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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>N U M B E R S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XVIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Aaron being now fully established in the priesthood abundantly to his
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own satisfaction, and to the satisfaction of the people (which was the
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good that God brought out of the evil opposition made to him), in this
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chapter God gives him full instructions concerning his office or rather
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repeats those which he had before given him. He tells him,
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I. What must be his work and the care and charge committed to him, and
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what assistance he should have the Levites in that work,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:1-7">ver. 1-7</A>.
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II. What should be his and the Levites' wages for this work.
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1. The perquisites or fees peculiar to the priests,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:8-19">ver. 8-19</A>.
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2. The settled maintenance of the Levites,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:20-24">ver. 20-24</A>.
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III. The portion which must be paid to the priests out of the Levites'
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maintenance,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:25-32">ver. 25-32</A>.
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Thus every one knew what he had to do, and what he had to live
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upon.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Nu18_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Service of the Priests and Levites.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1490.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy
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father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the
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sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the
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iniquity of your priesthood.
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2 And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy
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father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee,
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and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee <I>shall
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minister</I> before the tabernacle of witness.
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3 And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the
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tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the
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sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.
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4 And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of
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the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the
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tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.
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5 And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge
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of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children
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of Israel.
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6 And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from
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among the children of Israel: to you <I>they are</I> given <I>as</I> a gift
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for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, to do the service of the tabernacle of the
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congregation.
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7 Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your
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priest's office for every thing of the altar, and within the
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vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office <I>unto
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you</I> as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh
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shall be put to death.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The coherence of this chapter with that foregoing is very
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observable.</P>
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<P>
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I. The people, in the close of that chapter, had complained of the
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difficulty and peril that there were in drawing near to God, which put
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them under some dreadful apprehensions that the tabernacle in the midst
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of them, which they hoped would have been their joy and glory, would
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rather be their terror and ruin. Now, in answer to this complaint, God
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here gives them to understand by Aaron that the priests should come
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near for them as their representatives; so that, though the people were
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obliged to keep their distance, yet that should not at all redound to
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their disgrace or prejudice, but their comfortable communion with God
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should be kept up by the interposition of the priests.</P>
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<P>
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II. A great deal of honour God had now lately put upon Aaron; his rod
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had budded and blossomed, when the rods of the rest of the princes
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remained dry, and destitute both of fruit and ornament. Now lest Aaron
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should be puffed up with the abundance of the favours that were done
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him, and the miracles that were wrought for the support of him in his
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high station, God comes to him to remind him of the burden that was
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laid upon him, and the duty required from him as a priest. He would see
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reason not to be proud of his preferment, but to receive the honours of
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his office with reverence and holy trembling, when he considered how
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great was the charge committed to him, and how hard it would be for him
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to give a good account of it. <I>Be not high-minded, but fear.</I></P>
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<P>
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1. God tells him of the danger that attended his dignity,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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(1.) That both the priests and Levites (<I>thou, and thy sons, and thy
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father's house</I>) should <I>bear the iniquity of the sanctuary;</I>
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that is, if the sanctuary were profaned by the intrusion of strangers,
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or persons in their uncleanness, the blame should lie upon the Levites
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and priests, who ought to have kept them off. Though the sinner that
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thrust in presumptuously should die in his iniquity, yet his blood
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should be required at the hands of the watchmen. Or it may be taken
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more generally: "If any of the duties or offices of the sanctuary be
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neglected, if any service be not done in its season or not according to
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the law, if any thing be lost or misplaced in the removal of the
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sanctuary, you shall be accountable for it, and answer it at your
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peril."
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(2.) That the priests should themselves <I>bear the iniquity of the
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priesthood;</I> that is, if they either neglected any part of their
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work or permitted any other persons to invade their office, and take
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their work out of their hands, they should bear the blame of it. Note,
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The greater the trust is of work and power that is committed to us the
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greater is our danger of contracting guilt, by falsifying and betraying
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that trust. This is a good reason why we should neither be envious at
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others' honours nor ambitious ourselves of high places, because great
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dignity exposes us to great iniquity. Those that are entrusted with the
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charge of the sanctuary will have a great deal to answer for. Who
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would covet the care of souls who considers the account that must be
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given of that care?</P>
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<P>
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2. He tells him of the duty that attended his dignity.
