Priests Must Competently
Determine Various Matters According To The Law
27:1Yahweh
spoke to Moshe, saying, 27:2Speak to
the children of Yisra'el, and tell them, When a man shall accomplish a vow, the
persons shall be for Yahweh by your estimation. 27:3Your
estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even to sixty years old,
even your estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the
sanctuary. 27:4If it be a female,
then your estimation shall be thirty shekels. 27:5If
it be from five years old even to twenty years old, then your estimation shall
be of the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels. 27:6If it be from a month old even to five
years old, then your estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver,
and for the female your estimation shall be three shekels of silver. 27:7If it be from sixty years old and upward;
if it be a male, then your estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the
female ten shekels. 27:8But if he be
poorer than your estimation, then he shall be set before the Kohen, and the
Kohen shall value him; according to the ability of him who vowed shall the
Kohen value him.
27:9If
it be a animal, whereof men offer an offering to Yahweh, all that any man gives
of such to Yahweh shall be holy. 27:10He
shall not alter it, nor change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good: and
if he shall at all change animal for animal, then both it and that for which it
is changed shall be holy. 27:11If it
be any unclean animal, of which they do not offer an offering to Yahweh, then
he shall set the animal before the Kohen; 27:12and
the Kohen shall value it, whether it be good or bad: as you the Kohen value it,
so shall it be. 27:13But if he will
indeed redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of it to your estimation.
27:14When
a man shall sanctify his house to be holy to Yahweh, then the Kohen shall
estimate it, whether it be good or bad: as the Kohen shall estimate it, so
shall it stand. 27:15If he who
sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the
money of your estimation to it, and it shall be his. 27:16If a man shall sanctify to Yahweh part of
the field of his possession, then your estimation shall be according to the
sowing of it: the sowing of a homer of barley shall be valued at fifty shekels
of silver. 27:17If he sanctify his
field from the year of jubilee, according to your estimation it shall stand. 27:18But if he sanctify his field after the jubilee,
then the Kohen shall reckon to him the money according to the years that remain
to the year of jubilee; and an abatement shall be made from your estimation. 27:19If he who sanctified the field will indeed
redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of your estimation to
it, and it shall be assured to him. 27:20If
he will not redeem the field, or if he has sold the field to another man, it
shall not be redeemed any more: 27:21but
the field, when it goes out in the jubilee, shall be holy to Yahweh, as a field
devoted; the possession of it shall be the Kohen's.
27:22If
he sanctify to Yahweh a field which he has bought, which is not of the field of
his possession; 27:23then the Kohen
shall reckon to him the worth of your estimation to the year of jubilee: and he
shall give your estimation in that day, as a holy thing to Yahweh. 27:24In the year of jubilee the field shall
return to him of whom it was bought, even to him to whom the possession of the
land belongs. 27:25All your
estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs
shall be the shekel.
27:26Only
the firstborn among animals, which is made a firstborn to Yahweh, no man shall
sanctify it; whether it be ox or sheep, it is Yahweh's. 27:27If it be of an unclean animal, then he
shall ransom it according to your estimation, and shall add to it the fifth
part of it: or if it isn't redeemed, then it shall be sold according to your
estimation. 27:28Notwithstanding, no
devoted thing, that a man shall devote to Yahweh of all that he has, whether of
man or animal, or of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed:
every devoted thing is most holy to Yahweh. 27:29No
one devoted, who shall be devoted from among men, shall be ransomed; he shall
surely be put to death.
27:30All
the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the
tree, is Yahweh's: it is holy to Yahweh. 27:31If
a man will redeem anything of his tithe, he shall add to it the fifth part of
it. 27:32All the tithe of the herd
or the flock, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy to Yahweh.
27:33He shall not search whether it
be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then
both it and that for which it is changed shall be holy; it shall not be
redeemed. 27:34These are the
commandments, which Yahweh commanded Moshe for the children of Yisra'el in
mount Sinai.
Priests have responsibility for determining various matters according to the law. They must therefore be skilled and well versed in the law, that they may properly determine the various matters that they are supposed to determine.
Those Who Are Holy Within
Yisrael
3:1Now
this is the history of the generations of Aharon and Moshe in the day that Yahweh
spoke with Moshe in mount Sinai. 3:2These
are the names of the sons of Aharon: Nadav the firstborn, and Avihu, El`azar,
and Itamar. 3:3These are the names
of the sons of Aharon, the Kohanim who were anointed, whom he consecrated to
minister in the Kohen's office. 3:4Nadav
and Avihu died before Yahweh, when they offered strange fire before Yahweh, in
the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children; and El`azar and Itamar
ministered in the Kohen's office in the presence of Aharon their father.
