Numbers 18:24 kjv
But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
Numbers 18:24 nkjv
For the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer up as a heave offering to the LORD, I have given to the Levites as an inheritance; therefore I have said to them, 'Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.' "
Numbers 18:24 niv
Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the LORD. That is why I said concerning them: 'They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.'?"
Numbers 18:24 esv
For the tithe of the people of Israel, which they present as a contribution to the LORD, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. Therefore I have said of them that they shall have no inheritance among the people of Israel."
Numbers 18:24 nlt
because I have given them the Israelites' tithes, which have been presented as sacred offerings to the LORD. This will be the Levites' share. That is why I said they would receive no allotment of land among the Israelites."
Numbers 18 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 18:21 | "To the Levites I have given every tithe... in Israel... for their service." | Levites receive tithes for service. |
| Num 18:20 | "You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel." | God is the priestly/Levitical inheritance. |
| Deut 10:9 | "Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, as the LORD your God said to him." | Reiterates God as Levi's inheritance. |
| Deut 12:12 | "...and the Levite who is within your gates, because he has no portion or inheritance with you." | Emphasizes Levites' lack of land inheritance. |
| Deut 14:27 | "And you shall not neglect the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no portion or inheritance with you." | Command to care for the landless Levite. |
| Josh 13:33 | "But to the tribe of Levi, Moses gave no inheritance; the LORD God of Israel is their inheritance, just as he promised them." | Fulfillment of the command regarding Levi's land. |
| Josh 14:3 | "...but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them except cities..." | Cities for Levites, not tribal land. |
| Ezek 44:28 | "This shall be their inheritance: I am their inheritance: and you shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession." | Prophetic reaffirmation of priestly provision. |
| Lev 27:30-32 | "Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD's..." | Defines the nature of the tithe. |
| Mal 3:8-10 | "Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me... Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse..." | God's instruction regarding tithing. |
| Neh 10:37b-38 | "...and the tithes of our ground to the Levites, for the Levites are to receive the tithes in all the cities of our farming." | Israelite commitment to tithing. |
| Neh 13:10-12 | "...the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers... had fled..." | Consequence of neglecting Levitical support. |
| 1 Cor 9:13 | "Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?" | New Testament principle of ministerial support from Old Testament. |
| 1 Cor 9:14 | "In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel." | New Testament application for gospel ministers. |
| Gal 6:6 | "Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches." | Principle of supporting those who teach. |
| 1 Tim 5:17-18 | "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor... For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,' and 'The laborer deserves his wages.'" | Support for church leadership based on divine precedent. |
| Deut 14:22-29 | Outlines different tithes, including one for Levites and the poor. | Various types of tithing obligations. |
| Gen 28:22 | "...of all that you give me I will give a tenth to you." | Jacob's vow to tithe, showing ancient practice. |
| Heb 7:5 | "And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers..." | Confirms Levites received tithes under the Law. |
| Heb 7:8 | "In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by him of whom it is testified that he lives." | Compares Levitical priesthood with Christ's. |
Numbers 18 verses
Numbers 18 24 Meaning
Numbers 18:24 establishes the divine provision for the Levites. It declares that the tithe given by the Israelites to the LORD is specifically allocated to the Levites as their permanent inheritance. This arrangement directly corresponds with their exclusion from receiving any tribal land portion within Israel, signifying that God Himself, through the people's offerings, is their unique heritage and sustenance, enabling their dedicated service to the Tabernacle.
Numbers 18 24 Context
Numbers 18 is a pivotal chapter delineating the roles and provisions for the Levitical priesthood. Following the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (Numbers 16-17), which challenged Aaron's priesthood and the Levitical assignment, God reaffirmed His chosen structure. Chapter 18 explicitly sets out the duties of the priests (Aaron and his sons) and the Levites, clarifying their specific responsibilities in maintaining the Tabernacle. It also establishes their distinct financial and territorial provisions. Verse 24, therefore, serves as the cornerstone for the Levites' sustenance, solidifying God's intention that their full-time dedication to Tabernacle service would be supported directly by the tithes of the other tribes, in exchange for not participating in the distribution of tribal land inheritance in Canaan. This arrangement underscores the principle that their entire focus should be on the worship and service of the LORD, who Himself is their ultimate inheritance.
Numbers 18 24 Word analysis
- For the tithe (מַעֲשַׂר - ma'aser): Refers to the "tenth part." This was a mandatory agricultural and livestock offering from the produce of the land (Lev 27:30-32), dedicated to God. Its significance here is as the primary, stable provision for the Levites.