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(1.) That he and his sons must <I>minister before the tabernacle of
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witness</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>);
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that is (as bishop Patrick explains it), <I>before the most holy
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place,</I> in which the ark was, on the outside of the veil of that
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tabernacle, but within the door of the tabernacle, of the congregation.
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They were to attend the golden altar, the table, and candlestick, which
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no Levite might approach to. <I>You shall serve,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Not, "You shall rule" (it was never intended that they should lord it
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over God's heritage), but "You shall serve God and the congregation."
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Note, The priesthood is a service. <I>If any desire the office of a
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bishop he desires a good work.</I> Ministers must remember that they
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are ministers, that is, servants, of whom it is required that they be
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humble, diligent, and faithful.
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(2.) That the Levites must assist him and his sons, and minister to
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them in all the <I>service of the tabernacle</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:2-4"><I>v.</I> 2-4</A>),
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though they must by no means come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary,
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nor at the altar meddle with the great services of burning the fat and
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sprinkling the blood. Aaron's family was very small, and, as it
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increased, the rest of the families of Israel would increase likewise,
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so that the hands of the priests neither were now nor were likely to be
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sufficient for all the service of the tabernacle; therefore (says God)
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<I>the Levites shall be joined to thee,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>,
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and again
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>,
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where there seems to be an allusion to the name of Levi, which
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signifies <I>joined.</I> Many of the Levites had of late set themselves
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against Aaron, but henceforward God promises that they should be
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heartily joined to him in interest and affection, and should no more
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contest with him. It was a good sign to Aaron that God owned him when
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he inclined the hearts of those concerned to own him too. The Levites
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are said to be given as a gift to the priests,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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Note, We are to value it as a great gift of the divine bounty to have
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those joined to us that will be helpful and serviceable to us in the
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service of God.
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(3.) That both priests and Levites must carefully watch against the
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profanation of sacred things. The Levites must <I>keep the charge of
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the tabernacle,</I> that <I>no stranger</I> (that is, none who upon any
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account was forbidden to come) might <I>come nigh</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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and that upon pain of death,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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And the priests must <I>keep the charge of the sanctuary</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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must instruct the people, and admonish them concerning the due distance
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they were to keep, and not suffer them to break the bounds set them, as
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Korah's company had done, that there be <I>no wrath any more upon the
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children of Israel.</I> Note, The preventing of sin is the preventing
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of wrath; and the mischief sin has done should be a warning to us for
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the future to watch against it both in ourselves and others.</P>
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<A NAME="Nu18_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_19"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>8 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee
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the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of
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the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of
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the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever.
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9 This shall be thine of the most holy things, <I>reserved</I> from
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the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of
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theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass
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offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, <I>shall be</I>
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most holy for thee and for thy sons.
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10 In the most holy <I>place</I> shalt thou eat it; every male shall
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eat it: it shall be holy unto thee.
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11 And this <I>is</I> thine; the heave offering of their gift, with
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all the wave offerings of the children of Israel: I have given
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them unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee,
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by a statute for ever: every one that is clean in thy house shall
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eat of it.
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12 All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and
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of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, them have I given thee.
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13 <I>And</I> whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall
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bring unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, shall be thine; every one that is clean in
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thine house shall eat <I>of</I> it.
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14 Every thing devoted in Israel shall be thine.
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15 Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they
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bring unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, <I>whether it be</I> of men or beasts, shall be
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thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely
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redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.
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16 And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt
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thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five
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shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which <I>is</I> twenty
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gerahs.
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17 But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or
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the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they <I>are</I> holy:
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thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn
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their fat <I>for</I> an offering made by fire, for a sweet savour unto
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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18 And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave breast and
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as the right shoulder are thine.
