Numbers 18:22

22 The {Israelites} will not come near again to the tent of assembly, or {they will bear sin} and die.

Numbers 18:22 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 18:22

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 18:22 In-Context

20 Then Yahweh said to Aaron, "You will not receive an inheritance in their land, and there will not be a plot of ground for you in the midst of the {Israelites}.
21 "Behold, I have given to the descendants of Levi every tithe in Israel as an inheritance in return for their service, which they [are] doing, the work of the tent of assembly.
22 The {Israelites} will not come near again to the tent of assembly, or {they will bear sin} and die.
23 The Levites will perform the service of the tent of assembly, and they will bear their guilt, an eternal decree for all your generations. But they will not receive an inheritance in the midst of the {Israelites}
24 because the tithes of the {Israelites} that are {offered} to Yahweh as a contribution, I have given to the Levites as an inheritance; therefore I said to them, 'They will not receive an inheritance in the midst of the {Israelites}.'"

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
  • [b]. The NRSV translates "they will incur guilt"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.