Números 18
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Números 18
NJB (MT versing) Duties of Levites Duties of Priests and Levites The Responsibility of Aaronic Priests and Other Levites Duties of Priests and Levites Expiation: The Function of the Priesthood 18:1-7 18:1-7 18:1-7 18:1-7 17:27-18:7 The Priest's Portion Offerings for Support of the Priests The Share of the Priests The Priest's Portion 18:8-20 18:8-20 18:8-20 18:8-11 18:8-10 18:11-19 18:12-13 18:14 18:15-18 18:19 The Levites' Portion 18:20 18:20 Tithes for Support of the Levites The Share of the Levites 18:21-24 18:21-24 18:21-24 18:21-24 18:21-24 The Tithes of the Levites The Levites' Tithe Tithes 18:25-32 18:25-32 18:25-32 18:25-32 18:25-29 18:30-32 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS In the context of the conflict between Aaron and Korah, the place of the families of the tribe of Levi is spelled out specifically. The Oxford Study Bible (NRSV) suggests that most of the information contained in this chapter is a repeat of earlier revelation. Num. 18:1-7 ‒ Num. 3:5-10 Num. 18:8-10 ‒ Leviticus 1-7 Num. 18:15 ‒ Exod. 13:11-13 Num. 18:16 ‒ Num. 3:44-48 Num. 18:17 ‒ Lev. 27:9-10, 26-27 Num. 18:18 ‒ Lev. 7:28-36 Num. 18:19 ‒ Lev. 2:13 Num. 18:21 ‒ Lev. 27:30-33 There is always some confusion about the details of these laws which are recorded in different books of the Pentateuch. There has been some updating and editorial revision within the community of Israel. Tabernacle of the wilderness Temple of Solomon
Números 18:1-7
18:1 "the Lord said to Aaron" Usually YHWH speaks to Moses, but here, like Lev. 10:8, He addresses Aaron (and his family). ▣ NASB, JPSOA, Peshitta "bear the guilt" "bear the iniquity" "bear responsibility" "answerable for" "fully answerable" "bear the sins of. . ." The VERB (BDB 669, KB 724, Qal IMPERFECT [Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT in v. 22]) normally means to lift a burden (i.e., carry) to lift a hand an eye one's face a lament a name a prayer one's self to bear guilt or punishment (i.e., Ezek. 14:10; 44:12) carry off literal figurative There are two possibilities here. if they obey YHWH's guidelines they will not die (i.e., v. 23; Exod. 28:43; 30:32; Leviticus 10; 16:2; 21:23; Num. 1:51; 3:10; 9:13; 17:12-13) they are to atone for this guilt of Israel by the altar (i.e., Exod. 28:38) Number 1 fits this context best! Some priests did die (cf. Leviticus 10). 18:2 YHWH provides for the needs of both the priests and the Levites. priests are sustained by the gifts to the altar Levites are sustained by the tithes of the people Neither group of the tribe of Levi has a land inheritance in Canaan because YHWH, Himself, is their inheritance (cf. Num. 18:20, 24; Deut. 10:9; 12:12; 14:27, 29). ▣ "Bring with you also your brothers" This is a Hiphil IMPERATIVE (BDB 897, KB 1132). It is followed by two IMPERFECTS used as JUSSIVES. joined with you ‒ BDB 530, KB 522 serve you ‒ BDB 1058, KB 1661 The Levites have a part but a lesser, limited part. They are to serve YHWH by serving the priests and the Tabernacle (i.e., the sacrificial system of atonement). 8:3 "attend to your obligation" "attend to your needs" "perform duties" TEV, REB "to fulfill their duties" "at the service" "discharge their duties" "keep your guard duties" "keep your charge" The MT has the VERB (BDB 1036, KB 1581, Qal PERFECT with waw; used in vv. 3, 4, 5, 7), which can mean "keep," "guard," or "preserve." BDB suggests here it has the connotation of "discharge the duties of the office" (i.e., Num. 1:53; 3:7, 8, 10, 28, 32, 38; Lev. 5:35). They will have specific assigned tasks in serving the priests and the Tabernacle. They must do these and only these or death will occur. There are degrees of holiness. High Priest ‒ Leviticus 16 priests Levites 18:4 The term "outsider" is literally "stranger" (BDB 266 I, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE). The Levites are to guard the Tabernacle from all but the priests (cf. v. 22) guard the Tabernacle from non-Israelites (see full note at Num. 3:10) Here, #1 fits best (cf. vv. 7,22). The Levites are stationed by family around the inner circle of the Tabernacle. See SPECIAL TOPIC: CHART OF THE TABERNACLE. Israel functioned on a "holy-profane" or "clean-unclean" worldview. The tribe of Levi was involved in protecting the Tabernacle from non-Israelites/priests protecting it from disqualified Levites/priests protecting the levels of holiness between the holy place and the holy of holies At each level some were excluded. If there was a violation of YHWH's rules in this area, then death resulted. This same worldview distinction also guided "who" could eat "what" and "where." 18:5 The purpose of the Tabernacle is that Israel's sin is dealt with and there needed to be no more divine plagues. This may be the contextual reason for the expressed fear of Num. 17:12-13. An example of this intercession is seen in Moses' prayers Aaron's censer of Num. 16:46 18:6 The Levites were a "gift" (BDB 682 I, cf. Num. 3:9; 8:16,19; here) to the priests to help them in serving the needs of the sacrificial system (i.e., the Tabernacle and all its movement and functioning). 18:7 The priests were responsible for everything related to the sacrificial altar (see SPECIAL TOPIC: ALTAR OF SACRIFICE) everything inside the shrine (i.e., holy place and holy of holies) See SPECIAL TOPIC: LEVITICAL PRIESTS.
Números 18:8-20
18:8-20 YHWH, Himself, communicates this information to Aaron. This revelation is characterized as a portion a perpetual allotment The priests shall be sustained by part of (not fat or internal organs): grain offering, Num. 18:9, 12; cf. Leviticus 2 sin offering, Num. 18:8, cf. Leviticus 4 guilt offering, Num. 18:9; cf. Leviticus 5 all wave offerings, Num. 18:11, 18 all fresh oil offerings, Num. 18:12 all fresh wine offerings, Num. 18:12 all first fruits, Num. 18:12 all the redemption money paid by families for their first child (and first of the domestic animals), Num. 18:15-18 18:8 NASB, NKJV, NJB "a portion" "a priestly portion" "the part assigned to you" "a prerequisite" "allotted portion" "honor" "by reason of the anointing" The MT has a NOUN (BDB 603), which is used only here but is related to the root "anointed" (BDB 603, KB 644 I, cf. Exod. 29:29; 40:15). KB (KB 644 II) defines it as "share" or "allotment," from a similar root in Lev. 7:35 (different vowels). In several places it is in the same context as "perpetual allotment" (cf. Exod. 29:28-29; Lev. 6:11). 18:9 "reserved from the fire" Some sacrifices were completely burned (i.e., burnt offerings, Leviticus 1), but for all others only a small portion was burned on the altar of sacrifice. The rest was to be eaten by different groups. priests only priest and Levite families the offerer and friends The fat of the internal organs and the blood always belonged to YHWH. fat burned completely the part of the blood not put on the horns of the altar was poured out at the base of the altar (cf. Num. 18:17) 18:9,16 "most holy" This category of food is restricted to the priests alone and must be eaten in the Tabernacle (cf. Lev. 6:1-7:10). It got this designation by being connected to things that enter the inner shrine. "Holy" food is allowed to be eaten by the priests' families at home. 18:12 "wine" See SPECIAL TOPIC: WINE AND STRONG DRINK. 18:14 NASB, NKJV, NRSV "devoted thing" "unconditionally dedicated" "under the curse" "proscribed" "devoted to God" "anathematized" "dedicated" The MT has herem (BDB 356 I), which can mean something devoted, given to the sanctuary ‒ Lev. 27:28; Ezek. 44:29 (i.e., priests can eat it) Jericho totally given to YHWH for destruction (i.e., holy war) and, therefore, no spoils ‒ Joshua 6-7 YHWH's judgment on a person ‒ 1 Kgs. 20:42 on a nation (1) Edom ‒ Isa. 34:5 (2) Israel ‒ Isa. 43:28 a curse ‒ Zech. 14:16; Mal. 4:6 See SPECIAL TOPIC: CURSE. 