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The other Israelites must no longer approach the Tent and in this way bring on themselves the penalty of death.
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From now on only the Levites will take care of the Tent and bear the full responsibility for it. This is a permanent rule that applies also to your descendants. The Levites shall have no permanent property in Israel,
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because I have given to them as their possession the tithe which the Israelites present to me as a special contribution. That is why I told them that they would have no permanent property in Israel."
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The Lord commanded Moses
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to say to the Levites: "When you receive from the Israelites the tithe that the Lord gives you as your possession, you must present a tenth of it as a special contribution to the Lord.
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This special contribution will be considered as the equivalent of the offering which the farmer makes of new grain and new wine.
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In this way you also will present the special contribution that belongs to the Lord from all the tithes which you receive from the Israelites. You are to give this special contribution for the Lord to Aaron the priest.
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Give it from the best that you receive.
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When you have presented the best part, you may keep the rest, just as the farmer keeps what is left after he makes his offering.
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You and your families may eat the rest anywhere, because it is your wages for your service in the Tent.
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You will not become guilty when you eat it, as long as you have presented the best of it to the Lord. But be sure not to profane the sacred gifts of the Israelites by eating any of the gifts before the best part is offered; if you do, you will be put to death."