_A.M. 2533. B.C. 1471._ The work of the priests and Levites, Numbers 18:1. The maintenance of the priests, Numbers 18:8. Of the Levites, Numbers 18:21. The portion they are to pay to the priests, Numbers 18:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord said unto Aaron_ Probably by Moses. Having, by the foregoing miracles, vindicated the honour and authority of the priesthood, God now lets Aaron know the importance of his office, wherein he was to behave with great care and circumspection, and withal he again declares what was the duty of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Minister unto thee_ About sacrifices, and offerings, and other things, according to the rules I have prescribed them. The Levites are said to minister to Aaron here; to the church, Numbers 16:9; and to God, Deuteronomy 10:8. They shall not contend with thee for superiority, as they have done, but s... [ Continue Reading ]
_To you they are given as a gift_ We are to value it as a great gift of the divine bounty, to have those _joined to us_ that will be helpful and serviceable to us in the service of God. _The altar_ Of burnt-offering. _Within the veil_ This phrase here comprehends both the holy and the most holy plac... [ Continue Reading ]
Having pointed out to him the duties of his function, now follows a detail of the emoluments annexed to it; which emoluments are expressly declared to be for _Aaron and his sons_ That is, for the high- priest, who undoubtedly had a principal portion, and for the inferior priests. _I also have given... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the most holy place shalt thou eat it_ In the court of the priests, where there were places for this use, which is called _the most holy place_, not simply and absolutely, but in respect of the thing he speaks of, because this was the most holy of all the places appointed for eating holy things,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whatsoever is first ripe_ Not only the first-fruits of the oil, and wine, and wheat, now mentioned, but all other first-fruits of all other grains, and all fruit-trees. _Every one that is clean_ And none else, because these fruits were first offered to God, and by consequence given to the priests;... [ Continue Reading ]
_Every devoted thing_ Dedicated to God by vow or otherwise, provided it be such a thing as might be eaten: for the vessels or treasures of gold and silver which were dedicated by Joshua, David, or others, were not the priests', but appropriated to the use of the temple. _Whether it be of men_ Which... [ Continue Reading ]
_Those that are to be redeemed_ Namely, of men only, not of unclean beasts, as is manifest from the time and price of redemption here mentioned, both which agree to men; the time, Numbers 18:16; the price, Numbers 3:46; but neither agree to unclean beasts, which were to be redeemed with a sheep, (Ex... [ Continue Reading ]
_They are holy_ Namely, in a peculiar manner, consecrated to a holy use, even to be sacrificed to God, Deuteronomy 15:19. _The flesh_ All the flesh of them, and not only some parts, as in other sacrifices.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A covenant of salt_ A durable and perpetual covenant; so called here, and 2 Chronicles 13:5, either because salt is of singular use to preserve things from corruption, and was an emblem of friendship; or because it was ratified on their part by salt, which is therefore called _the salt of the coven... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land_ In the land of the children of Israel. You shall not have a distinct portion of land, as the other tribes shall. The reason of this law was partly because God would have them wholly devoted to his service, and therefore free from worldly encumbrances, p... [ Continue Reading ]
_The tenth_ For the tithes were all given to the Levites, and out of their tithes the tenth was given to the priests. _Come nigh the tabernacle_ So nigh as to do any proper act to the priests or Levites.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Their iniquity_ The punishment due not only for their own, but also for the people's miscarriage, if it be committed through their connivance or negligence. And this was the reason why the priests withstood King Uzziah, when he would have burnt incense to the Lord.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A heave-offering_ An acknowledgment that they have all their land and the fruits of it from God's bounty. Note, the word _heave-offering_, which is for the most part understood of a particular kind of offerings heaved or lifted up to the Lord, is here used for any offering.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye shall offer up a heave-offering_ They who are employed in assisting the devotions of others, must be sure to pay their own as a heave- offering. Prayers and praises, or rather the heart lifted up in them, are now our heave-offerings.... [ Continue Reading ]
_As though it were the corn_ It shall be accepted of you as much as if you offered it out of your own lands and labours. _To Aaron_ And to his children, who were all to have their share herein.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Your gifts_ Not only out of your tithes, but out of the other gifts which you receive from the people, and out of those fields which shall belong to your cities. _Offer_ To the priest. As many gifts, so many heave- offerings; you shall reserve a part out of each of them for the priest. _The hallowe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither shall ye pollute the holy things_ As you will do, if you abuse their holy offerings, by reserving that entirely to yourselves which they offer to God, to be disposed as he hath appointed, namely, part to you, and part to the priests. Thus we learn in what manner God regulated the offices of... [ Continue Reading ]