Bible Commentaries
Numbers 18

Verses 1-32

The Duties and Maintenance of Priests and Lévites

I. The priests are responsible for the iniquity of the sanctuary and the priesthood, i.e. for their profanation at any time by unauthorised persons and by the sins of the priests themselves. On the Day of Atonement the high priest offers sacrifices to make atonement for himself and the sanctuary: see on Leviticus 16.

2. Levi] ’joined’: see Genesis 29:34.

8-19. The provision for the maintenance of the priests. The priests receive part of the meal offerings (Leviticus 2:3), the sin and guilt offerings, except when these are presented by the priests on their own behalf (Leviticus 4:26), the heave portion of the peace offerings (Leviticus 3), the first fruits of oil, wine, and wheat (Numbers 18:12-13), devoted things (Numbers 18:14 see on Leviticus 27:21-28 firstlings of clean animals, the redemption price of the firstborn of men and unclean beasts (Numbers 18:15-18), and the tithe of the tithe paid to the Levites (Numbers 18:25-28).

9. Most holy] see on Leviticus 2:3.

16. See Numbers 3:47; Leviticus 27:6. Shekel] see on Exodus 38:24.

19. Covenant of salt] i.e. an indissoluble covenant: see on Exodus 30:35.

20-24. The priests and Levites have no inheritance in the land of promise. By way of compensation the tithes are given to the Levites, who in turn give a tithe to the priests (Numbers 18:26).

20. Those who are separated to the service of God are taught to depend on Him. He sends no one into warfare at his own charges: see 1 Corinthians 9:7-14.

25-32. The Levites are to tithe their own tithe and present it to the priests as a heave offering, as the ordinary Israelites do with the produce of their fields. The remainder they are allowed to enjoy in the same manner as others: cp. Leviticus 27:30.

31. In every place] not restricted, as in the case of the priests, to the holy place: see on Leviticus 2:3.