perfect the Jews sayF12Maimon.
& Bartenora in Misn. Becorot
c. 4. sect. 2. & 5. 2. :
as the wave breast and as the right shoulder are thine: which were
his part of the peace offerings
for him and his sons to eat of
Leviticus 7:34; and
the Jews observeF13Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Zebachim
c. 5.
sect. 8.
that as the wave breast and heave shoulder of the peace offerings
might be eaten in two days and one night
so might those of the firstlings.
Numbers 18:19 19 “All the heave offerings of the holy things
which the
children of Israel offer to the Lord
I have
given to you and your sons and daughters with you as an ordinance forever; it is
a covenant of salt forever before the Lord with you
and your descendants with you.”
YLT
19all the heave-offerings of
the holy things which the sons of Israel lift up to Jehovah I have given to
thee and to thy sons
and to thy daughters with thee
by a statute age-during
a covenant of salt
age-during it [is] before Jehovah
to thee and to thy seed
with thee.'
All the heave offerings of the holy things
.... All
before mentioned
and whatsoever comes under that name:
which the children of Israel offer unto the Lord; either by his
commandment
or of their own freewill:
have I given thee
and thy sons
and thy daughters with thee
by a
statute for ever: so providing for their maintenance by an irrepealable law as
long as their priesthood lasted
even until the Messiah should come:
it is a covenant of salt for ever before the Lord unto
thee
and thy seed with thee: an incorruptible
inviolable
durable
covenant
which should last for ever
even until the Gospel dispensation or
world to come should take place; and it would remain ever before the Lord in
his sight
who would take care it should never be made void
but stand fast
with Aaron and his posterity as long as his priesthood endured.
Numbers 18:20 20 Then the Lord said to
Aaron: “You shall have no inheritance in their land
nor shall you have any
portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the
children of Israel.
YLT
20And Jehovah saith unto
Aaron
`In their land thou dost not inherit
and a portion thou hast not in
their midst: I [am] thy portion
and thine inheritance in the midst of the sons
of Israel;
And the Lord spake unto Aaron
.... What is said
being
what concerned the tribe of Levi
at the head of which Aaron was
even
concerning the maintenance of the Levites:
thou shalt have no inheritance in their land; in the land
of Israel when they come to possess it
as the rest of the tribes had:
neither shalt thou have any part among them; any part of
the land when it is divided by lot
as it was in the times of Joshua
when
taken from the Canaanites; no tract of land was peculiarly assigned to them as
were to the other tribes
as fields
nor vineyards; they had cities appointed
them
and they had houses and fields devoted to the Lord which fell to them
and others they had by gift or legacy
or by purchase
as had Jeremiah the
priest and Barnabas the Levite
Jeremiah 32:9 Acts 4:36; but they
had no share in the distribution of the land of Canaan at the time of the
division of it among the tribes; no
not even in the spoil of the cities of the
land of Canaan
when they were conquered; this MaimonidesF14Hilchot
Shemittah Veyobel
c. 13. sect. 10
11. says they were warned not to take; and
a son of Levi that took any part of the spoil was to be beaten; but the spoil
of other lands
subdued by the kings of Israel
they might take
as other
Israelites did: the reason of all this was
because they had a sufficient
provision made for them in another way
and that they might not be entangled in
worldly affairs
or spend their time in the culture of fields and vineyards
but wholly give themselves to the service of God in his house:
I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of
Israel; in things temporal
the offerings
tithes
firstfruits
&c.
which were given to the Lord
being bestowed upon them; and in things
spiritual
they being employed in the work and service of God
and having a
peculiar nearness to him
and communion with him: so all that are made priests
unto God
as all believers in Christ are
1 Peter 2:5
have
God for their portion and inheritance; God
in his persons and in all his
perfections
and under every character
as the God of nature
providence
and
grace
is the portion of his people; and a rich
large
and satisfying portion
he is
and which is inexhaustible
and will endure for ever; he is their
portion in life and at death
in time and to all eternity; see Psalm 73:26.
Numbers 18:21 21 “Behold
I have given the children of Levi all the
tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform
the work of the tabernacle of meeting.
YLT
21and to the sons of Levi
lo
I have given all the tenth in Israel for inheritance in exchange for their
service which they are serving -- the service of the tent of meeting.
And
behold
I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in
Israel for an inheritance
.... The tenth part of the produce of the
land; of the wheat
barley
oil
and wine; the tenth part of their harvest and
vintage; so that though they were the least of the tribes
they had the
greatest share of the increase of the land
and that without any labour or
expense; the other having but nine parts among them all
and at the charge and
labour of manuring
cultivating
&c. and this they were to have
for their service which they serve
even the service of the tabernacle
of the congregation; see Numbers 18:3.
Numbers 18:22 22 Hereafter the children of Israel shall not come near
the tabernacle of meeting
lest they bear sin and die.
