Numbers 18

English Standard Version Anglicised

Duties of Priests and Levites

18 So the Lord said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father's house with you shall ^(A)bear iniquity connected with the sanctuary, ^(B)and you and your sons with you shall bear iniquity connected with your priesthood. ²And with you bring your brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may ^(C)join you and ^(D)minister to you while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony. ³They shall keep guard over you and ^(E)over the whole tent, ^(F)but shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary or to the altar ^(G)lest they, and you, die. ⁴They shall join you and keep guard over the tent of meeting for all the service of the tent, ^(H)and no outsider shall come near you. ⁵And you shall ^(I)keep guard over the sanctuary and over the altar, ^(J)that there may never again be wrath on the people of Israel. ⁶^(K)And behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the people of Israel. ^(L)They are a gift to you, given to the Lord, to do the service of the tent of meeting. ⁷And ^(M)you and your sons with you shall guard your priesthood for all that concerns the altar and ^(N)that is within the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood as a gift,^[a] and ^(O)any outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”

⁸Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, “Behold, ^(P)I have given you charge of the contributions made to me, all the consecrated things of the people of Israel. I have given them to you ^(Q)as a portion and to your sons as a perpetual due. ⁹This shall be yours of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every offering of theirs, every grain offering of theirs and every ^(R)sin offering of theirs and every ^(S)guilt offering of theirs, which they render to me, shall be most holy to you and to your sons. ¹⁰In a most holy place shall you eat it. Every male may eat it; it is holy to you. ¹¹This also is yours: the contribution of their gift, all the ^(T)wave offerings of the people of Israel. I have given them to ^(U)you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. ^(V)Everyone who is clean in your house may eat it. ¹²^(W)All the best of the oil and all the best of the wine and of the grain, ^(X)the firstfruits of what they give to the Lord, I give to you. ¹³The first ripe fruits of all that is in their land, ^(Y)which they bring to the Lord, shall be yours. ^(Z)Everyone who is clean in your house may eat it. ¹⁴^(AA)Every devoted thing in Israel shall be yours. ¹⁵^(AB)Everything that opens the womb of all flesh, whether man or beast, which they offer to the Lord, shall be yours. Nevertheless, ^(AC)the firstborn of man you shall redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem. ¹⁶And their redemption price ^(AD)(at a month old you shall redeem them) you shall fix at five shekels^[b] in silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, ^(AE)which is twenty gerahs. ¹⁷^(AF)But the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat, you shall not redeem; they are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar and shall burn their fat as a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. ¹⁸But their flesh shall be yours, as ^(AG)the breast that is waved and as the right thigh are yours. ¹⁹^(AH)All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to the Lord I give to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. ^(AI)It is a covenant of salt for ever before the Lord for you and for your offspring with you.” ²⁰And the Lord said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. ^(AJ)I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel.

²¹^(AK)“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, ²²^(AL)so that the people of Israel do not come near the tent of meeting, ^(AM)lest they bear sin and die. ²³But ^(AN)the Levites shall do the service of the tent of meeting, ^(AO)and they shall bear their iniquity. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, and among the people of Israel they shall have no inheritance. ²⁴For the tithe of the people of Israel, which ^(AP)they present as a contribution to the Lord, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. Therefore I have said of them that they shall have no inheritance ^(AQ)among the people of Israel.”

²⁵And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ²⁶“Moreover, you shall speak and say to the Levites, ‘When you take from the people of Israel the tithe that I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present a contribution from it to the Lord, ^(AR)a tithe of the tithe. ²⁷^(AS)And your contribution shall be counted to you as though it were the grain of the threshing floor, and as the fullness of the wine press. ²⁸So you shall also present a contribution to the Lord from all your tithes, which you receive from the people of Israel. And from it you shall give the Lord's contribution to Aaron the priest. ²⁹Out of all the gifts to you, you shall present every contribution due to the Lord; from each its best part is to be dedicated.’ ³⁰Therefore you shall say to them, ‘When you have offered from it the best of it, ^(AT)then the rest shall be counted to the Levites as produce of the threshing floor, and as produce of the wine press. ³¹And you may eat it in any place, you and your households, for it is ^(AU)your reward in return for your service in the tent of meeting. ³²And you shall ^(AV)bear no sin by reason of it, when you have contributed the best of it. But you shall not ^(AW)profane the holy things of the people of Israel, lest you die.’”

