Numbers 18 25

Numbers 18:25 kjv

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Numbers 18:25 nkjv

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Numbers 18:25 niv

The LORD said to Moses,

Numbers 18:25 esv

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Numbers 18:25 nlt

The LORD also told Moses,

Numbers 18 verses

Numbers 18 25 Meaning

Numbers 18:25 reveals God's directive to Moses concerning the Levites, instructing them to give a dedicated offering from the tithes they receive from the Israelites. This specific offering, called a "heave offering," must amount to "a tithe of the tithe," meaning one-tenth of the tithes they themselves receive. This command highlights the principle that even those who serve God and are supported by His provision must in turn acknowledge His ultimate ownership and honor Him by giving back a portion.

Numbers 18 25 Context

Numbers chapter 18 defines the specific roles, duties, and provisions for the Levitical tribe, particularly separating the Aaronic priesthood from the general Levites. After highlighting the severe consequences of encroaching on priestly duties (Numbers 16-17, Korah's rebellion), this chapter emphasizes the sacred boundaries and responsibilities within the Tabernacle service. God instructs that the Levites are to receive the tithes from all other Israelites as their inheritance, since they were consecrated to perform the sacred service of the Tabernacle and thus received no land inheritance in Canaan. This verse (18:25) specifically introduces a further layer of giving: the Levites, who receive these tithes, are themselves required to offer a tenth of what they receive to the priests. This establishes a hierarchy of giving and ensures that every class, even those serving God directly, remains accountable and acknowledges God as the ultimate provider and owner of all.

Numbers 18 25 Word analysis

• "Speak to the Levites": דַּבֵּר אֶל־הַלְוִיִּם (daber el-ha-Lewiyyim).

  • Speak (דַּבֵּר, daber): A strong command, indicative of direct divine instruction and not merely an suggestion. Emphasizes the authority behind the law.
  • Levites (הַלְוִיִּם, ha-Lewiyyim): The tribe designated by God for service in the Tabernacle. They are the recipients of the national tithe. This directive specifically addresses them, indicating their unique position and corresponding unique responsibility.

• "When you receive from the Israelites": כִּי־תִקְחוּ מֵאֵת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל (ki-tiqḥu me'et b'nei-Yisra'el).

  • Receive (תִקְחוּ, tiqḥu): To take, to acquire. It implies active acceptance of the provision. This provision is not for them to accumulate as personal wealth, but as resources for their sustenance and service.
  • Israelites (בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל, b'nei-Yisra'el): "Sons of Israel," referring to the broader community, the other eleven tribes. This distinguishes the source of the tithe that the Levites receive.

• "the tithe that I have given you from them": אֶת־הַמַּעֲשֵׂר אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי לָכֶם מֵאִתָּם (et-ha-ma'aser asher natati lakhem me'itam).

  • Tithe (מַעֲשֵׂר, ma'aser): A tenth part. This is the main national tithe. The repetition highlights its central role in the Levitical economy.
  • I have given (נָתַתִּי, natati): Emphasizes divine provision. God Himself is the ultimate grantor, making this provision sacred and implying responsibility in its handling. This gift to the Levites is a trust from God, not an entitlement from man.

• "for your inheritance": נַחֲלָה (nachalah).

  • Inheritance (nachalah): Their rightful possession or portion. Crucial term. Unlike other tribes who received land, the Levites' inheritance was their service to the Lord and the material support for that service (the tithes). This contrasts sharply with typical inheritance practices of land, underscoring their unique separation for holy service.

• "you shall present a heave offering from it to the Lord": וַהֲרֵמֹתֶם מִמֶּנּוּ תְּרוּמַת יְהוָה (va'harimotem mimennu terumat Yahweh).

  • Present (וַהֲרֵמֹתֶם, va'harimotem): To lift up, set apart, to elevate. This act of presenting signified dedication and holiness. It wasn't merely a transaction but a consecrated act of worship.
  • Heave offering (תְּרוּמָה, terumah): A designated portion of goods or produce "lifted up" and offered to God. It was a portion that belonged to God, specifically for the priests.
  • Lord (יְהוָה, Yahweh): God's covenant name. Reinforces that this command is from the sovereign God of Israel and dedicated to Him.

• "a tithe of the tithe": מַעֲשַׂר מִן־הַמַּעֲשֵׂר (ma'asar min-ha-ma'aser).

  • A tithe of the tithe: This specific phrasing is paramount. It's not a portion from the Levites' earnings (as they had none apart from the tithes) but a portion from the tithes themselves. It establishes a system of proportional giving that includes all beneficiaries of God's provision, reinforcing the principle of God's ultimate ownership and every individual's obligation to give back from what they receive from Him. This is often called the "second tithe" or "Levitical tithe" given by the Levites to the priests.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "When you receive...you shall present": This phrase structure (a conditional clause followed by a direct command) signifies that the act of giving back is directly tied to the act of receiving. It highlights immediate accountability; receiving necessitates giving.
  • "the tithe that I have given you from them for your inheritance": This powerful statement establishes the divine origin and sacred nature of the Levites' provision. It prevents them from viewing the tithes as a secular income or mere wages, but rather as a divine trust for specific holy service.
  • "a heave offering...a tithe of the tithe": This exact specification emphasizes the precise nature of God's commands. It signifies that even a "portion of a portion" is required, reinforcing the idea that no one is exempt from tithing or offering. It sets a precedent that spiritual leaders are also accountable to God's law regarding generosity and stewardship. This practice indirectly acted as a polemic against any notion that their "holy status" would exempt them from contributing.

Numbers 18 25 Bonus section

The "tithe of the tithe" (1% of the original produce) for the Levites was given directly to the High Priest and his descendants for their service, as explicitly stated in Numbers 18:28. This further highlights the layered structure of the Tabernacle economy: the people supported the Levites, and the Levites in turn supported the priests. This principle emphasizes that divine blessings are not just for personal consumption but also to enable further giving and service within God's purposes. The Levites’ tithe was considered an "offering of grain from the threshing floor and as the fullness of the winepress" (Num 18:27), implying it was to be the very best of what they received, just as the Israelites' tithe was expected to be. This requirement established that regardless of one's sacred calling or position, the fundamental act of honoring God through giving is universal.

Numbers 18 25 Commentary

Numbers 18:25 encapsulates a foundational principle of stewardship and accountability within God's covenant community. Having established that the Levites were set apart for service and thus denied a territorial inheritance, God Himself directly provided for their sustenance through the national tithe. However, this verse reveals that receiving God's provision comes with its own divine mandate: even the Levites, who ministered in the Tabernacle and were supported by others' offerings, were required to make an offering themselves. The "tithe of the tithe" (a tenth of what they received) was a "heave offering" to the Lord, to be given to the priests (as clarified in Num 18:28).

This command underscores several crucial points: Firstly, it confirms God's ultimate ownership of all things; even what is dedicated to His servants (the first tithe) is still fundamentally His. The Levites were not absolute owners of the tithes but custodians. Secondly, it teaches accountability to all levels of God's appointed leadership. The very people entrusted with collecting and using Israel's offerings were themselves subject to God's command to give, ensuring humility and preventing spiritual pride or perceived exemption. Thirdly, it solidified the structure of support for the priesthood, who bore the direct responsibility for altar ministry. It ensured that resources flowed through proper channels, ultimately enabling the full sacred service. This system demonstrated God's meticulous care for the practical and spiritual well-being of His people and their spiritual leaders.