Numbers 18

Numbers 18:7

7. — as a service of gift:] That which is at once a favour and privilege; and also imports duty and service. Bp. Patrick.

Before CHRIST about 1471. The priests’ and Levites’ portion of the offerings. Before CHRIST about 1471. wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee.

Numbers 18:16

16. — according to thine estimation.] According to the estimation prescribed for thee to take of all sorts, poor as well as rich. Bp. Patrick.

Numbers 18:19

19. — a covenant of salt] An incorruptible and everlasting covenant, not to be revoked. Bp. Patrick. Salt preserves from decay and putrefaction, and may therefore properly be an emblem of duration and perpetuity. But the “covenant of salt” seems to refer to the making of an agreement, wherein salt was used as a token of confirmation. Among the Turks, according to Baron du Tott, the eating of bread and salt with a person is esteemed a very significant confirmation of an agreement, and a token of inviolable friendship. Progments to Calmet. Between the Mohammedans of Aleppo the relation of host and guest is held sacred, and always mentioned with reverence. A league of mutual amity, founded on former acquaintance, on living together in the same house, but especially on an interchange of hospitable offices, is expressed by “having eaten bread and salt together.” Dr. Russell. See the note on Lev. ii. 13. The law for making the water of separation.

thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress.

Numbers 18:32

32. — neither shall ye pollute the holy things &c.] There shall be no danger of your polluting the holy things which God hath reserved to Himself, by turning them to a common use; as there would have been, if they had eaten the tithes or other gifts, before the tenth part, which was God’s, was taken from them. Bp. Patrick.

— lest ye die.] In the Hebrew, “nor shall ye die:” as those did, who meddled with the holy things, which God reserved for His ministers alone. Bp. Patrick.

Four and twenty gifts were given to the priests, and they are all expressed in the law. Eight of these gifts the priests were to eat no where but in the sanctuary, within the wall of the court yard; and five gifts they did not eat but in Jerusalem, within the walls of the city; five gifts were not due unto them by the law, but in the land of Israel only; and five gifts were due unto them both within the land, and without the land; one gift was due unto them from the sanctuary.

The eight gifts, which they did not eat but within the sanctuary, were these,

1. The flesh of the sin offering, whether fowl or beast, Lev. vi. 25, 26.

2. The flesh of the trespass offering, Lev. vii. 1, 6. 3. The peace offering of the congregation, Lev. xxiii. 19, 20. 4. The remainder of the omer or sheaf, Lev. xxiii. 10. 5. The remnant of the meat offering of the Israelites, Lev. vi. 16. 6. The two loaves, Lev. xxiii. 17. 7. The shewbread, Lev. xxiv. 9. 8. The leper’s log of oil, Lev. xiv. 10.

The five which they might not eat but in Jerusalem, (and before that within the camp of Israel, to which Jerusalem afterward was answerable,) were these,

1. The breast and shoulder of the peace offerings, Lev. vii. 31, 34.

2. The heave offering of the sacrifice of confession, Lev. vii. 12, 14.

3. The heave offering of the Nazarite’s ram, Numb. vi. 17, 20.

4. The firstling of the clean beast, Numb. xviii. 17, 18; Deut. xv. 19, 20.

5. The firstfruits, Numb. xviii. 13. The five things due from the land of Israel only, were, 1. The heave offering of firstfruits, Numb. xviii. 12. 2. The heave offering of the tithe, Numb. xviii. 28. 3. The cake, Numb. xv. 20. These three were holy. 4. The first of the fleece, Deut. xviii. 4. 5. The field of possession, Lev. xxvii. 22, 23. Both of these were common. The five things due to the priest, in every place, were these, 1. The gifts of the beasts slain, Deut. xviii. 3—5. 2. The redemption of the firstborn son, Numb. xviii. 15. 3. The firstling of the ass, Exod. xxxiv. 20; Numb. xviii. 15. 4. The restitution of that which is taken by rapine from a stranger. 5. The devoted things, Numb. xviii. 14. These five were common things in all respects.

The gift due unto them from the sanctuary was, The skin of the burnt offerings, Lev. vii. 8.

The gifts which the females had part in, as well as the males, were five,

1. The heave offering and firstfruits. 2. The heave offering of the tithe. 3. The cake. 4. The gifts of the beast. 5. The first of the fleece. Maimonides.

Chap. XIX. ver. 2. — a red heifer without spot.] The words, “without spot,” mean that the animal should be perfectly red, without one spot of any other colour. Dean Spencer. See Heb. ix. 13, 14.

— upon which never came yoke.] That is, which had never been employed in ploughing the ground or in any other work: for, according to the common sense of all mankind, those creatures, which had been made to serve other uses, became unfit to be offered to the Deity. We find this sentiment in Homer, and in other heathen writers. Bp. Patrick.

The law for the use of the water of separation. Before CHRIST about 1471. cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.