Comentario del capítulo
Numbers Capítulo 18
서론
Sin título
简体中文
Original en inglés
Aaron being now fully established in the priesthood abundantly to his own satisfaction, and to the satisfaction of the people (which was the good that God brought out of the evil opposition made to him), in this chapter God gives him full instructions concerning his office or rather repeats those which he had before given him. He tells him, I. What must be his work and the care and charge committed to him, and what assistance he should have the Levites in that work, Nu 18:1-7. II. What should be his and the Levites' wages for this work. 1. The perquisites or fees peculiar to the priests, Nu 18:8-19. 2. The settled maintenance of the Levites, Nu 18:20-24. III. The portion which must be paid to the priests out of the Levites' maintenance, Nu 18:25-32. Thus every one knew what he had to do, and what he had to live upon.
1-19
The Service of the Priests and Levites (1490 BC)
简体中文
祭司与利未人的职任（主前1490年）
¹ 耶和华对亚伦说："你和你的儿子们，并你父家与你一同担当圣所的罪孽；你和你的儿子们也当担当祭司职任的罪孽。
² 你也要带你父系支派的利未弟兄与你同来，使他们与你联合，服事你；只是你和你的儿子们，要在法柜帐幕前供职。
³ 他们当守你所当守的，并看守全帐幕；只是不可挨近圣所的器具和坛，免得他们和你们都死亡。
⁴ 他们当与你联合，看守会幕，办理帐幕一切的事；外人不可挨近你们。
⁵ 你们当看守圣所与坛的职任，免得怒气再临到以色列人。
⁶ 我已将你们的弟兄利未人从以色列人中选出来归我，如今他们是给我的赏赐，作为礼物交给你，为要办理会幕的事。
⁷ 你和你的儿子们当为一切关于坛的事，并在幔子内，谨守你们的祭司职分；你们要供职：我将你的祭司职任赐给你当作赏赐的事奉；凡挨近的外人必被治死。"
本章与前章的衔接十分明显。
I. 百姓在前章末了抱怨说，亲近神的事既艰难又危险，这使他们满怀恐惧，担心在他们中间的帐幕——他们原盼望这帐幕成为他们的喜乐与荣耀——反要成为他们的威吓与毁灭。如今为回答这一怨言，神借亚伦使他们明白，祭司要作他们的代表替他们前来；这样，百姓虽被要求保持距离，却一点也不至于成为他们的羞辱或损失，反而因有祭司居间代求，他们与神之间甜美的相交仍可维持。
II. 神近来已将极大的尊荣加在亚伦身上；当其他众首领的杖仍枯干无果、毫无装饰时，亚伦的杖却已发芽开花。如今为免亚伦因所得恩典丰盛、并因维持其高位所行的神迹而自高自大，神便临到他，提醒他所担负的责任，以及作祭司当尽的职分。他若想到所托付的责任何等重大，要交账何等艰难，就必见到不该因升迁而骄傲的理由，反当以敬畏战兢的心领受职任的尊荣。不要志气高大，倒要惧怕。
1. 神告诉他伴随尊位而来的危险（民18:1）。(1.) 祭司和利未人（你、你的儿子们，并你父家）要担当圣所的罪孽；这就是说，若圣所被外人或不洁之人擅入而遭亵渎，罪责当归在理当阻拦他们的利未人和祭司身上。虽然那擅自闯入的罪人要死在自己的罪中，然而他的血却要从守望的人手中追讨。这话也可作更广义的理解："圣所的任何职务或职事若有疏忽，任何事奉未按时按律而行，搬迁圣所时若有遗失或错置，你们都要为此负责，并要冒险作答。"(2.) 祭司自己要担当祭司职任的罪孽；即他们若疏忽职守的任何部分，或容让别人侵犯其职分、夺取其工作，就要担当罪责。请留意：所托付我们的工作与权柄越大，因失信、背约而招罪的危险也越大。这正是一个好理由，叫我们既不嫉妒别人的尊荣，也不自己贪图高位，因为大尊荣使我们面临大罪责。受托看守圣所的人，要交账的事多得很。想到对灵魂的看管要如何交账，谁还愿贪图这一职任呢？
