Num 18 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Num 18:1-32: 18:1-32 The instructions given here arose from the need demonstrated in ch 17 for clear boundaries between the people and the priests and Levites. The distinctive privileges of the Levites were matched by significant responsibilities. One very important aspect of their work was to safeguard the Tabernacle from unauthorized entry (ch 16 ). Summary for Num 18:1-4: 18:1-4 The Lord gave special authority to Aaron , his sons (the priests), and his relatives (the Levites ), all of whom were held responsible for offenses against the sanctuary . But the priests alone were held responsible for their own violations of God’s instructions for their service.

Summary for Num 18:1-32: 18:1-32 ^a The instructions given here arose from the need demonstrated in ch 17 ^b for clear boundaries between the people and the priests and Levites. The distinctive privileges of the Levites were matched by significant responsibilities. One very important aspect of their work was to safeguard the Tabernacle from unauthorized entry (ch 16 ^c).
Summary for Num 18:1-4: 18:1-4 ^d The Lord gave special authority to Aaron, his sons (the priests), and his relatives (the Levites), all of whom were held responsible for offenses against the sanctuary. But the priests alone were held responsible for their own violations of God’s instructions for their service.
Summary for Num 18:3-4: 18:3-4 ^e all their assigned duties: See 1:47-53 ^f; 3:5-38 ^g; 4:1-33 ^h.

• they must be careful: The Levites could go near only when the sacred objects were covered for transport.
Summary for Num 18:5-7: 18:5-7 ⁱ Only the priests (Aaron and his descendants) could perform sacred duties inside the sanctuary proper or approach the altar, a sacred space that deserved special reverence. Only the high priest could serve in the Most Holy Place. The Levites were to serve only in the courtyard, away from the altar, except when it was time to assemble or disassemble the Tabernacle (ch 4 ^j). 18:5 ^k Aaron and the priests were the people’s representatives before the Lord, so their actions had consequences for all of Israel (cp. 16:18-21 ^l).
Summary for Num 18:6-7: 18:6-7 ^m Levites ... your special assistants: As explained in Num 3–4 ⁿ; see also 3:9 ^o; 8:16 ^p, 19 ^q.
18:7 ^r Any unauthorized person ... will be put to death: This verse warned Israelites at all levels in the sacred hierarchy to avoid areas where they were not allowed. Certain sacred places were off limits to those not qualified in a technical religious sense. Access to the most sacred areas was restricted, set apart for the holiest members of the religious community. Those who broke that taboo violated God’s holiness at the cost of their lives (see also 1:51 ^s, 53 ^t; 3:10 ^u, 29-38 ^v; 4:1-20 ^w).
Summary for Num 18:8-14: 18:8-14 ^x The priests and Levites were to be supported by the sacrificial system (see, e.g., Lev 7:28-36 ^y). God’s appointed representatives deserve compensation for their efforts (cp. Matt 10:9-10 ^z; 1 Cor 9:3-10 ^aa).
Summary for Num 18:9-11: 18:9-11 ^ab The most holy offerings were consumed only by Aaron and his sons, the priests set apart to serve in God’s presence (Exod 28:1 ^ac; 29:44-46 ^ad).

• This portion was a holy offering presented to God, and the priests had to respect it as such (Num 18:10 ^ae). Other categories of offerings provided food for the priests and their families (18:11-12 ^af), but only if they were ceremonially clean.
18:14 ^ag Offerings specially set apart for the Lord were available to Aaron and his extended family. The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the Lord, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering (see Lev 27:28-29 ^ah); the second sense is intended here.
Summary for Num 18:15-16: 18:15-16 ^ai The Lord provided for the Hebrew priests and their families out of what was set aside for the Lord. The priests had rights to firstborn animal offerings and to the redemption fee for Israel’s firstborn sons. Both the firstborn sons and the offspring of unclean animals had to be redeemed by a fee paid in silver, since neither could be sacrificed (see 3:13 ^aj, 40-51 ^ak; Exod 13:2 ^al).
18:19 ^am These arrangements were part of an eternal and unbreakable covenant (literally a covenant of salt; cp. 2 Chr 13:5 ^an). The covenant was apparently meant to be permanent, since salt (a preservative) was a symbol of permanence (Lev 2:13 ^ao).
Summary for Num 18:20-21: 18:20-21 ^ap The priests and Levites did not have a tribal homeland but were scattered among Israel’s other tribes (cp. 35:1-8 ^aq; Deut 12:12 ^ar; Josh 21:1-42 ^as).

• I am your share and your allotment: Instead of their own territory, Israel’s priests received the assurance that God himself would be their homeland, while the tribe of Levi received tithes in compensation for their sacred service.
Summary for Num 18:23-24: 18:23-24 ^at The Israelites’ tithes were one tenth of the year’s production of goods (see Deut 14:22-29 ^au; 26:12 ^av; Neh 10:35-39 ^aw; Mal 3:8-12 ^ax; Matt 23:23 ^ay; cp. Gen 14:17-20 ^az; Heb 7:5-10 ^ba).
Summary for Num 18:25-32: 18:25-32 ^bb Just as the Levites received a tithe of the Israelites’ goods (18:24 ^bc), they in turn were required to give ... a tithe of the tithe to the priests as their own harvest offering (18:27 ^bd).
18:31 ^be Any food received in tithes could be consumed by Levites and their families. That food was compensation (i.e., a salary) for Tabernacle service.
18:32 ^bf The food tithes had a sacred origin as holy gifts of the people of Israel; they were not to turn these gifts into something common by neglecting to give a tithe to the priests.