Numbers 18 - Introduction

Chapter 18 Those Who Could Approach The Sanctuary Were Therefore Necessary and Must Be Maintained.

The rights to the priesthood having been established details are now given about the service of the priests and other Levites.

3). The Service of the Levites (Numbers 18:1).

The priesthood having been finally vindicated and firmly established, their service and the service of the other Levites is then dealt with. They will serve the Sanctuary and live among the people and make Yahweh's ways known to them and bear their iniquity. This is Yahweh's response to the terror of the people in 17:12-13.

This section may be analysed as follows:

a Aaron and his sons to be before the Tent of the Testimony and the Levites to have the charge of the Tent (Numbers 18:1 a).

b The Priests alone to have the charge of the inner Sanctuary and the altar (Numbers 18:3).

c Provision for the Priests - the contributions/heave offerings and the firstfruits are to be their inheritance (Numbers 18:8).

c Provision for the Levites - the tithes are to be their inheritance (Numbers 18:21).

b The Priests to receive a tithe of the tithes for their service in the Sanctuary and at the altar (Numbers 18:25).

a The Levites to receive the remainder of the tithes for their service with regard to the Tent and to eat ‘in every place' (Numbers 18:30).

We will now consider these aspects in more detail.