18:15 "firstborn" The concept of a part of something belonging to the Lord is a way of asserting His ownership of the thing! Sabbath ‒ all days/time tithe ‒ all wealth/property first fruit ‒ all the crops firstborn ‒ all the family or all the herd Possibly #4 could be Israel as YHWH's ownership of all nations. See SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN. ▣ "redeem" This VERB is used four times in Num. 18:15-17. The first use is the intensified form (i.e., an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and the IMPERFECT VERB from the same root, BDB 804, KB 911). Israel's firstborn children are surely to be redeemed (no human sacrifice). See SPECIAL TOPIC: RANSOM/REDEEM, I. A. #2. 18:16 "shekels" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES. ▣ "gerahs" This term (BDB 176 II) occurs in the OT only five times (i.e., Exod. 30:13; Lev. 27:25; Num. 3:47; 18:16; and Ezek. 45:12) and always in connection to a shekel. 18:17 "blood" See SPECIAL TOPIC: BLOOD. ▣ "a soothing aroma" See SPECIAL TOPIC: A SOOTHING AROMA. 18:19-20 These verses serve as a summary of Num. 18:8-18. 18:19 "an everlasting covenant of salt" This concept is referred to in several places (i.e., Lev. 2:13; 2 Chr. 13:5; Ezek. 43:24). See Special Topics: FOREVER ('olam) COVENANT SALT It is surely possible that this phrase is linked to the fact that a fellowship meal was accompanied by salt (although it is not mentioned specifically in Gen. 31:54; Exod. 24:5-11; Ps. 50:5). Salt could represent: a binding oath a curse symbol (cf. Jdgs. 9:45; Jer. 48:9; Zeph. 2:9) a part of a fellowship meal a symbol of permanence (i.e., salted food; see NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 750)
Números 18:21-24
18:21-32 These two paragraphs deal with YHWH's provision for the Levites. They will receive the tithes of Israel (cf. Lev. 27:30-33; see SPECIAL TOPIC: TITHING IN THE MOSAIC LEGISLATION). Exactly how this is related to a special third-year tithe is uncertain (cf. Deut. 14:28-29; 26:12). Possibly it is for Levites only and not those associated with the Tabernacle. The New Century Bible, Leviticus and Numbers, p. 165, has an explanation of the different texts on tithing. It asserts that Deut. 14:22-23, Israelites ate the tithe at the central sanctuary but every third year it went uniquely to the poor (cf. Deut. 26:12) Numbers 18, written later, had all the tithes go to the Levites even later, Lev. 27:30-33; 2 Chr. 31:6, the tithe included animals My problem with this is the assumption that we moderns know the dating of different texts in the OT. The J.E.D.P. theory is just that and worse, it is based on a western literary model, not ANE. See SPECIAL TOPIC: PENTATEUCH SOURCE CRITICISM. 18:21 "in return for" This root (BDB 322 II) is used only here and in v. 31 in this sense. The root normally means "to pass on," "pass away," or "pass through." This is a good place to remind all of us that words have meaning only in sentences. Sentences have meaning only in paragraphs (i.e., literary contexts). Dictionaries and lexicons only follow usages, they do not define terms! See BIBLE INTERPRETATION SEMINAR.
Números 18:25-32
18:26 The Levites must tithe their tithe (cf. Neh. 10:38-39). This was mostly agricultural items or animals from the herd (cf. Lev. 27:30-33). AB, vol. 4, p. 451, says that animals were excluded from the Levites' tithe of the time. ▣ "you shall present an offering from it to the Lord" The grammatical form of the VERB is PERFECT with waw, which usually denotes an ongoing sense. This is the usual intention of the waw with a PERFECT (i.e., Num. 18:31). See SPECIAL TOPIC: HEBREW GRAMMAR, II, D (i.e., waw conversive/consecutive).