2. 神告诉他伴随尊位而来的本分。(1.) 他和他儿子们必须在法柜帐幕前供职（民18:2）；按帕特里克主教（bishop Patrick）的解释，即在至圣所之前——约柜所在之处，在那帐幕幔子之外，却在会幕门内。他们当伺候金坛、陈设饼的桌子和灯台，这些利未人都不可挨近。你们要供职（民18:7）。不是说"你们要掌权"（决不是要他们在神的产业上作主辖制），而是说"你们要服事神和会众"。请留意：祭司职分是一种事奉。人若想要得监督的职分，就是羡慕善工。传道人当记念自己是执事，即仆人，理当谦卑、殷勤、忠心。(2.) 利未人要协助他和他儿子们，在帐幕一切的事奉上服事他们（民18:2-4），却绝不可挨近圣所的器具，也不可在坛前参与烧脂油、洒宝血等重大事奉。亚伦的家人口甚少，而随着他家丁增加，以色列其余各家也同样增加，所以祭司的人手既不充足，将来也难以应付帐幕一切的事奉；因此（神说）利未人要与你联合（民18:2，民18:4又重申），此处似乎暗指利未（Levi）这名字，意为"联合"。近来有许多利未人曾与亚伦作对，但从此以后，神应许他们必在利益和情谊上与他真心联合，不再与他相争。当神感动相关之人的心也承认亚伦时，这对亚伦乃是一个好兆头，表明神悦纳了他。经上说利未人是作为礼物赐给祭司的（民18:6）。请留意：若有人与我们联合，在事奉神的事上成为我们的帮助，我们当看这是神丰盛恩典所赐的大礼物而珍视。(3.) 祭司和利未人都当谨慎防备圣物被亵渎。利未人要看守帐幕，使外人（即凡因任何缘故被禁止前来的人）不可挨近（民18:4），违者必被治死（民18:7）。祭司则要看守圣所（民18:5），要指教百姓，提醒他们当守的当有距离，不容他们越过所定的界限——正如可拉一党所行的那样——免得再有怒气临到以色列人。请留意：防止罪恶就是防止怒气；罪恶已造成的祸患，当成为日后儆醒自守、也儆醒别人的鉴戒。
⁸ 耶和华对亚伦说："我已将以色列人中一切分别为圣的礼物之举祭赐给你管理；我因受膏的缘故，将这些赐给你和你的儿子们，作为永远的定例。
⁹ 至圣之物中未经火献上的部分要归你：他们所献的一切素祭、一切赎罪祭、一切赎愆祭，都要归你与你儿子们为至圣。
¹⁰ 你要在至圣之处吃它；凡男丁都可以吃；这物对你当分别为圣。
¹¹ 这是你的：他们所献的举祭礼物，并以色列人一切摇祭，我都赐给你和你的儿女与你同吃，作为永远的定例；凡在你家中洁净的人都可以吃。
¹² 凡最好的油，凡最好的新酒和麦子，他们献给耶和华的初熟之物，我都赐给你。
¹³ 凡地上初熟的物，他们带来归耶和华的，都要归你；凡在你家洁净的人都可以吃。
¹⁴ 以色列中一切永献的物都要归你。
¹⁵ 凡他们献给耶和华的，凡打开母腹的，无论是人是畜，都要归你；只是人头生的你必要赎，不洁牲畜的头生你也要赎。
¹⁶ 其中从一个月以外当赎的，你要按你所估定的价，照圣所的舍客勒用银子五舍客勒赎出来——一舍客勒就是二十季拉。
¹⁷ 只是头生的牛，或是头生的绵羊，或是头生的山羊，你不可赎；这些是圣的：你要把它们的血洒在坛上，把它们的脂油焚烧作为火祭，献给耶和华为馨香的祭。
¹⁸ 它们的肉要归你，像摇胸和右腿归你一样。
¹⁹ 凡以色列人献给耶和华圣物中的举祭，我已赐给你和你的儿女与你同得，作为永远的定例；这在耶和华面前作为盐约永远归于你和你的后裔。"
祭司的事奉被称为争战；谁当兵自备粮饷呢？他们既受良好任用，也得到良好供养，并得丰厚报酬。事奉神的人没有一个是徒然的。一切信徒都作属灵的祭司，神也已应许看顾他们；他们必住在地上，真被喂养，不缺任何好处。敬虔有今生的应许。使徒正是从祭司所得这丰盛的供养推论：基督的教会有责任供养其传道人；伺候祭坛的就分领坛上的物。如此，传福音的人当靠福音养生，且生活舒适（林前9:13,14）。可耻的供养产生可耻的传道人。如今当留意：1. 祭司所得的供养，有大部分是出自他们自己所献的祭物。几乎一切祭牲的皮都归他们，他们可变卖；素祭、赎罪祭等也有相当份额归他们。掌管祭物的人也得其中的益处（民18:8）。请留意：神的工作本身就是工价，事奉他本身就带着报偿。就是遵守神的诫命，也有大赏赐。宗教现今的喜乐，正是其报酬的一部分。2. 他们不仅餐桌丰盛，腰包里也有钱——为赎长子和不可献为祭的不洁牲畜之头生而得的赎银。这样，他们的供养使他们完全脱离今生事务的缠绕；他们没有田地要耕种，没有葡萄园要打理，没有牲畜要看顾，没有任何可见的产业要操心，然而他们的收入却比任何其他家族都丰盛。神如此安排，为要使他们能更专心地献身于职任，不被任何世事或俗务所分心、所扰乱（事奉需要全人）；也要使他们成为凭信心生活的榜样——不仅信靠神的护理，也信靠神的定规。他们过的是日赐日食的生活，好学习不为明天忧虑；当日的供给足以当日之需；他们也没有产业可留给儿女，借此便因信将儿女交托给那位一生养活他们的神。3. 在为他们餐桌所预备的供养中，有的被称为至圣（民18:9,10），只可由祭司本人在帐幕的院子里吃；另一些则较为次圣，他们的家人可以在自己家中吃，只要洁净即可（民18:11-13）。参 利21:10-12等。4. 所献的初熟之物，必须用最好的油、最好的新酒和麦子献给耶和华，归祭司所有（民18:12）。请留意：我们当常常以我们所有的上好之物来事奉神、荣耀神，因为他是至善者，最配得上好的；他是首生的，所以也当得初熟的物。那些想要以次品应付神、以为如此可以节省花费的人，不过是自欺，因为神是轻慢不得的。5. 这一切都是因受膏的缘故赐给祭司的（民18:8）。并非因他们比其他以色列人更有个人功劳，所以才得这些供奉——当知道这事；完全是因他们受膏所承担的职任。照样，赐给主百姓的一切安慰，都是因他们所受的膏而赐下的。经上说这是藉永远的定例赐给他们的（民18:8），且是盐约，直到永远（民18:19）。只要祭司职分继续，这就要继续作它的供养，使这灯不致因缺油而熄灭。这样，福音的事奉便也有了预备，使它可一直延续，直到基督再来——这是永远的定例。看哪，我常与你们同在（这就是他们的供养与扶持），直到世界的末了。感谢救赎主，这是他命定到千代的道。
