Numbers 18:19

_ALL 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._ It is a covenant of salt - i:e., a perpetual ordinance. This figurative form of expression was evidently founded on the conservative properties of salt, which keeps meat from corruption; and hence, it became an emblem of inviolability and permanence. It is a common phrase among Oriental people, who consider the eating of salt a pledge of fidelity, binding there in a covenant of friendship; and hence, the partaking of the altar meats, which were appropriated to the priests on condition of their services, and of which salt formed a necessary accompaniment, was naturally called a covenant of salt (Leviticus 2:13

8-19 All believers are spiritual priests, and God has promised to take care of them. Godliness has the promise of the life that now is. And from the provision here made for the priests, the apostle shows that it is the duty of christian churches to maintain their ministers. Scandalous maintenance makes scandalous ministers. The priests were to be wholly devoted to their ministry, not diverted from it, or disturbed in it, by worldly care or business. Also, that they might be examples of living by faith, not only in God's providence, but in his ordinances. The best should be offered for the first-fruits unto the Lord. Those who think to save, by putting God off with the refuse, deceive themselves, for God is not mocked....

Verse Numbers 18:19. _IT IS A COVENANT OF SALT_] That is, an incorruptible, everlasting covenant. As _salt_ was added to different kinds of viands, not only to give them a relish, but to preserve them from putrefaction and decay, it became the emblem of _incorruptibility_ and _permanence_. Hence, a _covenant_ of _salt_ signified an _everlasting covenant_. We have already seen that, among the Asiatics, eating together was deemed a bond of perpetual friendship; and as _salt_ was a common article in all their repasts, it may be in reference to this circumstance that a perpetual covenant is termed a _covenant of salt_; because the parties ate together of the sacrifice offered on the occasion, and the whole transaction was considered as a league of endless friendship....

A COVENANT OF SALT - Compare the marginal reference. covenants were ordinarily cemented in the East by the rites of hospitality; of which salt was the obvious token, entering as it does into every article of diet. It indicates perpetuity: compare Leviticus 2:13 note....

EXPOSITION STATUS AND REVENUES OF PRIESTS AND LEVITES (Numbers 18:1). NUMBERS 18:1 THE LORD SPAKE UNTO AARON. This clear and comprehensive instruction as to the position and support of the sons of Aaron on the one hand, and of the Levites on the other, may very naturally have been given in connection with the events just narrated. There is, however, no direct reference to those events, and it is quite possible that the only connection was one of subject-matter in the mind of the writer. That the regulations which follow were addressed to Aaron directly is a thing unusual, and indeed unexampled. The ever-recurring statement elsewher

ALL THE HEAVE OFFERINGS OF THE HOLY THINGS,.... All before mentioned, and whatsoever comes under that name: WHICH THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL OFFER UNTO THE LORD; either by his commandment, or of their own freewill; HAVE I GIVEN THEE, AND THY SONS, AND THY DAUGHTERS WITH THEE, BY A STATUTE FOR EVER: so providing for their maintenance by an irrepealable law as long as their priesthood lasted, even until the Messiah should come: IT [IS] A COVENANT OF SALT FOR EVER BEFORE THE LORD UNTO THEE, AND THY SEED WITH THEE: an incorruptible, inviolable, durable covenant, which should last for ever, even until the Gospel dispensation or world to come should take place; and it would remain ever before the Lord in his sight, who would take care it should never be made void, but stand fast with Aaron and his posterity as long as his priesthood endured....

8. PRIESTHOOD AND INIQUITY AND THE RECOMPENSE OF THE PRIESTHOOD CHAPTER 18 _ 1. The iniquity borne by the priesthood (Numbers 18:1)_ 2. The recompense of the priests (Numbers 18:8) 3. The inheritance of the priests (Numbers 18:20) “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.” This is evidently in answer to the question, “Shall we be consumed with dying?” (Numbers 17:13) The ministry of the priests and the Levites keeping the charge of the tabernacle and the charge of

THE DUES TO BE RECEIVED BY THE PRIESTS FROM THE PEOPLE. These embrace all those portions of the things offered unto the Lord which are not required to be burnt; and in detail are (_a)_ the meal offerings, less a handful or other small quantity (Leviticus 2:2 f., Leviticus 2:9 f., Leviticus 6:15 f.); (_b_) the sin offerings (except those for the high priest and the congregation), less the fat (Leviticus 4:26; Leviticus 4:31; Leviticus 4:35); (_c_) th

OFFER. heave up as. heave offering. See note on Exodus 29:27. COVENANT OF SALT. Hebrew covenant. _berith,_ from _barah. to cut_. hence, _to eat._ As salt was scarce and precious. and used with all eating, so it was put, by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Adjunct), App-6, for eating, just as the breaking of bread was. See Isaiah 58:7 (Authorized Version "deal"); Jeremiah 16:7 (Authorized Version "tear"). Lamentations 4:4.Ezekiel 18:7 (Authorized Version "given"). Hence, when wages were paid in kind, by finding the worker

_The priests" dues_. These are as follows: (_a_) All meal-, sin-, and guilt-offerings, with the exception of those parts which are burnt on the altar, i.e. given to God. These may be eaten by any _male_member of the priestly families -in a very holy place" (Numbers 18:9). (_b_) Those portions of a -gift" (i.e. a peace-offering) which are not eaten by the worshipper himself, nor given to God by being burnt on the altar; the priests" portions thus consisted of the -contribution," including that part of it called the -wave-offering." These may be eaten by any member, male _or female_, of the priestly families, who is free from ceremonial pollution (Numbers 18:11). The fact that females might eat it implies that it might be eaten anywhere outside the sacred precincts, into which no female was a