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Read the Bible

New Century Version

Numbers 18:21

"When the people of Israel give me a tenth of what they make, I will give that tenth to the Levites. This is their payment for the work they do serving at the Meeting Tent.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Tithes;   Thompson Chain Reference - Benevolence;   Dues, Priests';   Giving;   Leaders;   Levites;   Liberality-Parsimony;   Ministers;   Priests;   Religious;   Tithes, Giving of;   The Topic Concordance - Tithe;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Levites, the;   Offerings;   Tithe;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Levites;   Tithe;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Giving;   Levite;   Tithes;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Levite;   Tithe, Tithing;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Levites;   Tithes;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Economic Life;   Inheritance;   Levitical Cities;   Pentateuch;   Priests;   Tithe;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Aaron's Rod;   Malachi;   Numbers, Book of;   Priests and Levites;   Tithes;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Levites ;   Numbers as Symbols;   Tithes;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Covenant;   Levites;   Tithes;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Law of Moses;   Le'vites;   Tithe;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Levites;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Criticism (the Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis);   Talmud;   Tithe;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Abrogation of Laws;   Baraita;   Bible Canon;   Gemaá¹­ria;   ḥaber;   Ma'aserot;   Masseket;   Mishnah;   Tithe;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
To the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Yisra'el for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the tent of meeting.
King James Version
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.
Lexham English Bible
"Behold, I have given to the descendants of Levi every tithe in Israel as an inheritance in return for their service, which they are doing, the work of the tent of assembly.
New English Translation
See, I have given the Levites all the tithes in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they perform—the service of the tent of meeting.
Amplified Bible
"Behold, I have given the Levites all the tithe in Israel as an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).
New American Standard Bible
"To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel as an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For beholde, I haue giuen the children of Leui all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their seruice which they serue in the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
Legacy Standard Bible
"Now to the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting.
Contemporary English Version
The Lord said to Aaron: Ten percent of the Israelites' crops and one out of every ten of their newborn animals belong to me. But I am giving all this to the Levites as their pay for the work they do at the sacred tent.
Complete Jewish Bible
(vii) "To the descendants of Levi I have given the entire tenth of the produce collected in Isra'el. It is their inheritance in payment for the service they render in the tent of meeting.
Darby Translation
And to the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithes in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting.
Easy-to-Read Version
"The Israelites will give one-tenth of everything they have. So I give that one-tenth to the Levites. This is their payment for the work that they do while they serve at the Meeting Tent.
English Standard Version
"To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting,
George Lamsa Translation
And, behold, I have given to the children of Levi all the tithes of the children of Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Good News Translation
The Lord said, "I have given to the Levites every tithe that the people of Israel present to me. This is in payment for their service in taking care of the Tent of my presence.
Christian Standard Bible®
“Look, I have given the Levites every tenth in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the work of the tent of meeting.
Literal Translation
And, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel to the sons of Levi for an inheritance, in return for their service which they are serving, the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Vnto the children of Leui haue I geuen all the tithes in Israel to inheritaunce, for ye seruyce which they do vnto me in the Tabernacle of witnesse,
American Standard Version
And unto the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the tent of meeting.
Bible in Basic English
And to the children of Levi I have given as their heritage all the tenths offered in Israel, as payment for the work they do, the work of the Tent of meeting.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Beholde, I haue geuen the children of Leui all the tenth in Israel to inherite, for the seruice which they serue in the tabernacle of the congregation.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And unto the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the tent of meeting.
King James Version (1611)
And behold, I haue giuen the children of Leui all the tenth in Israel, for an inheritance, for their seruice which they serue, euen the seruice of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And, behold, I have given to the sons of Levi every tithe in Israel for an inheritance for their services, whereinsoever they perform ministry in the tabernacle of witness.
English Revised Version
And unto the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the tent of meeting.
Berean Standard Bible
Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe Y yaf to the sones of Leuy alle the tithis of Israel in to possessioun, for the seruyce bi whyche thei seruen me in the tabernacle of boond of pees;
Young's Literal Translation
and to the sons of Levi, lo, I have given all the tenth in Israel for inheritance in exchange for their service which they are serving -- the service of the tent of meeting.
Update Bible Version
And to the sons of Levi, look, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the tent of meeting.
Webster's Bible Translation
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.
World English Bible
To the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the tent of meeting.
New King James Version
"Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting.
New Living Translation
As for the tribe of Levi, your relatives, I will compensate them for their service in the Tabernacle. Instead of an allotment of land, I will give them the tithes from the entire land of Israel.
New Life Bible
"See, I have given a tenth part of everything in Israel to the Levites, in return for the work they do, the work of the meeting tent.
New Revised Standard
To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for a possession in return for the service that they perform, the service in the tent of meeting.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And unto the sons of Levi, lo! I have given all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, - the allotted portion for their laborious work which, they are performing, the laborious work of the tent of meeting:
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I have given to the sons of Levi all the tithes of Israel for a possession, for the ministry wherewith they serve me in the tabernacle of the covenant:
Revised Standard Version
"To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, their service in the tent of meeting.
THE MESSAGE
"I'm giving the Levites all the tithes of Israel as their pay for the work they do in the Tent of Meeting. Starting now, the rest of the People of Israel cannot wander in and out of the Tent of Meeting; they'll be penalized for their sin and the penalty is death. It's the Levites and only the Levites who are to work in the Tent of Meeting and they are responsible for anything that goes wrong. This is the regular rule for all time. They get no inheritance among the People of Israel; instead I turn over to them the tithes that the People of Israel present as an offering to God . That's why I give the ruling: They are to receive no land-inheritance among the People of Israel."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting.