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19 All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the
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children of Israel offer unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, have I given thee, and
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thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it
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<I>is</I> a covenant of salt for ever before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> unto thee and to
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thy seed with thee.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The priest's service is called a <I>warfare;</I> and who goes a warfare
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at his own charges? As they were well employed, so they were well
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provided for, and well paid. None shall serve God for nought. All
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believers are spiritual priests, and God has promised to take care of
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them; they shall <I>dwell in the land,</I> and <I>verily they shall be
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fed,</I> and shall not <I>want any good thing.</I> Godliness has the
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<I>promise of the life that now is.</I> And from this plentiful
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provision here made for the priests the apostle infers that it is the
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duty of Christian churches to maintain their ministers; those that
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<I>served at the altar lived upon the altar.</I> So those that preach
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the gospel should <I>live upon the gospel,</I> and live comfortably,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+9:13,14">1 Cor. ix. 13, 14</A>.
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Scandalous maintenance makes scandalous ministers. Now observe,
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1. That much of the provision that was made for them arose out of the
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sacrifices which they themselves were employed to offer. They had the
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skins of almost all the sacrifices, which they might sell, and they had
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a considerable share out of the meat-offerings, sin-offerings, &c.
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Those that had the charge of the offerings had the benefit,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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Note, God's work is its own wages, and his service carries its
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recompence along with it. Even in keeping God's commandments there is
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great reward. The present pleasures of religion are part of its pay.
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2. That they had not only a good table kept for them, but money
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likewise in their pockets for the redemption of the first-born, and
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those firstlings of cattle which might not be offered in sacrifice.
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Thus their maintenance was such as left them altogether <I>disentangled
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from the affairs of this life;</I> they had no grounds to occupy, no
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land to till, no vineyards to dress, no cattle to tend, no visible
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estate to take care of, and yet had a more plentiful income than any
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other families whatsoever. Thus God ordered it that they might be the
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more entirely addicted to their ministry, and not diverted from it, nor
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disturbed in it, by any worldly care or business (the ministry requires
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a whole man); and that they might be examples of living by faith, not
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only in God's providence, but in his ordinance. They lived from hand to
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mouth, that they might learn to take no thought for the morrow;
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sufficient for the day would be the provision thereof: and they had no
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estates to leave their children, that they might by faith leave their
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children, that they might by faith leave them to the care of that God
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who had <I>fed them all their lives long.</I>
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3. Of the provision that was made for their tables some is said to be
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<I>most holy</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:9,10"><I>v.</I> 9, 10</A>),
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which was to be eaten by the priests themselves, and in the court of
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the tabernacle only; but other perquisites were less holy, of which
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their families might eat, at their own houses, provided they were
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clean,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:11-13"><I>v.</I> 11-13</A>.
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See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+21:10-12">Lev. xxi. 10</A>, &c.
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4. It is commanded that the <I>best of the oil,</I> and <I>the best of
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the wine and wheat,</I> should be offered for the <I>first-fruits unto
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the Lord,</I> which the priest were to have,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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Note, We must always serve and honour God with the best we have, for he
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is the best, and best deserves it; he is the first, and therefore must
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have the first ripe. Those that think to save charges by putting God
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off with the refuse do but deceive themselves, for <I>God is not
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mocked.</I>
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5. All this is given to the priests <I>by reason of the anointing,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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It was not for the sake of their personal merits above other Israelites
|
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that they had these tributes paid to them, be it known unto them; but
|
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purely for the sake of the office to which they were anointed. Thus all
|
|
the comforts that are given to the Lord's people are given them by
|
|
reason of the anointing which they have received. It is said to be
|
|
given them <I>by an ordinance for ever</I>
|
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
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and it is a <I>covenant of salt for ever,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
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As long as the priesthood should continue this should continue to be
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the maintenance of it, that this lamp might not go out for want of oil
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|
to keep it burning. Thus provision is made that a gospel ministry
|
|
should continue till Christ comes, by an ordinance for ever. <I>Lo, I
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|
am with you</I> (that is their maintenance and support) <I>always, even
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to the end of the world.</I> Thanks be to the Redeemer, it is the word
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which he has <I>commanded to a thousand generations.</I></P>
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<A NAME="Nu18_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_25"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_26"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_27"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_28"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_29"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_30"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_31"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu18_32"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Priests and Levites Provided For.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1490.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>20 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no
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inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among
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|
them: I <I>am</I> thy part and thine inheritance among the children of
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Israel.
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21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth
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in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve,
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<I>even</I> the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
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22 Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the
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tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.