Footnotes

Numbers 18:7 Hebrew service of gift
Numbers 18:16 A shekel was about 2/5 of an ounce or 11 grams

Numbers 18

New International Version

Duties of Priests and Levites

18 The Lord said to Aaron, “You, your sons and your family are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the sanctuary,^(A) and you and your sons alone are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the priesthood. ²Bring your fellow Levites from your ancestral tribe to join you and assist you when you and your sons minister^(B) before the tent of the covenant law. ³They are to be responsible to you^(C) and are to perform all the duties of the tent,^(D) but they must not go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar. Otherwise both they and you will die.^(E) ⁴They are to join you and be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting—all the work at the tent—and no one else may come near where you are.^(F)

⁵“You are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar,^(G) so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites again. ⁶I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you,^(H) dedicated to the Lord to do the work at the tent of meeting.^(I) ⁷But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain.^(J) I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift.^(K) Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death.^(L)”

Offerings for Priests and Levites

⁸Then the Lord said to Aaron, “I myself have put you in charge of the offerings presented to me; all the holy offerings the Israelites give me I give to you and your sons as your portion,^(M) your perpetual share.^(N) ⁹You are to have the part of the most holy offerings^(O) that is kept from the fire. From all the gifts they bring me as most holy offerings, whether grain^(P) or sin^[a]^(Q) or guilt offerings,^(R) that part belongs to you and your sons. ¹⁰Eat it as something most holy; every male shall eat it.^(S) You must regard it as holy.^(T)

¹¹“This also is yours: whatever is set aside from the gifts of all the wave offerings^(U) of the Israelites. I give this to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share.^(V) Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean^(W) may eat it.

¹²“I give you all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain^(X) they give the Lord^(Y) as the firstfruits of their harvest.^(Z) ¹³All the land’s firstfruits that they bring to the Lord will be yours.^(AA) Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it.^(AB)

¹⁴“Everything in Israel that is devoted^[b] to the Lord^(AC) is yours. ¹⁵The first offspring of every womb, both human and animal, that is offered to the Lord is yours.^(AD) But you must redeem^(AE) every firstborn^(AF) son and every firstborn male of unclean animals.^(AG) ¹⁶When they are a month old,^(AH) you must redeem them at the redemption price set at five shekels^[c]^(AI) of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel,^(AJ) which weighs twenty gerahs.^(AK)

¹⁷“But you must not redeem the firstborn of a cow, a sheep or a goat; they are holy.^(AL) Splash their blood^(AM) against the altar and burn their fat^(AN) as a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^(AO) ¹⁸Their meat is to be yours, just as the breast of the wave offering^(AP) and the right thigh are yours.^(AQ) ¹⁹Whatever is set aside from the holy^(AR) offerings the Israelites present to the Lord I give to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt^(AS) before the Lord for both you and your offspring.”

²⁰The Lord said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them;^(AT) I am your share and your inheritance^(AU) among the Israelites.

²¹“I give to the Levites all the tithes^(AV) in Israel as their inheritance^(AW) in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.^(AX) ²²From now on the Israelites must not go near the tent of meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die.^(AY) ²³It is the Levites who are to do the work at the tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it. This is a lasting ordinance^(AZ) for the generations to come.^(BA) They will receive no inheritance^(BB) among the Israelites.^(BC) ²⁴Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord.^(BD) That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.’”

²⁵The Lord said to Moses, ²⁶“Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you^(BE) as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering.^(BF) ²⁷Your offering will be reckoned^(BG) to you as grain from the threshing floor^(BH) or juice from the winepress.^(BI) ²⁸In this way you also will present an offering to the Lord from all the tithes^(BJ) you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the Lord’s portion to Aaron the priest. ²⁹You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.’