Original en inglés
The Service of the Priests and Levites (1490 BC)
¹ And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.
² And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.
³ And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.
⁴ And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.
⁵ And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel.
⁶ And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
⁷ Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
The coherence of this chapter with that foregoing is very observable.
I. The people, in the close of that chapter, had complained of the difficulty and peril that there were in drawing near to God, which put them under some dreadful apprehensions that the tabernacle in the midst of them, which they hoped would have been their joy and glory, would rather be their terror and ruin. Now, in answer to this complaint, God here gives them to understand by Aaron that the priests should come near for them as their representatives; so that, though the people were obliged to keep their distance, yet that should not at all redound to their disgrace or prejudice, but their comfortable communion with God should be kept up by the interposition of the priests.
II. A great deal of honour God had now lately put upon Aaron; his rod had budded and blossomed, when the rods of the rest of the princes remained dry, and destitute both of fruit and ornament. Now lest Aaron should be puffed up with the abundance of the favours that were done him, and the miracles that were wrought for the support of him in his high station, God comes to him to remind him of the burden that was laid upon him, and the duty required from him as a priest. He would see reason not to be proud of his preferment, but to receive the honours of his office with reverence and holy trembling, when he considered how great was the charge committed to him, and how hard it would be for him to give a good account of it. Be not high-minded, but fear.