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23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of
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|
the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: <I>it shall
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|
be</I> a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among
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the children of Israel they have no inheritance.
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24 But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer
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<I>as</I> an heave offering unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, I have given to the Levites
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|
to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children
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|
of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
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|
25 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses, saying,
|
|
26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take
|
|
of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from
|
|
them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave
|
|
offering of it for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, <I>even</I> a tenth <I>part</I> of the tithe.
|
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27 And <I>this</I> your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you,
|
|
as though <I>it were</I> the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the
|
|
fulness of the winepress.
|
|
28 Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> of
|
|
all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and
|
|
ye shall give thereof the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s heave offering to Aaron the
|
|
priest.
|
|
29 Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of
|
|
the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, of all the best thereof, <I>even</I> the hallowed part
|
|
thereof out of it.
|
|
30 Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the
|
|
best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites
|
|
as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the
|
|
winepress.
|
|
31 And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households:
|
|
for it <I>is</I> your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the
|
|
congregation.
|
|
32 And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have
|
|
heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy
|
|
things of the children of Israel, lest ye die.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
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|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is a further account of the provision that was made both for the
|
|
Levites and for the priests, out of the country.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. They must have <I>no inheritance in the land;</I> only cities to
|
|
dwell in were afterwards allowed them, but no ground to occupy: <I>Thou
|
|
shalt not have any part among them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is repeated again
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>,
|
|
|
|
and again
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance,</I>
|
|
either by purchase or descent. God would have them comfortably provided
|
|
for, but would not have their families over-rich, lest they should
|
|
think themselves above that work which their wages supposed and obliged
|
|
them constantly to attend upon. As Israel was a peculiar people, and
|
|
not to be numbered among the nations, so Levi was a peculiar tribe, and
|
|
not to be settled as the rest of the tribes, but in all respects
|
|
distinguished from them. A good reason is given why they must have
|
|
<I>no inheritance in the land,</I> for, says God, <I>I am thy part, and
|
|
thy inheritance.</I> Note, Those that have God for their inheritance
|
|
and their portion for ever ought to look with a holy contempt and
|
|
indifference upon the inheritances of this world, and not covet their
|
|
portion in it. "<I>The Lord is my portion, therefore will I hope in
|
|
him,</I> and not depend upon any thing I have on this earth,"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=La+3:24">Lam. iii. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
The Levites shall have no inheritance, and yet they shall live very
|
|
comfortably and plentifully--to teach us that Providence has various
|
|
ways of supporting those that live in a dependence upon it; the fowls
|
|
reap not, and yet are fed, the lilies spin not, and yet are clothed,
|
|
the Levites have no inheritance in Israel, and yet live better than any
|
|
other tribe. The repetition of that caution, that <I>no Israelite
|
|
should approach the tabernacle,</I> comes in suitable, though somewhat
|
|
abruptly,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
It seems set in opposition to that order concerning the priests and
|
|
Levites that they should have <I>no inheritance in Israel,</I> to show
|
|
how God dispenses his favours variously. The Levites have the honour of
|
|
attending the tabernacle, which is denied the Israelites; but then the
|
|
Israelites have the honour of inheritances in Canaan, which is denied
|
|
the Levites; thus each is kept from either envying or despising the
|
|
other, and both have reason to rejoice in their lot. The Israelites
|
|
must not <I>come nigh the tabernacle,</I> but then the Levites must
|
|
have <I>no inheritance in the land;</I> if ministers expect that people
|
|
should keep in their sphere, and not intermeddle with sacred offices,
|
|
let them keep in theirs, and not entangle themselves in secular
|
|
affairs.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. But they must both have tithes of the land. Besides the
|
|
first-fruits which were appropriated to the priests, which, the Jews
|
|
say, were to be a fiftieth part, or at least a sixtieth, the tithe also
|
|
was appropriated.