³⁰“Say to the Levites: ‘When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress.^(BK) ³¹You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the tent of meeting.^(BL) ³²By presenting the best part^(BM) of it you will not be guilty in this matter;^(BN) then you will not defile the holy offerings^(BO) of the Israelites, and you will not die.’”

Footnotes

Numbers 18:9 Or purification
Numbers 18:14 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord.
Numbers 18:16 That is, about 2 ounces or about 58 grams

Numbers 18

King James Version

18 And the Lord said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.

²And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.

³And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.

⁴And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.

⁵And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel.

⁶And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the Lord, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

⁷Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for everything of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

⁸And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever.

⁹This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of their's, every meat offering of their's, and every sin offering of their's, and every trespass offering of their's which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.

¹⁰In the most holy place shalt thou eat it; every male shall eat it: it shall be holy unto thee.

¹¹And this is thine; the heave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel: I have given them unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: every one that is clean in thy house shall eat of it.

¹²All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the Lord, them have I given thee.

¹³And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto the Lord, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thine house shall eat of it.

¹⁴Every thing devoted in Israel shall be thine.

¹⁵Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the Lord, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.

¹⁶And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.

¹⁷But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savour unto the Lord.

¹⁸And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave breast and as the right shoulder are thine.

¹⁹All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the Lord, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the Lord unto thee and to thy seed with thee.

²⁰And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.

²¹And, 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.

²²Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.

²³But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.

²⁴But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

²⁵And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

²⁶Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe.

²⁷And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.

²⁸Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the Lord of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the Lord'S heave offering to Aaron the priest.

²⁹Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the Lord, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.

³⁰Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress.

³¹And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.

³²And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die.

Numbers 18

New English Translation

Responsibilities of the Priests

18 ^[a] The Lord said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your tribe^[b] with you must bear the iniquity of the sanctuary,^[c] and you and your sons with you must bear the iniquity of your priesthood.

²“Bring with you your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, so that they may join^[d] with you and minister to you while^[e] you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony. ³They must be responsible to care for you and to care for the entire tabernacle. However, they must not come near the furnishings of the sanctuary and the altar, or both they and you will die. ⁴They must join^[f] with you, and they will be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the tent, but no unauthorized person^[g] may approach you. ⁵You will be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the care of the altar, so that there will be^[h] no more wrath on the Israelites. ⁶I myself have chosen^[i] your brothers the Levites from among the Israelites. They are given to you as a gift from the Lord, to perform the duties^[j] of the tent of meeting. ⁷But you and your sons with you are responsible for your priestly duties, for everything at the altar and within the curtain. And you must serve. I give you the priesthood as a gift for service, but the unauthorized person who approaches must be put to death.”

The Portion of the Priests

⁸The Lord spoke to Aaron, “See, I have given you the responsibility for my raised offerings; I have given all the holy things of the Israelites to you as your priestly portion^[k] and to your sons as a perpetual ordinance. ⁹Of all the most holy offerings reserved^[l] from the fire this will be yours: Every offering of theirs, whether from every grain offering or from every purification offering or from every reparation offering which they bring to me, will be most holy for you and for your sons. ¹⁰You are to eat it as a most holy offering; every male may eat it. It will be holy to you.

¹¹“And this is yours: the raised offering of their gift, along with all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I have given them to you and to your sons and daughters with you as a perpetual ordinance. Everyone who is ceremonially clean in your household may eat of it.

¹²“All the best of the olive oil and all the best of the wine and of the wheat, the firstfruits of these things that they give to the Lord, I have given to you.^[m] ¹³And whatever first ripe fruit in their land they bring to the Lord will be yours; everyone who is ceremonially clean in your household may eat of it.

