Numbers 18 5

Numbers 18:5 kjv

And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel.

Numbers 18:5 nkjv

And you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and the duties of the altar, that there may be no more wrath on the children of Israel.

Numbers 18:5 niv

"You are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar, so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites again.

Numbers 18:5 esv

And you shall keep guard over the sanctuary and over the altar, that there may never again be wrath on the people of Israel.

Numbers 18:5 nlt

"You yourselves must perform the sacred duties inside the sanctuary and at the altar. If you follow these instructions, the LORD's anger will never again blaze against the people of Israel.

Numbers 18 verses

Numbers 18 5 Meaning

Numbers 18:5 designates the specific and exclusive duty of Aaron and his sons, the priestly lineage, to guard and minister within the tabernacle, including the sanctuary and the altar. This command is established to prevent further divine judgment, or "wrath," from falling upon the Israelite community, thereby underscoring the sanctity of God's dwelling and the precise nature of access to Him. It reaffirms the established order for divine service and warns against unauthorized infringement.

Numbers 18 5 Context

Numbers chapter 18 defines the specific duties, responsibilities, and provisions for the priests (the sons of Aaron) and the Levites. This allocation of roles directly follows the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and the 250 chieftains (Numbers 16-17), which challenged Aaron's exclusive priestly authority and the divine appointment of the Levites. The dramatic sign of Aaron's budding staff solidified his lineage as the chosen priesthood. Numbers 18:5, therefore, serves as a direct command from God to the reinstated priestly house of Aaron, clarifying their unique function in "guarding" the sacred elements of the tabernacle. It reinforces the rigid boundaries between the sacred and the profane, and the exclusive nature of their mediatorial role, warning that failure to maintain these distinctions will result in divine wrath, akin to the recent judgments. Historically, this emphasizes YHWH's highly ordered and specific worship system, contrasting sharply with the more fluid or less restrictive access to deities often seen in surrounding pagan cultures.

Numbers 18 5 Word analysis

• So you shall keep guard: Hebrew: שָׁמַר (shamor), meaning to watch, preserve, keep, observe, guard, protect. It implies diligence and strict observance, not merely passive presence. This is an imperative command, conveying direct authority from God to Aaron and his sons, separating them distinctly from the rest of the Levites and the congregation. It signifies the weighty responsibility entrusted to the priests as stewards of God's holy dwelling and sacred items, ensuring no defilement or unauthorized access. This duty involves physical vigilance and spiritual adherence to the laws. Polemically, it stands against the idea that just anyone could approach YHWH, directly confronting practices where individuals might presume access to the divine without specific consecration.
• over the sanctuary: Hebrew: הַקֹּדֶשׁ (ha-qodesh), meaning the Holy Place, specifically referring to the inner sanctum of the Tabernacle (the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place). It encompasses all the holy vessels and furniture within it. The "sanctuary" represents God's immediate presence among His people, making its guarding of utmost importance for the integrity of their relationship with a holy God. Access was highly restricted, with only consecrated priests allowed, and even then, specific rituals and times (e.g., High Priest entering the Most Holy Place once a year).
• and over the altar: Hebrew: הַמִּזְבֵּחַ (ha-mizbeakh), referring to the Altar of Burnt Offering in the courtyard and sometimes, by extension, the Altar of Incense within the Holy Place. The altar was central to atonement and worship, where sacrifices were offered, mediating between God and man. Guarding it implies protecting the sacrificial system and ensuring it functions according to God's precise instructions. The act of tending the altar was dangerous if not done according to YHWH's command (e.g., Nadab and Abihu).
• that there may never again be wrath: Hebrew: קֶצֶף (qetsef), meaning rage, indignation, or divine displeasure leading to judgment, plague, or death. It describes the tangible consequence of violating God's holy boundaries. "Never again" highlights the immediacy of the recent divine judgments (Korah's rebellion, the plague in Num 16) and underscores the seriousness of maintaining boundaries to avert further similar visitations of wrath. It implies a direct cause-and-effect relationship between obedience to these rules and the well-being of the nation. This isn't an arbitrary punishment, but the holy God's necessary reaction to unholiness entering His sacred space.
• on the people of Israel: Signifies that the priests' failure in their duty directly impacts the entire community. Their role as guardians is for the corporate benefit and protection of the whole nation from divine judgment. This highlights the intercessionary aspect of the priesthood; their obedience protected the people. Conversely, their transgression jeopardized the entire community. The community was prohibited from unauthorized access; thus, the priests’ guardianship prevents the people from unwittingly or deliberately trespassing, leading to their demise.

• Words-group analysis: "So you shall keep guard over the sanctuary and over the altar": This phrase defines the specific mandate of the Aaronic priesthood: physical and ritual preservation of the sacred spaces and their appurtenances from unauthorized intrusion or defilement. It distinguishes the priests' sacred duty from the general Levite duties, emphasizing their exclusive access to the innermost holy areas. This stewardship ensures the integrity of the covenant relationship. "that there may never again be wrath on the people of Israel": This clause articulates the primary consequence and purpose of the priests' guarding duties. The divine wrath is a direct, recurring consequence of sacrilege or boundary violation, exemplified recently by Korah's rebellion. The priests' vigilance acts as a protective barrier, preventing the common Israelite from approaching what is too holy, thereby preserving the life and welfare of the entire nation. It places immense responsibility on the priestly house for the communal well-being, stressing that their diligent service directly averts national disaster.

Numbers 18 5 Bonus section

The concept of "wrath" (qetsef) here is profoundly tied to God's holiness. It is not an emotional outburst but a righteous judgment resulting from the violation of divine standards. The "keeping guard" by the priests (shamor) signifies maintaining separation between the holy and the common, which is a core theme in Leviticus and Numbers. This distinction was vital in Israel to educate them about God's nature and prepare them for a proper relationship with Him, highlighting the necessity of atonement and mediation. In the New Covenant, believers, while constituting a "royal priesthood," approach God not through a physical sanctuary or Levitical priests, but through the singular mediation and blood of Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the role of the High Priest and sacrificed Himself to remove wrath for those who believe. The "guarding" now shifts to guarding the truth of Christ, avoiding spiritual apostasy that could bring a different kind of divine judgment.

Numbers 18 5 Commentary

Numbers 18:5 stands as a foundational statement regarding the perpetual and exclusive priestly duties within Israel's covenant with YHWH. Following the profound demonstration of divine judgment against Korah and his followers for their presumption of priestly rights, this verse reinforces the critical boundaries surrounding the sacred space and its service. Aaron and his sons are singularly appointed to "keep guard," an active, vigilant role involving meticulous adherence to ceremonial law and strict prevention of unauthorized access. This duty encompassed both the physical Tabernacle and the altar, the central points of communion and atonement. The motivation for such rigid regulation is explicitly stated: to avert further "wrath" upon the Israelites. This divine wrath is not capricious, but a holy God's just response to the defilement of His dwelling or unauthorized intrusion into His sacred presence. The passage emphasizes that the priesthood acts as a crucial intermediary, their consecrated service safeguarding the entire community from the severe consequences of violating God's holiness. Ultimately, this underscores YHWH's absolute sovereignty over worship and the severe penalty for infringing upon His established order. This order points forward to the perfect Priesthood of Christ, who, by His single perfect offering, provided eternal access to God without wrath.