Bibelkommentare

The priests are to bear the iniquity of the sanctuary, Numbers 18:1. The Levites to minister to the priests, and have charge of the tabernacle, Numbers 18:2-4. The priests alone to have the charge of the sanctuary, etc., no stranger to come nigh on pain of death, Numbers 18:5-7 The portion allowed for their maintenance, Numbers 18:8. They shall have every meat-offering; and they shall eat them in the holy place, Numbers 18:9, Numbers 18:10. The wave-offerings, Numbers 18:11. The first-fruits of the oil, wine, and wheat, and whatever is first ripe, and every devoted thing, Numbers 18:12-14; also, all the first-born of men and beasts, Numbers 18:15-18; and heave-offerings, Numbers 18:19. The priests shall have no inheritance, Numbers 18:20. The Levites shall have no inheritance, but shall have the tenth of the produce in Israel, Numbers 18:21-24, of which they are to give a tenth to the priests, taken from the best parts, Numbers 18:25-30.

Thou and thy sons - shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary, etc. - That is, They must be answerable for its legal pollutions, and must make the necessary atonements and expiations. By this they must feel that though they had got a high and important office confirmed to them by a miraculous interference, yet it was a place of the highest responsibility; and that they must not be high-minded, but fear.

Thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi - may be joined unto thee - There is a fine paronomasia, or play upon words, in the original. לוי Levi comes from the root לוה lavah, to join to, couple, associate: hence Moses says, the Levites, ילוו yillavu, shall be joined, or associated with the priests; they shall conjointly perform the whole of the sacred office, but the priests shall be principal, the Levites only their associates or assistants.

The first-born of man - and the firstling of unclean beasts - Thus vain man is ranked with the beasts that perish; and with the worst kinds of them too, those deemed unclean.

Shalt thou redeem - for the money of five shekels - Redemption of the first-born is one of the rites which is still practiced among the Jews. According to Leo of Modena, it is performed in the following manner: -

When the child is thirty days old, the father sends for one of the descendants of Aaron: several persons being assembled on the occasion, the father brings a cup containing several pieces of gold and silver coin. The priest then takes the child into his arms, and addressing himself to the mother, says: Is this thy son?

Mother. Yes.

Priest. Hast thou never had another child, male or female, a miscarriage or untimely birth?

Mother. No.

Priest. This being the case, this child, as first-born, belongs to me.

Then, turning to the father, he says: If it be thy desire to have this child, thou must redeem it.

Father. I present thee with this gold and silver for this purpose.

Priest. Thou dost wish, therefore, to redeem the child?

Father. I do wish so to do.

The priest then, turning himself to the assembly, says: Very well; this child, as first-born, is mine, as it is written in Bemidbar, (Numbers 18:16), Thou shalt redeem the first-born of a month old for five shekels, but I shall content myself with this in exchange. He then takes two gold crowns, or thereabouts, and returns the child to his parents.

It is a covenant of salt - That is, an incorruptible, everlasting covenant. As salt was added to different kinds of viands, not only to give them a relish, but to preserve them from putrefaction and decay, it became the emblem of incorruptibility and permanence. Hence, a covenant of salt signified an everlasting covenant. We have already seen that, among the Asiatics, eating together was deemed a bond of perpetual friendship; and as salt was a common article in all their repasts, it may be in reference to this circumstance that a perpetual covenant is termed a covenant of salt; because the parties ate together of the sacrifice offered on the occasion, and the whole transaction was considered as a league of endless friendship. See the note on Leviticus 2:13.

I am thy part and thine inheritance - The principal part of what was offered to God was the portion of the priests, therefore they had no inheritance of land in Israel; independently of that they had a very ample provision for their support. The rabbins say twenty-four gifts were given to the priests, and they are all expressed in the law. Eight of those gifts the priests ate nowhere but in the sanctuary: these eight are the following: -

1. The flesh of the Sin-Offering, whether of beasts or fowls, Leviticus 6:25, Leviticus 6:26.

2. The flesh of the Trespass-Offering, Leviticus 7:1, Leviticus 7:6.

3. The Peace-Offerings of the congregation, Leviticus 23:19, Leviticus 23:20.

4. The remainder of the Omer or Sheaf, Leviticus 23:10, etc.

5. The remnants of the Meat-Offerings of the Israelites, Leviticus 6:16.

6. The two Loaves, Leviticus 23:17.

7. The Shew-Bread, Leviticus 24:9.

8. The Log of oil offered by the leper, Leviticus 14:10, etc.

Five of those gifts they ate only in Jerusalem: -

1. The breast and shoulder of the Peace-Offerings, Leviticus 7:31, Leviticus 7:34.

2. The Heave-Offering of the sacrifice of confession, Leviticus 7:12-14.

3. The Heave-Offering of the Nazarite's ram, Leviticus 6:17-20.

4. The Firstling of the clean beast, Numbers 18:15; Deuteronomy 15:19, Deuteronomy 15:20.

5. The First-Fruits, Numbers 18:13.

Five gifts were not due unto them by the law, but in the land of Israel only: -

1. The heave-offering or First-Fruits, Numbers 18:12.

2. The heave-offering of the Tithe, Numbers 18:28.

3. The Cake, Numbers 15:20.

These three were holy.

4. The first-fruits of the Fleece, Deuteronomy 18:4.

5. The Field of Possession, Numbers 35.

These two were common.

Five gifts were due unto them both within and without the land: -

1. The gifts of the Beasts Slain, Deuteronomy 18:3.

2. The redemption of the First-Born Son, Numbers 18:15.

3. The Lamb for the firstling of an ass, Exodus 4:20; Numbers 18.

4. The restitution of that taken by violence from a stranger, Numbers 5:8.

5. All Devoted things, Numbers 18:14.

One gift was due unto them from the sanctuary: -

1. The skins of the burnt-offering, and all the skins of the other most holy things, Leviticus 7:8.

In all 24. See Ainsworth.

The gifts which the females of the priests' families had a part in were these: -

1. The heave-offering, or first-fruits.

2. The heave-offering of the tithe.

3. The cake.

4. The gifts of the beast, Deuteronomy 18:3.

5. The first of the fleece.

• See Mishna, Tract. Biccurim, and Ainsworth on the Pentateuch.

Besides all this the priests had the tribute money mentioned Numbers 31:28, Numbers 31:29.

Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth -

1. The Levites had the tenth of all the productions of the land.

2. They had forty-eight cities, each forming a square of 4,000 cubits.

3. They had 2,000 cubits of ground round each city. Total of the land they possessed, 53,000 acres.

4. They had the first-fruits and certain parts of all the animals killed in the land.

Canaan contained about 11,264,000 acres; therefore the portion possessed by the Levites was rather less than as one to two hundred and twelve; for 11,264,000 divided by 53,000, quotes only 212 28/53 - See Lowman, Dodd, etc. But though this was a very small proportion for a whole tribe that had consented to annihilate its political existence, that it might wait upon the service of God, and labor for the people's souls; yet let it be considered that what they possessed was the best of the land: and while it was a slender remuneration for their services, yet their portion was such as rendered them independent, and kept them comfortable; so that they could wait on the Lord's work without distraction. This is a proper pattern for the maintenance of the ministers of God: let them have a sufficiency for themselves and families, that there may be no distracting cares; and let them not be encumbered with riches or worldly possessions, that they may not be prevented from taking care of souls.