Numbers 18:21-32

Complete Jewish Bible

(vii) ²¹ “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. ²² From now on, the people of Isra’el are not to approach the tent of meeting, so that they will not bear the consequences of their sin and die. ²³ Only the L’vi’im are to perform the service in the tent of meeting, and they will be responsible for whatever they do wrong. This is to be a permanent regulation through all your generations. They are to have no inheritance among the people of Isra’el, ²⁴ because I have given to the L’vi’im as their inheritance the tenths of the produce which the people of Isra’el set aside as a gift for Adonai. This is why I have said to them that they are to have no inheritance among the people of Isra’el.”

²⁵ Adonai said to Moshe, ²⁶ “Tell the L’vi’im, ‘When you take from the people of Isra’el the tenth of the produce which I have given you from them as your inheritance, you are to set aside from it a gift for Adonai, one tenth of the tenth. ²⁷ The gift you set aside will be accounted to you as if it were grain from the threshing-floor and grape juice from the wine vat. ²⁸ In this way you will set aside a gift for Adonai from all your tenths that you receive from the people of Isra’el, and from these tenths you are to give to Aharon the cohen the gift set aside for Adonai. ²⁹ From everything given to you, you are to set aside all that is due Adonai, the best part of it, its holy portion.’

(Maftir) ³⁰ “Therefore you are to tell them, ‘When you set aside from it its best part, it will be accounted to the L’vi’im as if it were grain from the threshing-floor and grape juice from the wine vat. ³¹ You may eat it anywhere, you and your households; because it is your payment in return for your service in the tent of meeting. ³² Moreover, because you will have set aside from it its best parts, you will not be committing any sin because of it; for you are not to profane the holy things of the people of Isra’el, or you will die.’”

Haftarah Korach: Sh’mu’el Alef (1 Samuel) 11:14 – 12:22

B’rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah Korach: 2 Timothy 2:8–21; Y’hudah (Jude) 1–25