¹⁴“Everything devoted^[n] in Israel will be yours. ¹⁵The firstborn of every womb which they present to the Lord, whether human or animal, will be yours. Nevertheless, the firstborn sons you must redeem,^[o] and the firstborn males of unclean animals you must redeem. ¹⁶And those that must be redeemed you are to redeem when they are a month old, according to your estimation, for five shekels of silver according to the sanctuary shekel (which is twenty gerahs). ¹⁷But you must not redeem the firstborn of a cow or a sheep or a goat; they are holy. You must splash^[p] their blood on the altar and burn their fat for an offering made by fire for a pleasing aroma to the Lord. ¹⁸And their meat will be yours, just as the breast and the right hip of the raised offering is yours. ¹⁹All the raised offerings of the holy things that the Israelites offer to the Lord, I have given to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual ordinance. It is a covenant of salt^[q] forever before the Lord for you and for your descendants with you.”

Duties of the Levites

²⁰The Lord spoke to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion of property^[r] among them—I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites. ²¹See, I have given the Levites all the tithes in Israel for an inheritance, for their service that they perform—the service of the tent of meeting. ²²No longer may the Israelites approach the tent of meeting, or else they will bear their sin^[s] and die. ²³But the Levites must perform the service^[t] of the tent of meeting, and they must bear their iniquity.^[u] It will be a perpetual ordinance throughout your generations that among the Israelites the Levites^[v] have no inheritance.^[w] ²⁴But I have given^[x] to the Levites for an inheritance the tithes of the Israelites that are offered^[y] to the Lord as a raised offering. That is why I said to them that among the Israelites they are to have no inheritance.”

Instructions for the Levites

²⁵The Lord spoke to Moses: ²⁶“You are to speak to the Levites, and you must tell them, ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe that I have given you from them as your inheritance, then you are to offer up^[z] from it as a raised offering to the Lord a tenth of the tithe. ²⁷And your raised offering will be credited^[aa] to you as though it were grain from the threshing floor or as new wine^[ab] from the winepress. ²⁸Thus you are to offer up a raised offering to the Lord of all your tithes that you receive from the Israelites; and you must give the Lord’s raised offering from it to Aaron the priest. ²⁹From all your gifts you must offer up every raised offering due^[ac] the Lord, from all the best of it, and the holiest part of it.’^[ad]

³⁰“Therefore you will say to them,^[ae] ‘When you offer up^[af] the best of it, then it will be credited to the Levites as the product of the threshing floor and as the product of the winepress. ³¹And you may^[ag] eat it in any place, you and your household, because it is your wages for your service in the tent of meeting. ³²And you will bear no sin concerning it when you offer up the best of it. And you must not profane the holy things of the Israelites, or else you will die.’”^[ah]