3:5Yahweh
spoke to Moshe, saying, 3:6Bring
the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aharon the Kohen, that they may
minister to him. 3:7They shall keep
his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tent of
meeting, to do the service of the tent. 3:8They
shall keep all the furniture of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the
children of Yisra'el, to do the service of the tent. 3:9You shall give the Levites to Aharon and to
his sons: they are wholly given to him on the behalf of the children of
Yisra'el. 3:10You shall appoint
Aharon and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood: and the stranger who
comes near shall be put to death. 3:11Yahweh
spoke to Moshe, saying, 3:12I,
behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Yisra'el instead of
all the firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Yisra'el; and the
Levites shall be mine: 3:13for all
the firstborn are mine; on the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land
of Mitzrayim I made holy to me all the firstborn in Yisra'el, both man and
animal; mine they shall be: I am Yahweh.
The Tribe Of Levi Given To
Aharon
3:5-7 notes that Yahweh gave the tribe of Levi to Aharon, to keep both Aharon's charge and that of the congregation of Yisrael, to do the service of the tent of meeting.
Firstborns In Yisrael Belong
To Yahweh
3:11-13 notes that among the children of Yisrael those who are Yahweh's are the firstborns who open the womb.
Seeing that there can only be one opening of the womb, it appears that all those who open the womb, irrespective of whether or not they are male, belong to Yahweh. These belong to Yahweh in the context of serving near Yahweh, meaning at the tent of meeting.
The Time Yahweh Sanctified The
Firstborns In Yisrael
3:13 notes the TIME when Yahweh made the firstborn in Yisrael his, both of man and animal. It was at the time when he struck the firstborn of Mitzrayim. These are holy to Yahweh, in the sense that Yahweh has dedicated them to him for his service.
It should also be noted that sometimes Yahweh undertakes actions affecting human beings without telling those humans the actions that he has undertaken. For Yahweh consecrated the firstborn in Yisrael to himself, but did not immediately inform the children of Yisrael of what he had done, informing them about his action some time after it occurred.
Within Yisrael The Priesthood
Belongs To Aharon's House
3:10 notes that the priesthood within Yisrael was given to Aharon's house, and ONLY to Aharon's house. Anyone outside the Aharonic house who came to perform the priesthood duties was to be put to death. Such a stranger or outsider is a usurper of that which does not belong to him.
Why Did Yahweh Transfer The
Priesthood To Aharon's House?
Exodus 19:21-25 reads,
19:21Yahweh
said to Moshe, "Go down, charge the people, lest they break through to
Yahweh to gaze, and many of them perish. 19:22Let
the Kohanim also, who come near to Yahweh, sanctify themselves, lest
Yahweh break forth on them."
19:23Moshe
said to Yahweh, "The people can't come up to
19:24Yahweh
said to him, "Go down and you shall bring Aharon up with you, but don't
let the Kohanim and the people break through to come up to Yahweh, lest
he break forth on them."
19:25So
Moshe went down to the people, and told them.
Before Yahweh gave the priesthood in Yisrael to Aharon and his sons there were already priests (Kohanim) in Yisrael. Who were these priests? Were these the firstborns whom Yahweh consecrated to himself at the time he killed the firstborn of the Mitzrayim?
That Yahweh subsequently gave the priesthood in Yisrael to Aharon and his sons indicates that he took it away from those who were his priests in Yisrael prior to his giving the house of Aharon the priesthood. Why did he remove the priesthood from these and give it to the house of Aharon? Was it on account of Yisrael's idolatry in the matter of the golden calf?
Rebellion Against Yahweh And
His Priesthood
16:1Now
Korach, the son of Yitzhar, the son of Kehat, the son of Levi, with Datan and
Aviram, the sons of Eli'av, and On, the son of Pelet, sons of Re'uven, took
men: 16:2and they rose up before
Moshe, with certain of the children of Yisra'el, two hundred fifty princes of
the congregation, called to the assembly, men of renown; 16:3and they assembled themselves together
against Moshe and against Aharon, and said to them, You take too much on you,
seeing all the congregation are holy, everyone of them, and Yahweh is among
them: why then lift you up yourselves above the assembly of Yahweh?
