AM Bible Study Group; July 14, 2010
Numbers 18:1-32
Theme: This passage shows us both the privileges and the responsibilities that fell upon the sons of Levi in general and the sons of Aaron in particular.
The words of this chapter come at a very teachable moment for the people of Israel. One of the sons of Levi—Korah—had rebelled against God’s appointment of Aaron and his sons to the position of priesthood (chapter 16); and after judgment fell upon him, God established Aaron’s priesthood before the people (chapter 17). The conclusion of the people about it all is expressed in 17:12-13, “Surely we die, we perish, we all perish! Whoever even comes near the tabernacle of the LORD must die. Shall we all utterly die?”
Apparently, the people were ready to pay attention to God’s provision for their approach to Him. and it’s in the context of these sobering events—events which had resulted in the deaths of over 14,700 people (16:49)—that God gives further instructions regarding the vital importance of following His commands regarding the priesthood carefully.
I. WORDS TO AARON AND HIS SONS (vv. 1-20).
A. Regarding their responsibilities before the altar (vv. 1-7).
1. Note how, at the beginning of this chapter, God addressed Aaron specifically—rather than both Moses and Aaron, as He has done before (see 2:1; 4:1; 19:1). He specifically addressed Aaron three times in this chapter (vv. 1, 8, and 20). He says, “You and your sons and your father’s house shall bear the iniquity (literally, “the guilt”) of the sanctuary”; which encompasses both the sons of Aaron and the whole Kohathite lineage of the tribe of Levi from which he came. But He then says, “and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity associated with your priesthood” (v.1); which narrows the focus down to the priesthood only.
2. Aaron was to bring his brethren, the Levites, into the work with him (v. 2). But the roles are clearly distinguished. The Levites (that is, the Kohathites, the Gershonites and the Merarites; see chapters 3-4) to attend to Aaron’s needs and those of his sons in their work in the priesthood (v. 3); but they may not come near the altar or encroach upon the role that God specified for the priesthood only, “lest they die” (as Korah did)—”they and you also”. God’s appointed roles in His worship are serious matters!
3. The sons of Levi were to attend to the matters of the tabernacle (v. 4); and the sons of Aaron were to attend to the duties of the sanctuary and the altar (v. 5); “so that there may be no more wrath on the children of Israel”. Note that, in this respect, the sons of Levi are given to Aaron and his sons as “gifts” (v. 6; see also 3:9; 8:19). Note also that even the priesthood itself is God’s gift to Aaron (v. 7). But anyone who crossed beyond their proper role was to be put to death (v. 7). God is careful to make sure that His plans and purposes regarding approach to Him are honored carefully. This reminds us today that there is salvation in no other Mediator than through Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5); and no one is accepted by God unless they come through Him (Acts 4:12).
B. Regarding their provisions through the offerings (vv. 8-20).
1. God gave “charge” of his offerings to Aaron; and that included the right to live from the provisions of those offerings. In verses 8-10, we’re told that the portion of the holy offerings that are preserved from fire belonged to Aaron and his sons— specifically, to the priests themselves. But in verses 11-19, all other offerings and gifts are to freely be enjoyed by anyone in the families of the priests. “Every devoted thing in Israel shall be yours,” God tells them (v. 14). Note how God provides for His servants (see 1 Corinthians 9:1-14; also Matthew 10:10).
2. This was declared by God to be a “covenant of salt” (v. 19). A covenant is an agreement between two parties; and salt is a preservative (see Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50). A similar covenant is spoken of in 2 Chronicles 13:5 with respect to the perpetual kingship of David; and so, we can take it that it represents a covenant that is preserved—one that endures throughout the passage of time. God’s promise to provide for Aaron and his sons through the offerings was a perpetual covenant. (Note that in Ezekiel’s vision of a future temple (Ezekiel 43:18-27), the offerings are carried on—perhaps as a memorial to the sacrifice of our Savior. Note to that, in those future offerings, salt is included; see v. 24.)
3. Note that it is specified that the provision made to the priests was necessary; because the sons of Aaron—as members of the tribe of Levi—had no physical inheritance of land. The provision of the offerings was, to them, that inheritance (v. 20)
II. WORDS TO THE SONS OF LEVI (vv. 21-32).
A. Regarding their provisions for the work (vv. 21-24). Just as the sons of Aaron were provided for through the offerings, the sons of Levi in general were provided for through the tithes of the people of Israel (v. 21; see also Leviticus 27:30-33; Matthew 23:23). The children of Israel were not to approach the tabernacle; but that responsibility had been given to the sons of Levi (v. 22-23). Thus, the provision of the tithes met the material needs of the Levites in their work (v. 24).
B. Regarding their obligations to the tithe (vv. 25-32). Note also that the Levites were, themselves, to tithe. When they took up the tithe given to them by the people, they themselves were to the the very best tenth of that tithe (v. 29) to Aaron and his sons. The remaining nine-tenths belonged to the sons of Levi. They were thus to be careful to “bear no sin” with respect to the tithe, nor “profane the holy gifts of the children of Israel, lest you die” (v. 32). Even God’s workers are responsible to give back to God from He provides to them.