Numbers 18 8

Numbers 18:8 kjv

And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever.

Numbers 18:8 nkjv

And the LORD spoke to Aaron: "Here, I Myself have also given you charge of My heave offerings, all the holy gifts of the children of Israel; I have given them as a portion to you and your sons, as an ordinance forever.

Numbers 18:8 niv

Then the LORD said to Aaron, "I myself have put you in charge of the offerings presented to me; all the holy offerings the Israelites give me I give to you and your sons as your portion, your perpetual share.

Numbers 18:8 esv

Then the LORD spoke to Aaron, "Behold, I have given you charge of the contributions made to me, all the consecrated things of the people of Israel. I have given them to you as a portion and to your sons as a perpetual due.

Numbers 18:8 nlt

The LORD gave these further instructions to Aaron: "I myself have put you in charge of all the holy offerings that are brought to me by the people of Israel. I have given all these consecrated offerings to you and your sons as your permanent share.

Numbers 18 verses

Numbers 18 8 Meaning

This verse declares God's explicit provision for Aaron and his sons, the consecrated priests of Israel. God grants them a perpetual portion of all "heave offerings" and "holy gifts" presented by the children of Israel. This provision is divinely sanctioned, tied directly to their anointing—their sacred consecration for priestly service—and is established as an enduring, perpetual ordinance for their descendants. It emphasizes their exclusive right to these offerings as a consequence of their unique calling and holiness before the Lord, ensuring their sustenance for faithful service without land inheritance.

Numbers 18 8 Context

Numbers chapter 18 defines the specific responsibilities and provisions for the Aaronic priesthood and the Levites, who serve in the tabernacle. This declaration comes immediately after the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (Numbers 16), which challenged Aaron's exclusive right to the priesthood, resulting in divine judgment and Aaron's staff blooming (Numbers 17) as proof of God's chosen leader. Chapter 18 then clarifies the division of labor between the Levites (assisting priests) and the priests (Aaronic line, directly handling sacred objects and offerings). Verse 8, specifically, details the portion of the offerings God sets aside for Aaron and his sons, directly addressing their sustenance in exchange for their dedicated, consecrated service. Historically, priests had no land inheritance like other tribes, ensuring their complete devotion to temple service, and this verse outlines God's established method for their sustenance through the worship system of Israel.

Numbers 18 8 Word analysis

• "And I, behold, I have given you": A powerful, emphatic declaration by God (the speaker, Yahweh). The Hebrew, "וַאֲנִי הִנֵּה נָתַתִּי" (va'ani hinneh natati), emphasizes God's direct, personal action and sovereign initiative. "Behold" (הִנֵּה, hinneh) draws immediate attention to the pronouncement's significance and irrevocability. This is not a human decision but a divine decree.

• "the charge of My heave offerings": "Charge" (מִשְׁמֶרֶת, mishmeret) denotes responsibility, custody, or keeping. It implies not only receipt but also administration. "Heave offerings" (תְּרוּמָה, terumah) are literally things "lifted off" or "set apart" from the whole as a consecrated portion. They represent contributions made directly to God, specifically for His sanctuary and those who minister there. These were often prime portions, reflecting Israel's acknowledgment that their abundance came from God and a part of it was due to Him and His servants.

• "all the holy gifts": "Holy gifts" (קָדָשִׁים, qadashim) refers to things that are "set apart" or "sacred." This is a broader category than terumah and encompasses all types of dedicated offerings or consecrated items, highlighting their divine ownership and the priests' sacred custody over them. This underlines the sanctity of their provision—it is from holy things for holy purposes by holy people.

• "of the children of Israel": This specifies the source of the offerings: the worshipping community of Israel. It ties the provision directly to the regular practice of Israelite worship, showing God's established means of supporting His priesthood through the people's acts of devotion.

• "unto you have I given them by reason of the anointing": The phrase "by reason of the anointing" (לְמָשְׁחָה, le-mishḥah) is crucial. Mishḥah refers to the anointing oil and, by extension, the act of anointing and the consecrated state it confers. This provision is not merely an entitlement but a direct consequence and sign of the priests' unique divine consecration and separation for sacred service. Their anointing distinguished them and empowered them to act on behalf of God and the people. It signifies their divine legitimacy, crucial especially after Korah's rebellion.

• "and to your sons": Emphasizes the hereditary nature of the Aaronic priesthood. The privileges and responsibilities are passed down through the priestly lineage.

• "by an ordinance forever": "Ordinance" (חֻקַּת, ḥuqat) means a statute, decree, or prescribed regulation. "Forever" (עוֹלָם, olam) implies perpetuity, lastingness, or for an age. This signifies that the divine provision for the priests is a permanent and established decree as long as the old covenant system endured. It underscored God's faithfulness to His covenant and His sustained support for those consecrated to His service within that covenant framework. It prefigures the lasting provision God makes for His people and ministers under the New Covenant in a new way.

Numbers 18 8 Bonus section

The context of this passage, immediately following Korah's rebellion, highlights a significant polemical undertone. By clearly stating "unto you have I given them by reason of the anointing," God unequivocally shuts down any challenge to the legitimacy of the Aaronic priesthood. The anointing (or the priesthood derived from it) becomes the ultimate identifier of those truly separated and empowered by God, in stark contrast to self-appointed religious leaders. This specific divine decree also acted as a vital safeguard for the priests, guaranteeing their sustenance irrespective of fluctuating congregational support or the distribution of land, emphasizing that their livelihoods derived directly from their unique covenant relationship with Yahweh and His provisions for the Tabernacle service.

Numbers 18 8 Commentary

Numbers 18:8 stands as a profound declaration of divine order and provision within ancient Israel. Following the grave challenge to Aaron's authority, God re-establishes and clarifies the roles and privileges of the priesthood. The essence of the verse lies in God's unilateral action ("I, behold, I have given you"), demonstrating that the priesthood's authority and sustenance were divinely instituted, not humanly derived or negotiable.

The "heave offerings" and "holy gifts" represent God's chosen means of support for His consecrated servants, reflecting the principle that those who minister in the sanctuary should be sustained by the sanctuary. This was vital because the priests, unlike other tribes, received no land inheritance; their inheritance was Yahweh Himself and the offerings brought to Him. This arrangement ensured their singular devotion to service, free from the cares of agriculture or commerce.

The linchpin of their entitlement is the phrase "by reason of the anointing." This sacred oil represented divine consecration and endowment for ministry. Their provision was not merely charity, but a right intrinsically tied to their sacred status and specific calling. The anointing set them apart as holy and exclusive recipients of these portions, emphasizing the boundary between sacred and profane.

The declaration that this provision is "by an ordinance forever" speaks to God's enduring commitment and faithfulness to His covenant with the Aaronic line. While the Aaronic priesthood found its ultimate fulfillment and change in Christ (Hebrews 7), this 'forever' signifies the immutable principle of God's faithful provision for those consecrated to His service. It also means that for the duration of the old covenant economy, this statute was to be upheld by Israel. Spiritually, it continues to teach that God Himself sustains His ministers.

This verse offers spiritual lessons: those whom God calls and anoints for specific service are those He also commits to sustain. Their provision comes directly from Him, often through the "offerings" or generosity of the people they serve. It underscores that ministry is a calling to be upheld by divine decree and communal participation, freeing ministers to focus on spiritual service rather than material concerns.

• Example: A minister who dedicates their life fully to the Lord's service trusts God for provision, recognizing that their "inheritance" is God, and that God works through the church body to sustain them (like priests receiving from the people's offerings).
• Example: Tithing in a Christian context often supports ministry, reflecting the principle of community provision for those consecrated to full-time spiritual work.