- of the children of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - benei Yisrael): Refers to the entire nation, emphasizing that this was a collective obligation from all twelve tribes, highlighting the mutual dependency within the covenant community.
- which they offer as a heave offering (תְּרוּמָה - terumah): While "terumah" literally means a "lifting up" or "contribution," often associated with priestly portions of specific offerings (Exod 25:2; Lev 7:14), here it denotes the act of setting apart or presenting the tithe as a consecrated offering to the LORD. It signifies a sacred portion distinctively set aside for divine purposes, though the tithe itself is distinct from the wave or heave offerings proper. It implies dedication and reverence in the giving.
- to the LORD (לַיהוה - la'YHWH): Points to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. It emphasizes that the tithe is not given to men, but fundamentally to God, who then designates it for His servants. This makes neglect of tithing a transgression against God directly (Mal 3:8-10).
- I have given (נָתַתִּי - natati): A strong declarative verb in the perfect tense, meaning "I have definitively given." It signifies God's direct, sovereign act of assigning the tithes, indicating His clear purpose and immutable decree regarding Levitical support.
- to the Levites (לַלְוִיִּם - la'Lvi'yim): Identifies the recipients—the entire tribe of Levi, chosen by God to minister in the Tabernacle. This contrasts with the specific priestly family of Aaron, who received portions of sacrifices.
- to inherit (לְנַחֲלָה - le'nachalah): Literally, "for an inheritance" or "as a possession." This is paradoxical and profound. While the Levites receive no land inheritance (Josh 14:3), God redefines their inheritance. Their divine service and the material support for that service are their portion, provided directly by the people as God's representative. It signifies a secure and perpetual provision.
- therefore I have said to them (עַל־כֵּן אָמַרְתִּי לָהֶם - al-ken amarti la'hem): "Therefore" shows a direct causal link. Because God gave them the tithe, He also commanded their lack of land inheritance. It highlights a deliberate, reciprocal divine policy.
- 'Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance' (בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא יִנְחָלוּ - be'tokh benei Yisrael lo yinhalu): Explicitly states their exclusion from the territorial land distribution given to the other tribes. This exclusion was not a curse but a unique privilege and calling (Num 18:20), freeing them from worldly entanglements to focus entirely on their sacred duties. They would dwell in scattered Levitical cities, not tribal blocs.
Numbers 18 24 Bonus section
The concept of "no inheritance" for the Levites underscored their unique consecrated status. While they had no territorial land, God did provide cities for them (Numbers 35), totaling 48 cities spread throughout the territories of the other tribes, including six cities of refuge. This allowed them to be distributed across Israel, serving as spiritual teachers and judges, a significant responsibility for the well-being of the nation. The arrangement also taught Israel about reliance on God for sustenance and the importance of supporting those who serve in ministry, setting a precedent that spans from the Old Covenant to the New, albeit with differing forms of fulfillment in Christ. This structure prefigured Christ, who, though Creator of all, likewise divested Himself of worldly possessions, focusing entirely on His divine mission.
Numbers 18 24 Commentary
Numbers 18:24 is a cornerstone verse articulating God's carefully planned economic and societal structure for Israel, centered on their worship. It solidifies the divine provision for the Levites, who were chosen from among the tribes for exclusive service in the Tabernacle. By assigning them the tithe as their "inheritance," God ensured their financial security and freedom from agricultural pursuits or land-based labor. This arrangement underscored their singular devotion to spiritual tasks—carrying the Tabernacle, assisting the priests, teaching the Law, and judging (Deut 33:10; 2 Chr 17:7-9).
The paradoxical phrasing, that they "inherit" the tithe precisely because they have "no inheritance" of land, highlights that their inheritance is divinely redefined. Their portion is not material real estate but direct sustenance from God through the generosity of His people. This established a critical symbiotic relationship: the people were commanded to faithfully give, and the Levites were enabled to faithfully serve, with God as the ultimate provider for both. This principle echoes throughout Scripture, notably in the New Testament's instruction for the financial support of those dedicated to full-time gospel ministry, allowing them to focus entirely on spiritual work without the burden of secular employment (1 Cor 9:14; 1 Tim 5:18). The Levites’ dedicated service was for the spiritual well-being of the entire nation, while the nation’s tithes were essential for the Levites’ physical well-being.