Numbers 18:1-32
Q.1. What assistance did God provide for the priests, to help them carry out their role for the tribes of Israel? How did God underscore the care required in fulfilling their obligations? –(Num.18:1-7)
It is difficult for us to identify with the onerous duties related to fulfilling the functions of the priesthood. Apart from the exacting task of presenting the various offerings and animal sacrifices, for which they took responsibility and ‘bore the guilt’ (Num.18:1), there were numerous other duties. These included carting sufficient water and wood and removing the blood and offal of the slain animals. For this, God gave them the Levites – 6 Behold, I Myself have taken your fellow Levites from among the sons of Israel; they are a gift to you, dedicated to the Lord, to perform the service for the tent of meeting. 7 But you and your sons with you shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and inside the veil, and you are to perform service. I am giving you the priesthood as a bestowed service, but the outsider who comes near shall be put to death (Num.18:6-7). Anyone entering the sanctuary, who had not been called by God to do so, would die (Num.18:3-5 & 7).
Q.2. How did God provide for the Aaronic priesthood and their families? How generous was the provision? What does this say about God? – (Num.18:8-20)
God made ample provision for the sustenance of Aaron’s descendants – … “Now behold, I Myself have given you charge of My offerings, even all the holy gifts of the sons of Israel I have given them to you as a portion and to your sons as a perpetual allotment (Num.18:8 c.f. Num.18:8-10). They were also given the best of the oil, wine, and grain – This also is yours, the offering of their gift, even all the wave offerings of the sons of Israel; I have given them to you and to your sons and daughters with you as a perpetual allotment. Everyone of your household who is clean may eat it (Num.18:11 c.f. Num.18:11-20). The Lord provided generously for those representing Him – 19 All the offerings of the holy gifts, which the sons of Israel offer to the Lord, I have given to you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a perpetual allotment. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the Lord to you and your descendants with you.” 20 Then the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel (Num.18:19-20).
Q.3. How were the Levites and their families provided for? How much of the tithes could the Levites use to support their families? – (Num.18:21-32)
In return for the service that the Levites performed at the tent of meeting, God said – For the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they offer as an offering to the Lord, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance; therefore I have said concerning them, `They shall have no inheritance among the sons of Israel (Num.18:24). They were given the tithes that the Israelites presented to the Lord. This meant that they were given one tenth of the best with which God blessed Israel. The Levites in turn were also required to bring a tithe of the Lord’s offering to Aaron and the priests (Num.18:28). The rebellion of the Levites through Korah was therefore not justified and was an expression of ingratitude (c.f. Num.16:1-3).