16:4When
Moshe heard it, he fell on his face: 16:5and
he spoke to Korach and to all his company, saying, In the morning Yahweh will
show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to him: even
him whom he shall choose will he cause to come near to him. 16:6This do: take you censers, Korach, and all
his company; 16:7and put fire in
them, and put incense on them before Yahweh tomorrow: and it shall be that the
man whom Yahweh does choose, he shall be holy: you take too much on you, you
sons of Levi.
16:8Moshe
said to Korach, Hear now, you sons of Levi: 16:9seems
it but a small thing to you, that the Mighty One of Yisra'el has separated you
from the congregation of Yisra'el, to bring you near to himself, to do the
service of the tent of Yahweh, and to stand before the congregation to minister
to them; 16:10and that he has
brought you near, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? And seek you
the priesthood also? 16:11Therefore
you and all your company are gathered together against Yahweh: and Aharon, what
is he who you murmur against him?
16:12Moshe
sent to call Datan and Aviram, the sons of Eli'av; and they said, We won't come
up: 16:13is it a small thing that
you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in
the wilderness, but you must needs make yourself also a prince over us? 16:14Moreover you haven't brought us into a
land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and
vineyards: will you put out the eyes of these men? We won't come up.
16:15Moshe
was very angry, and said to Yahweh, "Don't respect their offering: I have
not taken one donkey from them, neither have I hurt one of them."
16:16Moshe
said to Korach, Be you and all your company before Yahweh, you, and they, and
Aharon, tomorrow: 16:17and take you
every man his censer, and put incense on them, and bring you before Yahweh
every man his censer, two hundred fifty censers; you also, and Aharon, each his
censer. 16:18They took every man his
censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood at the door
of the tent of meeting with Moshe and Aharon.
16:19Korach
assembled all the congregation against them to the door of the tent of meeting:
and the glory of Yahweh appeared to all the congregation. 16:20Yahweh spoke to Moshe and to Aharon,
saying, 16:21Separate yourselves
from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. 16:22They fell on their faces, and said, Mighty
One, the Mighty One of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will
you be angry with all the congregation? 16:23Yahweh
spoke to Moshe, saying, 16:24Speak
to the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tent of Korach, Datan,
and Aviram.
16:25Moshe
rose up and went to Datan and Aviram; and the Zakenim of Yisra'el followed him.
16:26He spoke to the congregation,
saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch
nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins. 16:27So they got them up from the tent of
Korach, Datan, and Aviram, on every side: and Datan and Aviram came out, and
stood at the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their
little ones. 16:28Moshe said, Hereby
you shall know that Yahweh has sent me to do all these works; for I have not
done them of my own mind. 16:29If
these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the
visitation of all men; then Yahweh hasn't sent me. 16:30But if Yahweh make a new thing, and the ground open its
mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertains to them, and they go down
alive into She'ol; then you shall understand that these men have despised
Yahweh.
16:31It
happened, as he made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground split
apart that was under them; 16:32and
the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and
all the men who appertained to Korach, and all their goods. 16:33So they, and all that appertained to them,
went down alive into She'ol: and the earth closed on them, and they perished
from among the assembly.
16:34All
Yisra'el that were round about them fled at the cry of them; for they said,
Lest the earth swallow us up. 16:35Fire
came forth from Yahweh, and devoured the two hundred fifty men who offered the
incense.
16:36Yahweh
spoke to Moshe, saying, 16:37Speak
to El`azar the son of Aharon the Kohen, that he take up the censers out of the
burning, and scatter you the fire yonder; for they are holy, 16:38even the censers of these sinners against
their own lives; and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the
altar: for they offered them before Yahweh; therefore they are holy; and
they shall be a sign to the children of Yisra'el.
16:39El`azar
the Kohen took the brazen censers, which those who were burnt had offered; and
they beat them out for a covering of the altar, 16:40to be a memorial to the children of Yisra'el, to the
end that no stranger, who isn't of the seed of Aharon, comes near to burn
incense before Yahweh; that he not be as Korach, and as his company: as
Yahweh spoke to him by Moshe.
16:41But
on the next day all the congregation of the children of Yisra'el murmured
against Moshe and against Aharon, saying, You have killed the people of Yahweh.