YLT
22`And the sons of Israel
come no more near unto the tent of meeting
to bear sin
to die
Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the
tabernacle of the congregation
.... To do any part of the priest's office
as to burn incense
as Korah and his company had done; or to do any part of the
work of the Levites
by watching in the tabernacle
by taking it down and
setting it up
and bearing the vessels of it; otherwise they might come to it
to bring their sacrifices
to pay their vows
and for their purification when
necessary
and such like things:
lest they bear sin and die; lest sin be charged upon
them
and punishment be inflicted
even the punishment of death; for it was
death to intrude into the priest's office.
Numbers 18:23 23 But the Levites shall perform the work of the
tabernacle of meeting
and they shall bear their iniquity; it shall be a
statute forever
throughout your generations
that among the children of Israel
they shall have no inheritance.
YLT
23and the Levites have done
the service of the tent of meeting
and they -- they bear their iniquity; a
statute age-during to your generations
that in the midst of the sons of Israel
they have no inheritance;
But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the
congregation
.... In guarding the tabernacle
that no unclean persons enter
into it
or any others take anything out of it
and in assisting the priests in
their service
and carrying the vessels of the sanctuary when required:
and they shall bear their iniquity: that is
when they fail
in the duty of their office
are not careful in their service and work
and
business appointed them; if either they did not do their business themselves
or suffered others to do it
or such to come to the tabernacle who should not
they would be blameworthy and suffer for it:
it shall be a statute for
ever throughout your generations
that the children of Israel they have no
inheritance; having such a plentiful provision made for them
by a statute as
durable as this.
Numbers 18:24 24 For the tithes of the children of Israel
which they
offer up as a heave offering to the Lord
I have
given to the Levites as an inheritance; therefore I have said to them
‘Among
the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.’”
YLT
24but the tithe of the sons
of Israel which they lift up to Jehovah
a heave-offering
I have given to the
Levites for inheritance; therefore I have said of them
In the midst of the
sons of Israel they have no inheritance.'
But the tithe of the children of Israel
.... The tenth
of the produce of their land
as before:
which they offer as an heave offering unto the Lord: by way of
gratitude to him for giving them the land
and for making it so fruitful to
them
and as an acknowledgment of his being the sovereign Lord and proprietor
of it:
I have given to the Levites to inherit; so that the
Levites had the tithe not immediately from the Israelites
nor were they
dependent on them for them; but they were first given to the Lord
and then by
him to the Levites
who held them of him
and not of the Israelites; and were a
portion and an inheritance
settled upon them by the Lord himself
which they
had as good a right and title unto as the rest of the tribes had to their
several inheritances:
therefore have I said unto them
among the children
of Israel
they shall have no inheritance; as in Numbers 18:23.
Numbers 18:25 25 Then the Lord spoke to Moses
saying
YLT
25And Jehovah speaketh unto
Moses
saying
And the Lord spake unto Moses
.... And not unto Aaron
because a tithe out of the tithe was to be given to Aaron
as Aben Ezra
observes
and it was not so proper that he should have this order to deliver to
the Levites
in which he and his sons were so much concerned
and therefore it
was given to Moses to acquaint them of it:
saying; as follows.
Numbers 18:26 26 “Speak thus to the Levites
and say to them: ‘When you
take from the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them as
your inheritance
then you shall offer up a heave offering of it to the Lord
a tenth of the tithe.
YLT
26`And unto the Levites thou
dost speak; and thou hast said unto them
When ye take from the sons of Israel
the tithe which I have given to you from them
for your inheritance
then ye
have lifted up from it the heave-offering of Jehovah
a tithe of the tithe;
Thus speak unto the Levites
and say unto them
.... Aaron was
to tell them what a provision would be made for them on account of their
service
but Moses was to inform them what part Aaron was to have out of it:
when ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have
given you from them for your inheritance; which was done at the time
of their harvest
and of the ingathering of the fruits of the earth:
then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the Lord; in token of
gratitude for the liberal provision he had made for the maintenance of them:
even a tenth part
of the tithe; a tenth part out of the tenth of the produce of the land of
Israel.
Numbers 18:27 27 And your heave offering shall be reckoned to you as
though it were the grain of the threshing floor and as the fullness of
the winepress.
YLT
27and your heave-offering
hath been reckoned to you as corn from the threshing-floor
and as fulness from
the wine-vat;
And this your heave offering
.... The tithe of the
tithe
which though not properly heaved or lifted up
as the heave offerings
strictly so called
were
any more than the tithe itself
Numbers 18:24; yet
is so called
because separated to the use and service of the Lord
as they
were:
shall be reckoned unto you
as though it were the corn of
the threshingfloor
and as the fulness of the winepress; that is
it
should be as acceptable to God as if they had fields and vineyards
threshing
floors
and wine presses of their own
from whence corn and wine were taken
as
the Israelites when they received their tithes from them; and what remained
they had as good a right unto
and might make use of as their own
as well as
they; see Numbers 18:30.