|
|
|
|
1. The Levites had the tithes of the people's increase
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>I have given</I> (whose the whole is) <I>all the tenths in
|
|
Israel,</I> of all the productions of the land, to <I>the children of
|
|
Levi,</I> to be divided among them in just proportions, <I>for their
|
|
service which they serve.</I> The Levites were the smallest tribe of
|
|
the twelve, and yet, besides all other advantages, they had a tenth
|
|
part of the yearly profits, without the trouble and expense of
|
|
ploughing and sowing; such care did God take of those that were devoted
|
|
to his service; not only that they might be well maintained, but that
|
|
they might be honoured with a national acknowledgment of the good
|
|
services they did to the public, and owned as God's agents and
|
|
receivers; for that which was a heave-offering, or an offering lifted
|
|
heavenward unto the Lord, was by him consigned to the Levites.
|
|
|
|
2. The priests had the tenths of the Levites' tithes settled upon them.
|
|
The order for this Moses is directed to give to the Levites, whom God
|
|
would have to pay it with cheerfulness, rather than the priests to
|
|
demand it with authority: <I>Speak to the Levites</I> that it be
|
|
<I>offered by them,</I> rather than levied upon them. Now observe,
|
|
|
|
(1.) The Levites were to give God his dues out of their tithes, as well
|
|
as the Israelites out of their increase. They were God's tenants, and
|
|
rent was expected from them, nor were they exempted by their office.
|
|
Thus now, ministers must be charitable out of what they receive; and
|
|
the more freely they have received the more freely they must give, and
|
|
be examples of liberality. <I>You shall offer a heave-offering to the
|
|
Lord,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those that are employed to assist the devotions of others must be sure
|
|
to pay their own, as a heave-offering to the Lord. Prayers and praises
|
|
lifted up to God, or rather the heart lifted up in them, are now our
|
|
heave-offerings. This (says God) shall be <I>reckoned to you as though
|
|
it were the corn of the threshing-floor;</I> that is, though it was not
|
|
the fruit of their ground, nor of their own labour, as the tithes of
|
|
other Israelites were, yet being of such as they had it should be
|
|
accepted, to the sanctifying of all the rest.
|
|
|
|
(2.) This was to be given <I>to Aaron the priest</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>),
|
|
|
|
and to his successors the high priests, to be divided and disposed of
|
|
in such proportions as they should think fit among the inferior
|
|
priests. Most of the profits of the priests' office, which were
|
|
appointed in the former part of the chapter, arising from the
|
|
sacrifices, those priests had the benefit of who constantly attended at
|
|
the altar; but, forasmuch as there were many priests employed in the
|
|
country to teach and rule, those tithes taken by the Levites, it is
|
|
probable, were directed by the high priest for their maintenance. It is
|
|
the probable conjecture of the learned bishop Patrick that the tenth of
|
|
this last tenth was reserved for the high priest himself, to support
|
|
his state and dignity; for otherwise we read not of any peculiar
|
|
provision made for him.
|
|
|
|
(3.) When the Levites had thus paid the tenth of their income, as a
|
|
heave-offering to the Lord, they had themselves the comfortable
|
|
enjoyment of the other nine parts
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>):
|
|
|
|
"When you have thus <I>heaved the best from it</I> (for still God's
|
|
part must be the best) then you shall <I>eat the rest,</I> not as a
|
|
holy thing, but with the same freedom that the other Israelites eat
|
|
their part with, <I>in every place, you and your households,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>.
|
|
|
|
See here what is the way to have the comfort of all our worldly
|
|
possessions so as to bear no sin by reason of them, as it follows,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+18:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>.
|
|
|
|
[1.] We must be sure that what we have be got honestly and in the
|
|
service of God. It is <I>your reward for your service;</I> that meat is
|
|
the best eating that is first earned; but, if any <I>will not work,
|
|
neither shall he eat,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+3:10">2 Thess. iii. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
And that seems to be spoken of as having a particular comfort and
|
|
satisfaction in it which is the reward of faithful service done in the
|
|
tabernacle of the congregation.
|
|
|
|
[2.] We must be sure that God has his dues out of it. Then we have the
|
|
comfort of our substance when we have honoured the Lord with it. The
|
|
<I>you shall bear no sin by reason of it,</I> when <I>you have heaved
|
|
the best from it.</I> This intimates that we must never feed ourselves
|
|
without fear, lest our table become a snare, and we bear sin by reason
|
|
of it; and that therefore we are concerned to <I>give alms of such
|
|
things as we have,</I> that all may be clean and comfortable to us.</P>
|
|
|
|
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