1. God tells him of the danger that attended his dignity, Nu 18:1. (1.) That both the priests and Levites (thou, and thy sons, and thy father's house) should bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; that is, if the sanctuary were profaned by the intrusion of strangers, or persons in their uncleanness, the blame should lie upon the Levites and priests, who ought to have kept them off. Though the sinner that thrust in presumptuously should die in his iniquity, yet his blood should be required at the hands of the watchmen. Or it may be taken more generally: "If any of the duties or offices of the sanctuary be neglected, if any service be not done in its season or not according to the law, if any thing be lost or misplaced in the removal of the sanctuary, you shall be accountable for it, and answer it at your peril." (2.) That the priests should themselves bear the iniquity of the priesthood; that is, if they either neglected any part of their work or permitted any other persons to invade their office, and take their work out of their hands, they should bear the blame of it. Note, The greater the trust is of work and power that is committed to us the greater is our danger of contracting guilt, by falsifying and betraying that trust. This is a good reason why we should neither be envious at others' honours nor ambitious ourselves of high places, because great dignity exposes us to great iniquity. Those that are entrusted with the charge of the sanctuary will have a great deal to answer for. Who would covet the care of souls who considers the account that must be given of that care?
2. He tells him of the duty that attended his dignity. (1.) That he and his sons must minister before the tabernacle of witness (Nu 18:2); that is (as bishop Patrick explains it), before the most holy place, in which the ark was, on the outside of the veil of that tabernacle, but within the door of the tabernacle, of the congregation. They were to attend the golden altar, the table, and candlestick, which no Levite might approach to. You shall serve, Nu 18:7. Not, "You shall rule" (it was never intended that they should lord it over God's heritage), but "You shall serve God and the congregation." Note, The priesthood is a service. If any desire the office of a bishop he desires a good work. Ministers must remember that they are ministers, that is, servants, of whom it is required that they be humble, diligent, and faithful. (2.) That the Levites must assist him and his sons, and minister to them in all the service of the tabernacle (Nu 18:2-4), though they must by no means come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary, nor at the altar meddle with the great services of burning the fat and sprinkling the blood. Aaron's family was very small, and, as it increased, the rest of the families of Israel would increase likewise, so that the hands of the priests neither were now nor were likely to be sufficient for all the service of the tabernacle; therefore (says God) the Levites shall be joined to thee, Nu 18:2, and again Nu 18:4, where there seems to be an allusion to the name of Levi, which signifies joined. Many of the Levites had of late set themselves against Aaron, but henceforward God promises that they should be heartily joined to him in interest and affection, and should no more contest with him. It was a good sign to Aaron that God owned him when he inclined the hearts of those concerned to own him too. The Levites are said to be given as a gift to the priests, Nu 18:6. Note, We are to value it as a great gift of the divine bounty to have those joined to us that will be helpful and serviceable to us in the service of God. (3.) That both priests and Levites must carefully watch against the profanation of sacred things. The Levites must keep the charge of the tabernacle, that no stranger (that is, none who upon any account was forbidden to come) might come nigh (Nu 18:4), and that upon pain of death, Nu 18:7. And the priests must keep the charge of the sanctuary (Nu 18:5), must instruct the people, and admonish them concerning the due distance they were to keep, and not suffer them to break the bounds set them, as Korah's company had done, that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel. Note, The preventing of sin is the preventing of wrath; and the mischief sin has done should be a warning to us for the future to watch against it both in ourselves and others.
⁸ And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever.
⁹ This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.
¹⁰ In the most holy place shalt thou eat it; every male shall eat it: it shall be holy unto thee.
¹¹ And this is thine; the heave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel: I have given them unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: every one that is clean in thy house shall eat of it.
¹² All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee.
¹³ And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto the LORD, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thine house shall eat of it.
¹⁴ Every thing devoted in Israel shall be thine.
¹⁵ Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.
¹⁶ And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.
¹⁷ But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
¹⁸ And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave breast and as the right shoulder are thine.
¹⁹ All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee.