Footnotes

Numbers 18:1 sn This chapter and the next may have been inserted here to explain how the priests are to function because in the preceding chapter Aaron’s position was affirmed. The chapter seems to fall into four units: responsibilities of priests (vv. 1-7), their portions (vv. 8-19), responsibilities of Levites (vv. 20-24), and instructions for Levites (vv. 25-32).
Numbers 18:1 tn Heb “your father’s house.”
Numbers 18:1 sn The responsibility for the sanctuary included obligations relating to any violation of the sanctuary. This was stated to forestall any further violations of the sanctuary. The priests were to pay for any ritual errors, primarily if any came too near. Since the priests and Levites come near all the time, they risk violating ritual laws more than any. So, with the great privileges come great responsibilities. The bottom line is that they were responsible for the sanctuary.
Numbers 18:2 sn The verb forms a wordplay on the name Levi, and makes an allusion to the naming of the tribe Levi by Leah in the book of Genesis. There Leah hoped that with the birth of Levi her husband would be attached to her. Here, with the selection of the tribe to serve in the sanctuary, there is the wordplay again showing that the Levites will be attached to Aaron and the priests. The verb is יִלָּווּ (yillavu), which forms a nice wordplay with Levi (לֵוִי). The tribe will now be attached to the sanctuary. The verb is the imperfect with a vav (ו) that shows volitive sequence after the imperative, here indicating a purpose clause.
Numbers 18:2 tn The clause is a circumstantial clause because the disjunctive vav (ו) is on a nonverb to start the clause.
Numbers 18:4 tn Now the sentence uses the Niphal perfect with a vav (ו) consecutive from the same root לָוָה (lavah).
Numbers 18:4 tn The word is “stranger, alien,” but it can also mean Israelites here.
Numbers 18:5 tn The clause is a purpose clause, and the imperfect tense a final imperfect.
Numbers 18:6 tn Heb “taken.”
Numbers 18:6 tn The infinitive construct in this sentence is from עָבַד (ʿavad), and so is the noun that serves as its object: to serve the service.
Numbers 18:8 tn This is an uncommon root. It may be connected to the word “anoint” as here (see RSV). But it may also be seen as an intended parallel to “perpetual due” (see Gen 47:22; Exod 29:28; Lev 6:11 [HT]).
Numbers 18:9 tn Heb “from the fire.” It probably refers to those parts that were not burned.
Numbers 18:12 tn This form may be classified as a perfect of resolve—he has decided to give them to them, even though this is a listing of what they will receive.
Numbers 18:14 tn The “ban” (חֵרֶם, kherem) in Hebrew describes that which is exclusively the Lord’s, either for his sanctuary use, or for his destruction. It seems to refer to an individual’s devoting something freely to God.
Numbers 18:15 tn The construction uses the infinitive absolute and the imperfect tense of the verb “to redeem” in order to stress the point—they were to be redeemed. N. H. Snaith suggests that the verb means to get by payment what was not originally yours, whereas the other root גָאַל (gaʾal) means to get back what was originally yours (Leviticus and Numbers [NCB], 268).
Numbers 18:17 tn Or “throw, toss.”
Numbers 18:19 sn Salt was used in all the offerings; its importance as a preservative made it a natural symbol for the covenant which was established by sacrifice. Even general agreements were attested by sacrifice, and the phrase “covenant of salt” speaks of such agreements as binding and irrevocable. Note the expression in Ezra 4:14, “we have been salted with the salt of the palace.” See further J. F. Ross, IDB 4:167.
Numbers 18:20 tn The phrase “of property” is supplied as a clarification.
Numbers 18:22 tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive construct of the verb “to bear” with the preposition ל (lamed) to express the result of such an action. “To bear their sin” would mean that they would have to suffer the consequences of their sin.
Numbers 18:23 tn The verse begins with the perfect tense of עָבַד (ʿavad) with vav (ו) consecutive, making the form equal to the instructions preceding it. As its object the verb has the cognate accusative “service.”
Numbers 18:23 sn The Levites have the care of the tent of meeting, and so they are responsible for any transgressions against it.
Numbers 18:23 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Levites) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
Numbers 18:23 tn The Hebrew text uses both the verb and the object from the same root to stress the point: They will not inherit an inheritance. The inheritance refers to land.
Numbers 18:24 tn The classification of the perfect tense here too could be the perfect of resolve, since this law is declaring what will be their portion—“I have decided to give.”
Numbers 18:24 tn In the Hebrew text the verb has no expressed subject (although the “Israelites” is certainly intended), and so it can be rendered as a passive.
Numbers 18:26 tn The verb in this clause is the Hiphil perfect with a vav (ו) consecutive; it has the same force as an imperfect of instruction: “when…then you are to offer up.”
Numbers 18:27 tn The verb is חָשַׁב (khashav, “to reckon; to count; to think”); it is the same verb used for “crediting” Abram with righteousness. Here the tithe of the priests will be counted as if it were a regular tithe.
Numbers 18:27 tn Heb “fullness,” meaning the fullness of the harvest, i.e., a full harvest.
Numbers 18:29 tn The construction is “every raised offering of the Lord”; the genitive here is probably to be taken as a genitive of worth—the offering that is due the Lord.
Numbers 18:29 tn Or “its hallowed thing.”
Numbers 18:30 tn The wording of this verse is confusing; it may be that it is addressed to the priests, telling them how to deal with the offerings of the Levites.
Numbers 18:30 tn The clause begins with the infinitive construct with its preposition and suffixed subject serving to indicate the temporal clause.
Numbers 18:31 tn The verb is the perfect tense with vav (ו) consecutive; it functions as the equivalent of the imperfect of permission.
Numbers 18:32 tn The final clause could also be rendered “in order that you do not die.” The larger section can also be interpreted differently; rather than take it as a warning, it could be taken as an assurance that when they do all of this they will not be profaning it and so will not die (R. K. Harrison, Numbers [WEC], 253).

