Numbers 18:8

_AND 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._ I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings. A recapitulation is made in this passage of certain perquisites specially appropriated to the maintenance of the priests. They were parts of the votive and free-will offerings, including both meat and bread, wine and oil, and the first-fruits, which formed a large and valuable item....

8._And the Lord spake unto Aaron. _He now proceeds to state more fully what he had been lately adverting to, as to the rights of the priests with respect to the sacred oblations. We must, however, remember the contrast, which I spoke of, between the priests of the higher order and the Levites; for, whilst the family of Aaron is invested with peculiar honors, the other families of the tribe of Levi are abased. God, then, assigns to the priests alone all the offerings, in which was the greater consecration, called “the holy of holinesses.” (208) An exception will afterwards appear; viz., that the whole was to be deposited, by way of honor, with the priests, out of which they were to pay a part to the Levites, who were performing their office in the service of the sanctuary. He tells them that this privilege is given them “by reason of the anointing,” lest the priests should pride themselve...

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....

BY REASON OF THE ANOINTING - See Leviticus 7:35....

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

AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO AARON,.... Having pointed out to him the duty of his office, he now informs him of the perquisites of it; or having told him what was his work, now what his wages, or what was his service, and now his maintenance: BEHOLD, I ALSO HAVE GIVEN THEE THE CHARGE OF MY HEAVE OFFERINGS, OF ALL THE HALLOWED THINGS OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL; such as the heave shoulder and wave breast, and firstfruits, and all other holy things in general, such as were the most holy things; as in Numbers 18:9; and the lighter holy things, as the Jews call them, Numbers 18:11; the charge of these was given to keep for themselves, and for their families: UNTO THEE HAVE I GIVEN THEM BY REASON OF THE ANOINTING: because of his office as a priest, to which he was consecrated by a

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

SPAKE. See note on Numbers 1:1. HALLOWED. holy. See note on "holy", Exodus 3:5. THE ANOINTING. Put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Adjunct), App-6, for the priesthood associated with it....

A general statement that all the holy things of Israel are the property of the priests. This is afterwards limited by the regulations in the following verses. _the charge of_ MY CONTRIBUTIONS] i.e. the contributions made to me. See on Numbers 18:9. If -the charge" (the ordinary rendering of the Heb. _mishmereth_) is correct, the expression must mean -the duty of taking care that the contributions are not profaned through being eaten by non-priestly persons." But it is better to render THAT WHICH IS KEPT _of my contributions_, i.e. that portion of the sacrifice which is not burnt, but reserved to be eaten. This concrete force of the word _mishmereth_is unique, but not impossible. _by reason of the anointing_ The marg. FOR A PORTION is correct. In Leviticus 7:35