Numbers 18:21-31

21 Soothly, I gave to the sons of Levi all the tithes of Israel into possession, for the service by which they serve me in the tabernacle of [the] bond of peace; (Truly, I have given to the sons of Levi all of the tithes of Israel for a possession, for the service which they do in the Tabernacle of the Covenant, that is, the Tabernacle of the Witnessing;)
22 that the sons of Israel nigh no more to the tabernacle of [the] bond of peace, neither do deadly sin. (so that the Israelites no longer come near to the Tabernacle of the Covenant, and so do sin, and then must die.)
23 To the sons alone of Levi, serving me in the tabernacle, and bearing the people's sins, it shall be a lawful thing everlasting in your generations. (This is only for the sons of Levi, who serve me in the Tabernacle, and who bear the people's sins; and this shall be an everlasting law in all your generations.)
24 They shall wield none other thing, and they shall be satisfied with the offering of tithes, which I separated into [the] uses and necessaries of them. (They shall possess nothing else, and they shall be satisfied with the offering of the tithes which I set apart for their uses and their necessities.)
25 And the Lord spake to Moses and said,
26 Command thou, and announce to the deacons, When ye have taken tithes of the sons of Israel, which I gave to you, offer ye the first fruits of those to the Lord, that is, the tenth part of the tenth, (Command thou, and say to the Levites, When ye have received the tithes of the Israelites, which I gave to you, offer ye the first fruits of those tithes to the Lord, that is, a tithe of the tithe,)
27 that it be areckoned to you into [the] offering of the first fruits, as well of the cornfloors, as of the presses; (so that it shall be counted for you as though it be an offering of the first fruits, yea, from the threshing floor, and from the winepress;)
28 and of all things of which ye take tithes, offer ye the first fruits to the Lord, and give ye those to Aaron, the priest.
29 All (the) things which ye shall offer of (the) tithes, and shall separate into the gifts of the Lord (and shall set apart for a gift to the Lord), shall be the best, and all the choice things.
30 And thou shalt say to them, If ye offer to the Lord all the [more] clean and better things of tithes, it shall be areckoned to you, as if ye gave the first fruits of the cornfloor, and of the press. (And thou shalt say to them, When ye have offered to the Lord all the more clean and better things of the tithes, it shall be counted for you, like the first fruits from the threshing floor, and from the winepress.)
31 And ye shall eat those tithes in all your places, as well ye as your families, for it is the price for the service, for which ye serve in the tabernacle of witnessing. (And ye shall eat those tithes in all your dwelling places, ye as well as your families, or your households, for it is the payment for the service which ye do, in the Tabernacle of the Witnessing.)

Numbers 18:21-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 18

This chapter gives an account of the distinct work and service of the priests and Levites, Nu 18:1-7; and of several things given to the priests for their maintenance, Nu 18:8-19; and of the tithes the Levites should have to live upon, since they were to have no inheritance in the land of Israel, Nu 18:20-24; and of the tenth out of those tithes they were to give to the high priest, Nu 18:25-32.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.