Numbers 18:28 28 Thus you shall also offer a heave offering to the Lord from all your tithes which you receive from the children of Israel
and you shall give the Lord’s heave offering from it to
Aaron the priest.
YLT
28so ye do lift up -- ye also
-- the heave-offering of Jehovah from all your tithes which ye receive from the
sons of Israel; and ye have given from it the heave-offering of Jehovah to
Aaron the priest;
Thus you also shall offer an heave offering unto the Lord
.... As the
Israelites did when they paid tithes to them
Numbers 18:24
of all your tithes which ye receive of the children of Israel; which heave
offering was a tenth part of them:
and ye shall give thereof the Lord's heave offering to Aaron the
priest; that is
the said tenth part of the tithe was to be given not to
Aaron only
as the high priest
as some have thought
and so to his successors
in the high priesthood; but to him and his sons
even to all the priests in
common
the high priest having his share of it; and JosephusF15Antiqu.
l. 4. c. 4. sect. 3. is clear for it
that the tithe of the annual fruits was
paid to the Levites
and to the priests. Hecataeus
an Heathen writer
who
lived in the times of Alexander the great
saysF16Apud Joseph.
contr. Apion. l. 1. sect. 22.
that all the priests of the Jews received the
tenth of whatsoever was produced
and ministered things in common
and were
1500 in number.
Numbers 18:29 29 Of all your gifts you shall offer up every heave
offering due to the Lord
from all the best of them
the
consecrated part of them.’
YLT
29out of all your gifts ye do
lift up the whole heave-offering of Jehovah; out of all its fat
-- its
hallowed part -- out of it.
Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the
Lord
.... Not only out of their tithes
but out of whatsoever gifts
were given by the Israelites to them
and out of the produce of the fields
which belonged to their cities
Numbers 35:4; the
Levites were to take a tenth
and bring it to the Lord as an heave offering;
that is
they were to give it to the priests
to testify their gratitude for
everything they had
and to sanctify the rest unto them
and confirm their
right and title to it
and give them the free use of it:
of all the best thereof
even the hallowed part thereof
out of it; which was the tenth part
for that Was holy
as Aben Ezra says
and that was to be the best of it
which was always to be given to the Lord.
Numbers 18:30 30 Therefore you shall say to them: ‘When you have lifted
up the best of it
then the rest shall be accounted to the Levites as
the produce of the threshing floor and as the produce of the winepress.
YLT
30`And thou hast said unto
them
In your lifting up its fat out of it
then it hath been reckoned to the
Levites
as increase of a threshing-floor
and as increase of a wine-vat;
Therefore thou shalt say unto them
.... The Targum of
Jonathan is
"thou shalt say to them the priests;'but the words seem
manifestly spoken to the Levites:
when ye have heaved the best thereof from it; taken out the
tenth part of it
and that the best:
then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the
threshing floor
and as the increase of the wine press; then what
remains shall be reckoned as much their own
and may be as lawfully enjoyed
as
the corn of the threshing floor
and the wine of the wine fat
of any Israelite
whatever.
Numbers 18:31 31 You may eat it in any place
you and your households
for it is your reward for your work in the tabernacle of meeting.
YLT
31and ye have eaten it in
every place
ye and your households
for it [is] your hire in exchange for your
service in the tent of meeting;
And ye shall eat it in every place
.... In any of their
tents or dwelling houses
not being obliged to eat it in the tabernacle
where
the priests
were obliged to eat many of their holy things
and second tithes
were only to be eaten at Jerusalem
Deuteronomy 14:22;
but the Levites might eat theirs any where
in any place
clean or unclean
according to Jarchi; for
he says
it might be eaten even in a graveyard; but
Aben Ezra much better
in a clean place
be that where it would:
ye
and your households; they and their wives
their sons and daughters
their servants
whether bought or hired; and they
might sell it to strangers
to purchase other necessaries with. The Targum of
Jonathan interprets this of the priests; but the Levites only are plainly
spoken of:
for it is your
reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation; which is said
to encourage them in their work
and animate them to it
as well as to clear
their right to such a maintenance against all objections; for the labourer is
worthy of his reward
as those that labour in the word and doctrine are of theirs
1 Timothy 5:17
Numbers 18:32 32 And you shall bear no sin because of it
when you have
lifted up the best of it. But you shall not profane the holy gifts of the
children of Israel
lest you die.’”
YLT
32and ye bear no sin for it
in your lifting up its fat out of it
and the holy things of the sons of Israel
ye do not pollute
and ye die not.'
And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it
.... Shall have
no blame laid upon them
or guilt imputed to them
or punishment inflicted on
them
on account of their having and enjoying their tithes and gifts:
when ye have heaved from it the best of it; took out the
tenth
and that the best
and given it to the priests; or otherwise they would
be blameworthy
guilty
and liable to punishment:
neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel; the gifts
they have given for holy uses
and so are holy; which would be the case if they
ate of them
or enjoyed them
without giving the priests the tenth part of
them:
lest ye die; for it seems such a neglect was punishable with death.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》