Numbers 18

1 bear the iniquity. i.e., the punishment of the iniquity. The priests were to be answerable for any irregularities in discharging the duties of the sanctuary. These commands were given with renewed strictness, that the priests and Levites might be on the watch to prevent future danger; as well as to remind both them and the people that the honour of their ministry was attended with corresponding responsibility.

2 tabernacle of witness. i.e., “tent of the Testimony” (R.V.).

8 hallowed things. The priests had no share at all of the land, and the Levites had little besides their cities; an arrangement obviously intended to keep up their peculiar position in the community. The Levites, however, had a tithe of the produce, out of which they set apart one-tenth for the priests. The priests had also reserves from the various offerings; some being shared among them all, and some appropriated to those who were actually on service,—by reason of the anointing.

Rather (as R.V. marg.), “for a portion of the anointing,” i.e., of the priesthood.

11 every one that is clean. These offerings, like the tithes (ver. 31), were thus distinguished from the “most holy” things belonging to the priests, which might only be eaten by the priests themselves in the most holy place (ver. 10).

19 salt. A “covenant of salt” signifies an everlasting covenant (see 2 Chron. xiii. 5); probably in reference to the preserving quality of salt. (Matt. v. 13; Mark ix. 50; Col. iv. 6. Every meat offering was seasoned with salt (Lev. ii. 13).)