Numbers 18:4

18:1-7 The people complained of their difficulty and peril in drawing near to God. God here gives them to understand, that the priests should come near for them. Aaron would see reason not to be proud of his preferment, when he considered the great care and charge upon him. Be not high-minded, but fear. The greater the trust of work and power that is committed to us, the greater danger there is of betraying that trust. This is a good reason why we should neither envy others' honours, nor desire high places.

And they shall be joined unto thee,.... As assistants in the sacred service: and keep the charge of tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle; See Gill on Numbers 3:7 and See Gill on Numbers 3:8, and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you; not any of the other tribes, only such as were of the tribe of Levi; they only were to be brought with them, and joined unto them, and assist them, and minister to them, as in Numbers 18:2; though the Jews (h) understand by a stranger anyone that was not a priest. (h) Maimon. in Misn. Zebachim, c. 2. sect. 1.

2-7. thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi—The departments of the sacred office, to be filled respectively by the priests and Levites, are here assigned to each. To the priests was committed the charge of the sanctuary and the altar, while the Levites were to take care of everything else about the tabernacle. The Levites were to attend the priests as servants—bestowed on them as "gifts" to aid in the service of the tabernacle—while the high and dignified office of the priesthood was a "service of gift." "A stranger," that is, one, neither a priest nor a Levite, who should intrude into any departments of the sacred office, should incur the penalty of death.

Aaron was also to bring his (other) brethren (sc., to the sanctuary), viz., the tribe of Levi, that is to say, the Gershonites and Merarites, that they might attach themselves to him and serve him, both him (ואתּה) and his sons, before the tent of testimony, and discharge the duties that were binding upon them, according to Numbers 4:24 ., Numbers 4:31 . (cf. Numbers 3:6-7 ; Numbers 8:26 ). Only they were not to come near to the holy vessels and the altar, for that would bring death both upon them and the priests (see at Numbers 4:15 ). On Numbers 18:4 , cf. Numbers 1:53 and Numbers 3:7 .

[Reformed Biblical] ich was the proper place where the Levites ministered, whereas the priests did minister to God both before and in the tabernacle. Besides, both the foregoing words, and the two following verses, do entirely speak of the ministry of the Levites, and the ministry of the priests is distinctly spoken of Num_18:5. Numbers 18:3 ## Thy charge, i.e. that which thou shalt command them and commit unto them. ## Of all the tabernacle, i.e. of the boards and hangings and utensils of the tabernacle, to take them down, and carry them, and set them up again. ## The vessels, which therefore were to be covered by the priests before the Levites might meddle with them. ## They, nor ye, they for presuming to touch them, and you for your negligence in not covering them well, or not looking to them. Numbers 18:4 Numbers 18:5 ## Of the sanctuary, i.e. of the holy, and of the most holy, place. ## Upon the children of Israel, for coming too near the holy place, or for usurping any part of your sacred function, or for any other miscarriage which they may be guilty of through your carelessness or remissness, in which case they shall perish for their error, but their blood will I require at your hands, who should have advised them better, or overruled them. Numbers 18:6 ## For the Lord, i.e. for the service of the Lord, to assist you therein, in the servile and troublesome parts of it. Numbers 18:7 ## The altar, to wit, of burnt-offering, as appears from the following words. ## Within the veil.

[Reformed Biblical] of the Levites numbered, Num_3:14-39. The first-born numbered, Num_3:40- 43. Being more than the Levites, some of them are redeemed, and the money given to Aaron and his sons, Num_3:41-51. ## These which follow in this chapter are the generations, i.e. either, ## 1. The things done by them; as the word generation is sometimes used, as Gen_6:9 25:19 37:2 . Or rather, 2. The kindred or family, for that is the subject of this chapter, and not their events or actions. ## Object. Aaron’s family indeed is here mentioned, but not Moses’s family. ## Answ. Moses’s family and children are here included under the general name of the Amramite , Num_3:27, which includes all the children and grandchildren of Amram , the persons only of Aaron and Moses being excepted. And the generations of M oses are thu s obscurely mentioned, because they were but common Levites, the priesthood being given solely to Aaron’s posterity, whence Aaron is here put before Moses, who elsewhere is commonly named after him. In the day that the Lord spake with Moses in Mount ## Sinai: this seems to be added, because Nadab and Abihu, mentioned Num_3:2, were then alive, though dead at the time of taking this account. Numbers 3:2 Numbers 3:3 Numbers 3:4 ## In the time of Aaron’s life, as this phrase is taken, Num_3:4; see also Psa_72:5 ,17 ; and under their father’s inspection and direction, and as their father’s servants or ministers in the priest’s office; for servants are oft described by this phra