The priest's service is called a warfare; and who goes a warfare at his own charges? As they were well employed, so they were well provided for, and well paid. None shall serve God for nought. All believers are spiritual priests, and God has promised to take care of them; they shall dwell in the land, and verily they shall be fed, and shall not want any good thing. Godliness has the promise of the life that now is. And from this plentiful provision here made for the priests the apostle infers that it is the duty of Christian churches to maintain their ministers; those that served at the altar lived upon the altar. So those that preach the gospel should live upon the gospel, and live comfortably, 1Co 9:13,14. Scandalous maintenance makes scandalous ministers. Now observe, 1. That much of the provision that was made for them arose out of the sacrifices which they themselves were employed to offer. They had the skins of almost all the sacrifices, which they might sell, and they had a considerable share out of the meat-offerings, sin-offerings, etc. Those that had the charge of the offerings had the benefit, Nu 18:8. Note, God's work is its own wages, and his service carries its recompence along with it. Even in keeping God's commandments there is great reward. The present pleasures of religion are part of its pay. 2. That they had not only a good table kept for them, but money likewise in their pockets for the redemption of the first-born, and those firstlings of cattle which might not be offered in sacrifice. Thus their maintenance was such as left them altogether disentangled from the affairs of this life; they had no grounds to occupy, no land to till, no vineyards to dress, no cattle to tend, no visible estate to take care of, and yet had a more plentiful income than any other families whatsoever. Thus God ordered it that they might be the more entirely addicted to their ministry, and not diverted from it, nor disturbed in it, by any worldly care or business (the ministry requires a whole man); and that they might be examples of living by faith, not only in God's providence, but in his ordinance. They lived from hand to mouth, that they might learn to take no thought for the morrow; sufficient for the day would be the provision thereof: and they had no estates to leave their children, that they might by faith leave their children, that they might by faith leave them to the care of that God who had fed them all their lives long. 3. Of the provision that was made for their tables some is said to be most holy (Nu 18:9,10), which was to be eaten by the priests themselves, and in the court of the tabernacle only; but other perquisites were less holy, of which their families might eat, at their own houses, provided they were clean, Nu 18:11-13. See Le 21:10-12, etc. 4. It is commanded that the best of the oil, and the best of the wine and wheat, should be offered for the first-fruits unto the Lord, which the priest were to have, Nu 18:12. Note, We must always serve and honour God with the best we have, for he is the best, and best deserves it; he is the first, and therefore must have the first ripe. Those that think to save charges by putting God off with the refuse do but deceive themselves, for God is not mocked. 