6 And I, behold, I have taken H3947 your brethren H251 the Levites H3881 from among H8432 the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 to you they are given H5414 as a gift H4979 for the LORD, H3068 to do H5647 the service H5656 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation. H4150
And thou shalt give H5414 the Levites H3881 unto Aaron H175 and to his sons: H1121 they are wholly given H5414 unto him out of the children H1121 of Israel. H3478
And, behold, H2009 I, H589 even I, do bring H935 a flood H3999 of waters H4325 upon the earth, H776 to destroy H7843 all flesh, H1320 wherein is the breath H7307 of life, H2416 from under H8478 heaven; H8064 and every thing H3605 that is in the earth H776 shall die. H1478
And I, behold, I establish H6965 my covenant H1285 with you, and with your seed H2233 after you; H310
And I, behold, I have given H5414 with him Aholiab, H171 the son H1121 of Ahisamach, H294 of the tribe H4294 of Dan: H1835 and in the hearts H3820 of all that are wise H2450 hearted H3820 I have put H5414 wisdom, H2451 that they may make H6213 all that I have commanded H6680 thee;
For they are wholly given H5414 unto me from among H8432 the children H1121 of Israel; H3478 instead of such as open H6363 every womb, H7358 even instead of the firstborn H1060 of all the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 have I taken H3947 them unto me. For all the firstborn H1060 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 are mine, both man H120 and beast: H929 on the day H3117 that I smote H5221 every firstborn H1060 in the land H776 of Egypt H4714 I sanctified H6942 them for myself. And I have taken H3947 the Levites H3881 for all the firstborn H1060 of the children H1121 of Israel. H3478 And I have given H5414 the Levites H3881 as a gift H5414 to Aaron H175 and to his sons H1121 from among H8432 the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 to do H5647 the service H5656 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 in the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 and to make an atonement H3722 for the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 that there be no plague H5063 among the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 when the children H1121 of Israel H3478 come nigh H5066 unto the sanctuary. H6944
I, even I, am he that comforteth H5162 you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid H3372 of a man H582 that shall die, H4191 and of the son H1121 of man H120 which shall be made H5414 as grass; H2682
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Numbers 18
Commentary on Numbers 18 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 18
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,
Num 18:1-7
The coherence of this chapter with that foregoing is very observable.
Num 18:8-19
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, 1 Co. 9:13, 14. Scandalous maintenance makes scandalous ministers. Now observe,
Num 18:20-32
Here is a further account of the provision that was made both for the Levites and for the priests, out of the country.