4 Moseboken 18

Svenska Folkbibeln 2015

Prästerna och leviterna

18 Herren sade till Aron: ”Du och dina söner och din fars hus med dig ska bära den missgärning som hör till helgedomen, och du och dina söner med dig ska bära den missgärning som hör till ert prästämbete. ²^(A) Men också dina bröder av Levi stam, din fars stam, ska du låta få tillträde dit tillsammans med dig, och de ska hålla sig till dig och betjäna dig medan du och dina söner med dig gör tjänst vid vittnesbördets tält. ³De ska sköta vad du har att sköta och vad som hör till skötseln av tältet. Men de får inte komma nära de heliga föremålen eller altaret, för att inte både de och ni ska dö. ⁴De ska hålla sig till dig och sköta vad som hör till uppenbarelsetältet, under all tjänstgöring vid tältet. Ingen främling får komma nära dig. ⁵Ni ska iaktta vad som hör till skötseln av helgedomen och altaret, för att inte vrede åter ska komma över Israels barn. ⁶^(B) Det är jag som har utvalt era bröder leviterna bland Israels barn. De är en gåva åt er, givna åt Herren till att förrätta tjänsten vid uppenbarelsetältet. ⁷Men du och dina söner med dig ska sköta vad som hör till ert prästämbete, i allt som avser altaret och det som är innanför förhänget. Så ska ni göra tjänst. Jag ger er prästämbetet som en gåva. Om en obehörig inkräktar på det ska han dödas.”

Prästernas andel

⁸Herren sade till Aron: ”Se, jag överlämnar åt dig att ta hand om det som offras åt mig. Av Israels barns alla heliga gåvor ger jag detta som en ämbetslott åt dig och dina söner, som en evig rätt. ⁹Av det högheliga som inte lämnas åt elden ska detta tillhöra dig: Alla deras offergåvor, alla matoffer, syndoffer eller skuldoffer som de offrar åt mig. Detta är högheligt och tillhör dig och dina söner. ¹⁰^(C) På en höghelig plats ska du äta det. Alla av manligt kön ska äta det. Det ska vara heligt för dig. ¹¹^(D) Också Israels barns alla lyftoffer som bärs fram som gåvor ska tillhöra dig. Som en evig rättighet ger jag dem åt dig och dina söner och döttrar med dig. Var och en i ditt hus som är ren kan äta det.

¹²Allt det bästa av oljan och det bästa av det nya vinet och av säden, det första av det som de ger åt Herren, ger jag åt dig. ¹³De första frukterna av allt som växer i deras land och som de bär fram åt Herren ska tillhöra dig. Var och en i ditt hus som är ren kan äta av det. ¹⁴^(E) Allt i Israel som vigs^[a] åt Herren ska tillhöra dig. ¹⁵^(F) Allt som öppnar moderlivet, varje varelse, människa eller djur, som de för fram till Herren ska tillhöra dig. Men du ska friköpa det förstfödda bland människor och även friköpa det förstfödda bland orena djur. ¹⁶^(G) När de är en månad gamla ska du friköpa dem med lösensumman som är bestämd till fem siklar silver^[b], efter helgedomssikelns vikt som är tjugo gera.

¹⁷^(H) Men det förstfödda bland kor, får eller getter ska du inte friköpa. Det är heligt. Deras blod ska du stänka på altaret, och deras fett ska du förbränna som ett eldsoffer till en ljuvlig doft för Herren. ¹⁸^(I) Men deras kött ska tillhöra dig, liksom även lyftofferbringan och det högra lårstycket ska tillhöra dig. ¹⁹Alla heliga gåvor som Israels barn offrar åt Herren ger jag åt dig och dina söner och döttrar med dig som en evig rätt. Detta ska vara ett evigt saltförbund^[c] inför Herrens ansikte, för dig och för dina avkomlingar.”

