Numbers 18

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 18 of 36

1 And Jehovah said to Aaron, You, and your sons, and your father's house with you shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary. And you, and your sons with you, shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood;

2 and also your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, you shall bring near with you, that they may be joined to you and may minister to you, you and your sons in your being before the tabernacle of the testimony.

3 And they shall keep your charge and the charge of all the tabernacle; only, they shall not go near to the vessels of the sanctuary and to the altar. And they shall not die, either they or you.

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Chapter Summary

The responsibilities of priests and Levites are clarified. Aaron and his sons bear responsibility for the sanctuary and priesthood. The Levites assist but cannot approach the holy vessels. God establishes the priests' and Levites' portions and inheritance.

Key Hebrew Words

כְּהֻנָּה priesthood H3550 · TWOT 959b
תְּרוּמָה heave offering H8641 · TWOT 2133i
מַעֲשֵׂר tithe H4643 · TWOT 1711h
נַחֲלָה inheritance H5159 · TWOT 1342a
עָוֺן iniquity H5771 · TWOT 1577a
בְּרִית covenant (of salt) H1285 · TWOT 282a

People & Context

Jehovah

God who assigns the priests' and Levites' duties, portions, and inheritance, declaring Himself Aaron's portion.

Aaron

High priest charged with bearing the sanctuary's iniquity and receiving the offerings as his inheritance.

Moses

Prophet to whom Jehovah speaks concerning the Levites' tithe of the tithe.

Timeline

Aaron, Priests, and Levites' Responsibilities

Aaron and his sons were appointed to bear the iniquity of the sanctuary and perform the duties of the priesthood at the altar 40 . The Levites were given as a gift to serve the tabernacle, but were strictly forbidden from touching the holy vessels or the altar 41 .

Numbers 18:1-7
Priests' Portions

Jehovah gave Aaron and the priests the heave offerings, the best of the oil, wine, and wheat, and the redemption price of the firstborn . They received no land inheritance because Jehovah Himself was their portion .

Numbers 18:8-20
Tithing of Levites

The Levites were given all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for their service at the tabernacle 45 . In turn, they were required to lift up a tithe of those tithes as a heave offering to Jehovah, giving it to Aaron the priest 47 .

Numbers 18:21-32

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