5. All this is given to the priests by reason of the anointing, Nu 18:8. It was not for the sake of their personal merits above other Israelites that they had these tributes paid to them, be it known unto them; but purely for the sake of the office to which they were anointed. Thus all the comforts that are given to the Lord's people are given them by reason of the anointing which they have received. It is said to be given them by an ordinance for ever (Nu 18:8), and it is a covenant of salt for ever, Nu 18:19. As long as the priesthood should continue this should continue to be the maintenance of it, that this lamp might not go out for want of oil to keep it burning. Thus provision is made that a gospel ministry should continue till Christ comes, by an ordinance for ever. Lo, I am with you (that is their maintenance and support) always, even to the end of the world. Thanks be to the Redeemer, it is the word which he has commanded to a thousand generations.
20-32
The Priests and Levites Provided For (1490 BC)
简体中文
祭司与利未人的供养（主前 1490 年）
²⁰ 耶和华对亚伦说："你在以色列人的地不可有产业，在他们中间也不可有分。我就是你的分，是你的产业。" ²¹ "凡以色列中出产的十分之一，我已赐给利未的子孙为业，因为他们所办的事，就是会幕的事，我用这十分之一赏赐他们。 ²² 从此以后，以色列人不可挨近会幕，免得他们担罪而死。 ²³ 惟独利未人要办会幕的事，担当罪孽；这要作你们世世代代永远的定例，在以色列人之中不可有产业。 ²⁴ 因为以色列人中出产的十分之一，就是献给耶和华的举祭，我已赐给利未人为业；所以我对他们说：在以色列人中不可有产业。" ²⁵ 耶和华吩咐摩西说： ²⁶ "你晓谕利未人说：你们从以色列人取十分之一为业的时候，就要从其中取举祭献给耶和华，就是十分之一的十分之一。 ²⁷ 这举祭要算为你们禾场上的谷，又如满榨的酒。 ²⁸ 这样，你们从以色列人所得的十分之一，也要献举祭归耶和华；这举祭要归给祭司亚伦。 ²⁹ 奉给你们的一切礼物，要从其中将那至好的献为举祭归耶和华，就是其中分别为圣的部分。 ³⁰ 所以你要对他们说：你们从其中取出至好的献为举祭之后，这至好的就算为利未人禾场上的出产，又如酒榨满出的出产。 ³¹ 你们和你们的家属随处可以吃；这原是你们在会幕办事所得的赏赐。 ³² 你们从其中献上至好的，就不因这物担罪；你们不可亵渎以色列人的圣物，免得死亡。"
此处进一步记述了从那地的出产中为利未人和祭司所作的供应。
I. 他们必在地中无产业；后来只准他们有居住的城邑，却没有可经营的地土：在他们中间你不可有任何分（民 18:20）。这话在民 18:23 又重复一次，民 18:24 再重复：在以色列人中他们不可有产业，无论是因购买还是因继承而得。神要他们得着充足的供养，却不欲使其家族过于富足，免得他们自以为凌驾于那其工价所表明并要求他们恒常从事的职事之上。正如以色列是特选的子民，不列在万民之中，照样利未也是特选的支派，不与其余支派同样分地安居，而是在各方面都与他们有所分别。他们为何在地中无产业，此处给出了一个美好的理由，因为神说：我就是你的分，是你的产业。当注意：那以神为永业、为永远之份的人，当以圣洁的轻看与淡泊之心看待这世界的产业，不贪图在其中所得的份。"耶和华是我的分，所以我要仰望他，而不倚靠我在世上所有的任何事物"（哀 3:24）。利未人没有产业，却仍要活得十分舒适丰盛——为要教训我们，凡倚靠神而活的人，神有各样方法供养他们；飞鸟不种却得饱足，百合花不纺却得衣裳，利未人在以色列无产业，却活得比任何别的支派都好。那条不可有以色列挨近会幕的禁令，虽然稍显突兀地插入此处，却是合宜的（民 18:22）。它似乎与论及祭司和利未人在以色列无产业的命令相对照，为要表明神施恩的方式各有不同。利未人得着事奉会幕的尊荣，是以色列人所不能得的；但以色列人得着迦南地为业，却是利未人所不能得的；如此便使双方各不相妒、各不相轻，并都有理由为自己的分而喜乐。以色列人不可挨近会幕，但利未人也不可在地中有产业；若传道人期望百姓各守本位、不干涉圣职，就当自己也守本位、不纠缠于世俗事务。
II. 但他们二者都要得那地的十分之一。除了归给祭司的初熟之物（犹太人说当为五十分之一，至少六十分之一）之外，十分之一也归他们为业。1. 利未人得百姓所出产的十分之一（民 18:21）：我已将（万物都属乎他）以色列中一切的十分之一，就是那地一切出产的十分之一，赐给利未的子孙，按公正的比例在他们中间分摊，为他们所办的事。利未是十二支派中最小的一支，却除了其他一切益处之外，还得着全年收益的十分之一，且无需耕种之劳苦与花费；神如此顾念那专心事奉他的人，不但使他们得着充足的供养，更使他们因着百姓对他们为公众所行之善事的全国性承认而得尊荣，并被认作神的代理人、收受者；因为那举祭——就是向天举起的归耶和华之祭——是他指定归给利未人的。2. 祭司得着利未人所收十分之一中的十分之一。摩西奉命将此条例晓谕利未人；神要他们甘心乐意地献上，而不是祭司以权柄索取：你晓谕利未人，使这举祭由他们献上，而非向他们征收。今当注意：（1）利未人也要从他们的十分之一中将当纳的归给神，正如以色列人从其出产中所纳的一样。他们是神的佃户，当纳的租是不可免的，他们的职任并不使他们豁免。如今亦然，传道人当从他们所收的财物中行善施舍；他们白白领受的越多，就越当白白施舍，并作慷慨的榜样。你们要献举祭归耶和华（民 18:26）。那些受托助人敬虔的人，必当确保自己也献上自己的敬拜作为举祭归耶和华。如今向神升上的祷告与颂赞，更确切地说，是在其中向上升起的心，就是我们的举祭。这（神说）要算为你们禾场上的谷；即虽非他们地里的出产，也非他们劳力所得，如同别的以色列人献十分之一那样，但既出于他们所得的，就必蒙悦纳，使余下的一切都成为圣。（2）这要归给祭司亚伦（民 18:28），并归他继任的大祭司，由他们酌情在较次等的祭司中间分配。本章前半所定祭司职任的大部分收益，来自祭物，那些常在坛前事奉的祭司就得其益处；但因为有许多祭司在乡间任职教训和治理百姓，利未人所收的十分之一，大概就由大祭司指定作他们的供养。博学的帕特里克主教提出一个合理的推测：这后一个十分之一的十分之一，是保留给大祭司本人，为维持其体面与尊荣；否则我们读不到为他另有什么特别的供应。（3）当利未人如此献上其收入的十分之一作为举祭归耶和华之后，他们自己就可舒适地享用其余的九分（民 18:30）："当你们这样从其中献上至好的之后（因为神的分总须是至好的），你们就可以吃其余的，不当作圣物，而是如同别的以色列人一样自由地享用你们的份，在随处，你和你的家眷都可以吃"（民 18:31）。此处可见，如何才能舒适地享用我们一切世上的财物，以至不因其担罪，正如接下去所说的（民 18:32）。[1] 我们必须确保我们所有的，都是诚实地、并在事奉神中得来的。这是你们办事所得的赏赐；先用劳力赚来的食物是最美之物；但若有人不肯做工，就不可吃饭（帖后 3:10）。而那因在会幕中忠心事奉所得的赏赐，似乎特别带有一种安慰与满足。[2] 我们必须确保神在其中得了他当得的份。当我们以财物尊荣耶和华时，才能享有我们产业的舒适。你们从其中献上至好的，就不因这物担罪。这话表明，我们不可存无惧怕之心养肥自己，免得我们的席成为网罗，使我们因之担罪；所以我们当照我们所有的施舍，使一切都成为洁净，成为我们的安慰。