Contextual Overview

20 The Lord also said to Aaron, "You will not inherit any of the land, and you will not own any land among the other people. I will be yours. Out of all the Israelites, only you will inherit me. 21 "When the people of Israel give me a tenth of what they make, I will give that tenth to the Levites. This is their payment for the work they do serving at the Meeting Tent. 22 But the other Israelites must never go near the Meeting Tent, or they will die for their sin. 23 Only the Levites should work in the Meeting Tent and be responsible for any sins against it. This is a rule from now on. The Levites will not inherit any land among the other Israelites, 24 but when the Israelites give a tenth of everything they make to me, I will give that tenth to the Levites as a reward. That is why I said about the Levites: ‘They will not inherit any land among the Israelites.'" 25 The Lord said to Moses, 26 "Speak to the Levites and tell them: ‘You will receive a tenth of everything the Israelites make, which I will give to you. But you must give a tenth of that back to the Lord . 27 I will accept your offering just as much as I accept the offerings from others, who give new grain or new wine. 28 In this way you will present an offering to the Lord as the other Israelites do. When you receive a tenth from the Israelites, you will give a tenth of that to Aaron, the priest, as the Lord 's share. 29 Choose the best and holiest part from what you are given as the portion you must give to the Lord .'

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the tenth: Numbers 18:24-26, Leviticus 27:30-32, Deuteronomy 12:17-19, Deuteronomy 14:22-29, 2 Chronicles 31:5, 2 Chronicles 31:6, 2 Chronicles 31:12, Nehemiah 10:37-39, Nehemiah 12:44, Nehemiah 13:12

even the service: Numbers 18:6, Numbers 3:7, Numbers 3:8, 1 Corinthians 9:13, 1 Corinthians 9:14, Galatians 6:6

Reciprocal: Numbers 31:47 - the Levites 2 Chronicles 11:14 - their possession Nehemiah 12:47 - and they Nehemiah 13:5 - which was commanded to be given to the Malachi 3:8 - In Hebrews 7:2 - a tenth Hebrews 7:5 - who

Cross-References

Genesis 11:5
The Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the people had built.
Genesis 11:7
Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not be able to understand each other."
Genesis 18:1
Later, the Lord again appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre. Abraham was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the hottest part of the day.
Genesis 18:24
What if there are fifty good people in that city? Will you still destroy it? Surely you will save the city for the fifty good people living there.
Exodus 3:8
and I have come down to save them from the Egyptians. I will bring them out of that land and lead them to a good land with lots of room—a fertile land. It is the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
Exodus 33:5
This was because the Lord had said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stubborn people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I would destroy you. So take off all your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.'"
Deuteronomy 8:2
Remember how the Lord your God has led you in the desert for these forty years, taking away your pride and testing you, because he wanted to know what was in your heart. He wanted to know if you would obey his commands.
Deuteronomy 13:3
But you must not listen to those prophets or dreamers. The Lord your God is testing you, to find out if you love him with your whole being.
Joshua 22:22
"The Lord is God of gods! The Lord is God of gods! God knows, and we want you to know also. If we have done something wrong, you may kill us.
Job 34:22
There is no dark place or deep shadow where those who do evil can hide from him.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance,.... The tenth part of the produce of the land; of the wheat, barley, oil, and wine; the tenth part of their harvest and vintage; so that though they were the least of the tribes, they had the greatest share of the increase of the land, and that without any labour or expense; the other having but nine parts among them all, and at the charge and labour of manuring, cultivating, c. and this they were to have

for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation see Numbers 18:3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek: Jacob had promised the tithe of all wherewith God blessed him if he should return in peace to his father’s house. But now first the Lord’s tithes are assigned to the Levites for their support (compare Leviticus 27:30). The payment of tithes to them is recognized in Nehemiah 10:37; Nehemiah 12:44; Tobit 1:7.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 18:21. Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth

First, 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, c. 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 labour 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.


 
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