Leviternas arvedel

²⁰^(J) Herren sade till Aron: ”I deras land ska du inte ha någon arvedel, och du ska inte ha någon lott bland dem. Jag ska vara din lott och din arvedel bland Israels barn. ²¹Se, jag ger åt Levi barn allt tionde i Israel till arvedel, som lön för den tjänst de utför, tjänsten vid uppenbarelsetältet.

²²Och Israels barn ska härefter inte komma nära uppenbarelsetältet, för de kommer då att bära på synd och måste dö. ²³Det är leviterna som ska förrätta tjänsten vid uppenbarelsetältet, och de ska själva bära sina missgärningar. Det ska vara en evig stadga från släkte till släkte: De ska inte ha någon arvedel bland Israels barn, ²⁴^(K) för jag ger tiondet som Israels barn offrar som gåva åt Herren till arvedel åt leviterna. Det är därför jag säger om dem: De ska inte ha någon arvedel bland Israels barn.”

²⁵Och Herren talade till Mose. Han sade: ²⁶”Tala till leviterna och säg: När ni av Israels barn tar emot det tionde som jag har bestämt att ni ska få av dem som er arvedel, då ska ni av det ge en gåva åt Herren, ett tionde av tiondena. ²⁷Denna er gåva ska räknas som om det vore brödsäd från logen och den fulla avkastningen från vinpressen. ²⁸Så ska också ni ge en gåva åt Herren av allt tionde som ni tar emot av Israels barn. Denna Herrens gåva av tionden ska ni ge åt prästen Aron. ²⁹Av alla gåvor ni får ska ni offra åt Herren allt det som tillhör honom, det bästa av gåvorna, den del som är helig.

³⁰Du ska säga till dem: När ni ger som gåva det bästa, ska leviternas gåva räknas som om det vore vad loge och press avkastar. ³¹Ni får äta det var som helst med ert husfolk, för det är er lön för er tjänstgöring vid uppenbarelsetältet. ³²När ni offrar det bästa av det ska ni inte bära på synd. Då ska ni inte ohelga Israels barns heliga gåvor, så att ni måste dö.”

Footnotes

18:14 vigs Hebr. charám innebar att överlåta något åt Herren och avskilja det från människornas värld.
18:16 lösensumman … fem siklar silver Ca 50 gram, en halv årslön (jfr 3:47).
18:19 saltförbund Salt motverkar förruttnelse och symboliserade därför renhet och förbundstrohet (jfr Matt 5:13), även bland omkringliggande folk.

English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)

New International Version (NIV)

Numbers 18

English Standard Version Anglicised

Duties of Priests and Levites

Footnotes

Cross references

Numbers 18

New International Version

Duties of Priests and Levites

Offerings for Priests and Levites

Footnotes

Cross references

Numbers 18

King James Version

Numbers 18

New English Translation

Responsibilities of the Priests

The Portion of the Priests

Duties of the Levites

Instructions for the Levites

Footnotes

4 Moseboken 18

Svenska Folkbibeln 2015

Prästerna och leviterna

Prästernas andel

Leviternas arvedel

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Numbers 18 English Standard Version Anglicised

Duties of Priests and Levites

Footnotes

Cross references

Numbers 18 New International Version

Duties of Priests and Levites

Offerings for Priests and Levites

Footnotes

Cross references

Numbers 18 King James Version

Numbers 18 New English Translation

Responsibilities of the Priests

The Portion of the Priests

Duties of the Levites

Instructions for the Levites

Footnotes

4 Moseboken 18 Svenska Folkbibeln 2015

Prästerna och leviterna

Prästernas andel

Leviternas arvedel

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Numbers 18

English Standard Version Anglicised

Numbers 18

New International Version

Numbers 18

King James Version

Numbers 18

New English Translation

4 Moseboken 18

Svenska Folkbibeln 2015