Numbers 18

Numbers 18:1

BEare the iniquitie] I speake to you that be Priests, not to the Levites; if you trespasse in any thing concerning the ceremonies of the Sanctuary, or your office, or suffer any one to usurpe the service of my Sanctuary, against mine order, or to make neerer approaches to any holy thing then I permit, the offence shall be imputed unto you, and you shall be punished.

Numbers 18:2

of witnesse] See Annot. on Chap. 17. vers. 4, 7.

Numbers 18:3

thy charge] That is, thy charge, or appointment touching the services of the Sanctuary.

and the charge] Of the Tabernacle, as it is distributed among them, Chap. 3.

nor you] To suffer others to offend, whom we may hinder, is to be guiltie of their sinne, and in danger of their punishment.

Numbers 18:4

a stranger] See Annot. on Chap. 16. vers. 40.

Numbers 18:7

within the vaile] Of the Sanctuary, for the inferiour Priest; within the vaile of the Holy of Holies, for the Highpriest.

Numbers 18:8

by reason of the anoynting] That is, of the service or office, to which by anoynting thou art consecrated.

Numbers 18:9

from the fire] That which was not burned by way of Oblation to God.

Numbers 18:10

most holy place] That is, for eating; for that which was indeed the most Holy place, or the Holy of Holies, was within the second vaile of the Tabernacle, into which none might enter but the High-priest, and he only once a yeare, not to eate, but to make a solemne atonement; but among the places where men might eate, some were held holier then others, as Jerusalem is called the holy Citie, Matthew 4:5. where the Passeover was eaten, though in private houses; and in respect thereof, and of any part of the campe, the Priests Court was the most holy place for such a use.

male] Of the sinne-offering, and trespasse-offering onely males must eate, but to the peace-offering women admitted; Leviticus 10:14. Deut. Chap. 12. 18. & Chap. 16. 11.

Numbers 18:13

first ripe] The first fruits and tenths are distinct tithes of different revenues of the Sanctuary: the tenthes are better known then the first fruits, therefore of those it is to be observed, that they are of foure sorts; First, a sheafe of the first ripe corne presented the second day of the Feast of unleavened bread, Leviticus 23:10. Secondly, two wave-loaves at the Feast of Pentecost, Leviticus 23:17. Thirdly, a cake taken first our of their dough, before they made use of their weekely baking, Numbers 15:21. Fourthly, in the seventh moneth, the moneth of September, when all their fruits were gathered in, they were to pay a part in the name of first-fruits of all their increase, of corne and wine, before they served themselves with any of them; and this was paid not in the proportion of tithe one for ten, but one for fourtie at the most, and for sixtie at the least, usually betwixt fourtie and sixtie.

cleane] This limitation was observed, when any of the firstfruits were offered in sacrifice to God; otherwise if they were given only for the use of the Priests, they might be eaten by any to whom he allowed them, whether ceremonially cleane or uncleane.

Numbers 18:14

devoted] That is, separate from common use, and fit and profitable for the use of the Priests; unlesse it be devoted as a sacrifice to God.

Numbers 18:15

first-borne] See Annot. on Exodus 13:2.

of uncleane beasts] Some thinke the uncleannesse here mentioned, is not in respect of kinde, as the Horse, and Mule; but in respect of accidentall qualitie, as when a sheep is blind, or lame: but it is more probable, it is to he understood of both.

Numbers 18:16

Redcemed] That is, of mankinde, not of other creatures.

a moneth old] The first-born might be redeemed by this law before the mother was purified, viz. before the fourtieth day; though commonly their redemption was deferred till the day of purification of their mother.

Numbers 18:17

Holy] That is, appointed for sacrifice, and therefore not to be redeemed from death.

Numbers 18:19

of salt] That is, sure and stable; because salt makes things to keepe or last long without corruption. See Annot. on Leviticus 2:13.

Numbers 18:20

in their land] In the land of the Hebrewes thy brethren.

I am thy part] Thou shalt set thy heart upon me, as thy most precious portion and inheritance; I will make sufficient provision for thy maintenance, though thou have not a particular share of land, as other Tribes have: Or, I am thy part, that is, I will ingage my selfe for thy supply, and thou shalt have allowance out of my portion. See Joshua 13:14.

Numbers 18:21

Levi all the tenths] All the tithes were paid to the Levites, not to the Priests, and out of them the Levites paid a tenth to the Priests, Neh. 10. 37, 38. See vers. 26. of this Chap.

Numbers 18:22

beare sinne and die] Disobedience to God, though in a small matter, brings deadly danger upon man.

Numbers 18:23

they shall beare] See Annot. on vers. 1.

Numbers 18:27

as though it] As profitable, and acceptable as the fruit of your own ground, or vineyard, had you an equall portion with the rest of your brethren.

Numbers 18:28

to Aaron the Priest] That he may make distribution thereof among the Priests.

Numbers 18:29

out of all] The Levites were not onely to pay a tenth out of their tenth to the Priests, Nehem. 10. 37, 38. but the tenth also of other things, as of the suburbs of those Cities (which belonged to them) reaching from the wals to a thousand cubits round about, Numbers 35:4. The Tribe of Levi was so much lesse then any of the other Tribes, that they were every one of them three or foure times greater, Numb. Chap. 3. & 4. yet they had the tenth of all, vers. 21. of this Chap. so that though they were fewer in number they had more meanes or maintenance then any other Tribe: the Priests who were now but two (of full age) besides Aaron, had the tenth of the Levites, who were 8580. Numbers 4:48. and this was about the hundreth part of the profits of above sixe hundred thousand men: moreover, they had first-fruits of the yearly increase, which at least were a sixteenth part which was more then the tenth; they had also votive, and free-will-offerings, redemption mony of persons, and things devoted unto God; the first-borne also of oxen, sheepe, and goates in kinde; together with the sin-offering, and trespasse-offering, they had the first-fruits of the bread of the families of the people; and of whole-burnt-offerings they had the skinne; yet more, they had some Cities, and suburbs; and whatsoever oblations they had, they were all of the best: See Jer. 31. vers. 14.

Numbers 18:30

heaved the best thereof] That is, given the best for an heave-offering.

Numbers 18:31

In every place] Some Tithes, as common things, might be eaten in any place; such were these; but some were limited to distinction of place, with limitation of persons, as vers. 10.