Bible Commentaries
Numbers 18

Verse 1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

said. See note on Numbers 3:40 .

Aaron. Jehovah "spoke" again to Aaron in Numbers 18:8 and Numbers 18:20 .

iniquity. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 .

Verse 2

tribe = matteh = staff.

Levi . . . joined. Figure of speech Paronomasia. App-6 . Hebrew. Levi . . . veyillavu.

tribe = shebet = rod.

tabernacle = tent. Hebrew. 'ohel. App-40 .

Verse 5

children = sons.

Verse 6

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

do the service. Hebrew serve the service. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 . perform the solemn service.

Verse 8

spake. See note on Numbers 1:1 .

hallowed = holy. See note on "holy", Exodus 3:5 .

the anointing. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the priesthood associated with it.

Verse 9

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

oblation. Hebrew approach-offering. See App-43 .

shall be. Hebrew "it [shall be]".

Verse 12

wine. Hebrew. tirosh. See App-27 .

Verse 13

the = their.

Verse 14

Every thing. See Leviticus 27:28 .

devoted. See note on Leviticus 27:1 .

Verse 15

the matrix. See Numbers 3:13 .Exodus 13:2 ; Exodus 34:19 . Leviticus 27:26 .

men . . . man = Hebrew. 'adam . App-14 .

redeem. Hebrew. padah. See note on Exodus 6:6 ,

Verse 16

shekels . . . shekel. See App-51 .

which = it. Compare Numbers 3:47 . Exodus 30:13 .Leviticus 27:25 .

gerahs. See App-51 .

Verse 17

thou. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Targum of Onkelos, and Syriac, read "but thou".

burn = burn as incense. See App-43 .

sweet savour. See note on Leviticus 1:9 .

Verse 19

offer = heave up as a heave offering. See note on Exodus 29:27 .

covenant of salt. Hebrew covenant = berith, from barah. to cut ; hence, to eat. As salt was scarce and precious. and used with all eating, so it was put, by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for eating, just as the breaking of bread was. See Isaiah 58:7 (Authorized Version "deal"); Jeremiah 16:7 (Authorized Version "tear"). Lamentations 4:4 .Ezekiel 18:7 (Authorized Version "given"). Hence, when wages were paid in kind, by finding the worker in food, "salt" was put (by Figure of speech Metonymy) for wages generally; so that a worker was spoken of as being worth, or not worth, his "salt". "A covenant of salt" was therefore a covenant made by sacrifice, which was first cut in two (Genesis 15:10-18 . Jeremiah 34:18 , Jeremiah 34:19 ) and then eaten, thus solemnizing an inviolable covenant.