Original en inglés
The Priests and Levites Provided For (1490 BC)
²⁰ And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.
²¹ And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
²² Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.
²³ But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.
²⁴ But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
²⁵ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
²⁶ Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.
²⁷ And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.
²⁸ Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD's heave offering to Aaron the priest.
²⁹ Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.
³⁰ Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress.
³¹ And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.
³² And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die.
Here is a further account of the provision that was made both for the Levites and for the priests, out of the country.
I. They must have no inheritance in the land; only cities to dwell in were afterwards allowed them, but no ground to occupy: Thou shalt not have any part among them, Nu 18:20. It is repeated again Nu 18:23, and again Nu 18:24, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance, either by purchase or descent. God would have them comfortably provided for, but would not have their families over-rich, lest they should think themselves above that work which their wages supposed and obliged them constantly to attend upon. As Israel was a peculiar people, and not to be numbered among the nations, so Levi was a peculiar tribe, and not to be settled as the rest of the tribes, but in all respects distinguished from them. A good reason is given why they must have no inheritance in the land, for, says God, I am thy part, and thy inheritance. Note, Those that have God for their inheritance and their portion for ever ought to look with a holy contempt and indifference upon the inheritances of this world, and not covet their portion in it. "The Lord is my portion, therefore will I hope in him, and not depend upon any thing I have on this earth," La 3:24. The Levites shall have no inheritance, and yet they shall live very comfortably and plentifully—to teach us that Providence has various ways of supporting those that live in a dependence upon it; the fowls reap not, and yet are fed, the lilies spin not, and yet are clothed, the Levites have no inheritance in Israel, and yet live better than any other tribe. The repetition of that caution, that no Israelite should approach the tabernacle, comes in suitable, though somewhat abruptly, Nu 18:22. It seems set in opposition to that order concerning the priests and Levites that they should have no inheritance in Israel, to show how God dispenses his favours variously. The Levites have the honour of attending the tabernacle, which is denied the Israelites; but then the Israelites have the honour of inheritances in Canaan, which is denied the Levites; thus each is kept from either envying or despising the other, and both have reason to rejoice in their lot. The Israelites must not come nigh the tabernacle, but then the Levites must have no inheritance in the land; if ministers expect that people should keep in their sphere, and not intermeddle with sacred offices, let them keep in theirs, and not entangle themselves in secular affairs.
II. But they must both have tithes of the land. Besides the first-fruits which were appropriated to the priests, which, the Jews say, were to be a fiftieth part, or at least a sixtieth, the tithe also was appropriated. 1. The Levites had the tithes of the people's increase (Nu 18:21): I have given (whose the whole is) all the tenths in Israel, of all the productions of the land, to the children of Levi, to be divided among them in just proportions, for their service which they serve. The Levites were the smallest tribe of the twelve, and yet, besides all other advantages, they had a tenth part of the yearly profits, without the trouble and expense of ploughing and sowing; such care did God take of those that were devoted to his service; not only that they might be well maintained, but that they might be honoured with a national acknowledgment of the good services they did to the public, and owned as God's agents and receivers; for that which was a heave-offering, or an offering lifted heavenward unto the Lord, was by him consigned to the Levites. 2. The priests had the tenths of the Levites' tithes settled upon them. The order for this Moses is directed to give to the Levites, whom God would have to pay it with cheerfulness, rather than the priests to demand it with authority: Speak to the Levites that it be offered by them, rather than levied upon them. Now observe, (1.) The Levites were to give God his dues out of their tithes, as well as the Israelites out of their increase. They were God's tenants, and rent was expected from them, nor were they exempted by their office. Thus now, ministers must be charitable out of what they receive; and the more freely they have received the more freely they must give, and be examples of liberality. You shall offer a heave-offering to the Lord, Nu 18:26. Those that are employed to assist the devotions of others must be sure to pay their own, as a heave-offering to the Lord. Prayers and praises lifted up to God, or rather the heart lifted up in them, are now our heave-offerings. This (says God) shall be reckoned to you as though it were the corn of the threshing-floor; that is, though it was not the fruit of their ground, nor of their own labour, as the tithes of other Israelites were, yet being of such as they had it should be accepted, to the sanctifying of all the rest. (2.) This was to be given to Aaron the priest (Nu 18:28), and to his successors the high priests, to be divided and disposed of in such proportions as they should think fit among the inferior priests. Most of the profits of the priests' office, which were appointed in the former part of the chapter, arising from the sacrifices, those priests had the benefit of who constantly attended at the altar; but, forasmuch as there were many priests employed in the country to teach and rule, those tithes taken by the Levites, it is probable, were directed by the high priest for their maintenance. It is the probable conjecture of the learned bishop Patrick that the tenth of this last tenth was reserved for the high priest himself, to support his state and dignity; for otherwise we read not of any peculiar provision made for him. (3.) When the Levites had thus paid the tenth of their income, as a heave-offering to the Lord, they had themselves the comfortable enjoyment of the other nine parts (Nu 18:30): "When you have thus heaved the best from it (for still God's part must be the best) then you shall eat the rest, not as a holy thing, but with the same freedom that the other Israelites eat their part with, in every place, you and your households," Nu 18:31. See here what is the way to have the comfort of all our worldly possessions so as to bear no sin by reason of them, as it follows, Nu 18:32. [1.] We must be sure that what we have be got honestly and in the service of God. It is your reward for your service; that meat is the best eating that is first earned; but, if any will not work, neither shall he eat, 2Th 3:10. And that seems to be spoken of as having a particular comfort and satisfaction in it which is the reward of faithful service done in the tabernacle of the congregation. [2.] We must be sure that God has his dues out of it. Then we have the comfort of our substance when we have honoured the Lord with it. The you shall bear no sin by reason of it, when you have heaved the best from it. This intimates that we must never feed ourselves without fear, lest our table become a snare, and we bear sin by reason of it; and that therefore we are concerned to give alms of such things as we have, that all may be clean and comfortable to us.
民数记第十八章
此时亚伦在祭司之职上既已稳固建立，既令自己满意，也令百姓满意（这正是神从对他僭妄的反对中所带出的善果），神便在本章向他详尽地论及他的职分，或者更准确地说，重申了他先前已经赐下的指示。他告诉亚伦：
I. 他的职任是什么，所托付于他的责任与管理为何，以及利未人当如何协助他作这工，民 18:1-7。
II. 他和利未人作此工当得的工价。
祭司当得的专有收益与供物，民 18:8-19。
利未人当得的固定供养，民 18:20-24。
III. 利未人当从自己所得的供养中献给祭司的那一份，民 18:25-32。
如此，各人都清楚自己当尽何职，也明白当靠何而活。