16:42It happened, when the
congregation was assembled against Moshe and against Aharon, that they looked
toward the tent of meeting: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of
Yahweh appeared. 16:43Moshe and
Aharon came to the front of the tent of meeting. 16:44Yahweh
spoke to Moshe, saying, 16:45Get you
up from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. They fell
on their faces. 16:46Moshe said to
Aharon, Take they censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and lay incense
thereon, and carry it quickly to the congregation, and make atonement for them:
for there is wrath gone out from Yahweh; the plague is begun. 16:47Aharon took as Moshe spoke, and ran into
the midst of the assembly; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people:
and he put on the incense, and made atonement for the people. 16:48He stood between the dead and the living;
and the plague was stayed. 16:49Now
those who died by the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, besides
those who died about the matter of Korach. 16:50Aharon
returned to Moshe to the door of the tent of meeting: and the plague was
stayed.
16:1-3 shows that Korach, Datan and Aviram, together with the princes of Yisrael accompanying them, REJECTED the authority of Moshe and Aharon. They accused both Moshe and Aharon of appointing themselves to the positions of authority that they had over the congregation of Yisrael. They DID NOT BELIEVE that Yahweh had indeed appointed Moshe and Aharon to their respective positions. They therefore REBELLED against the authority of both Moshe and Aharon, authority that Yahweh vested in both Moshe and Aharon. These men were FAITHLESS REBELS.
Contradiction In The Rebels'
Position
There is an apparent paradox and contradiction in the rebellious position adopted by Korach and his accompanying rebels. On the one hand they accused both Moshe and Aharon of appointing themselves to their positions of authority over the congregation of Yisrael. On the other hand they said that all the congregation of Yisrael was holy. On what basis were they saying that all the congregation of Yisrael was holy? Did they not come to this view as a result of taking note of all the various works that Moshe had done in the congregation of Yisrael? And if they accepted this portion of Moshe's works, a portion affirming that all the congregation of Yisrael was holy, why were they rejecting Moshe's authority in other works that Moshe undertook?
The point is if they really believed that Moshe and Aharon were phoney rulers, self-appointed rulers, then they should not have accepted any of the works of Moshe and Aharon. But by accepting some of Moshe and Aharon's works, and rejecting others, they effectively undermined the logical soundness of their position in confronting both Moshe and Aharon.
It appears that all that they were after was simply taking over the positions occupied by Moshe and Aharon. This was therefore an attempted coup d'etat or overthrow of both Moshe and Aharon from their positions of authority over the congregation! It is therefore evident that Korach and his company LUSTED AFTER or COVETED the positions occupied by both Moshe and Aharon.
In Human Controversies Let Yahweh
Settle The Matter
16:4-5 shows that Moshe did not waste time with the covetous rebels in word battles, trying to prove to them the authenticity of his position. Seeing that they accepted that the congregation was holy, implying that they accepted Yahweh's authority over the congregation, Moshe simply suggested that Yahweh settle the matter once and for all, and end all this bickering between these two contending groups.
Seeing that the covetous rebels did not acknowledge Aharon's authority, Moshe suggested in 16:6-7 that they all, the rebels and Aharon, undertake the priestly duties that Aharon's household undertook. Yahweh would then make his choice among those undertaking these duties.
16:7-11 shows that Moshe began to inform the rebels of the adverse implications of their covetous rebellion. For not only did they not appreciate the special role that Yahweh had already given to them as Levites, serving the congregation from a vantage point that was near Yahweh, they also coveted that which they should not have coveted. And in so doing it was Yahweh's word that they were going against, and not really Moshe or Aharon's word.
Datan And Aviram's False
Accusations Against Moshe
16:12-14 notes that Datan and Aviram not only openly rebelled against Moshe, but also accused him of murderous intent, falsely presiding over the children of Yisrael, and of failing to deliver on the inheritance promises given to Yisrael. They totally and conveniently ignored the reason for their wandering in the wilderness - their own previous rebellion against Yahweh. They therefore overlooked their sin, and blamed all on Moshe.
Rebels Against Yahweh Play
With Death
It should be noted that Moshe knew all along that these covetous rebels were playing with death in their covetous rebellion. For Yahweh CLEARLY forbade STRANGERS from performing priesthood duties, forbidding this in Numbers 3:10. Yet these covetous rebels ignored this word of Yahweh, downgrading it to being Moshe's personal word, rather than Yahweh's word through Moshe. Moshe therefore knew that these covetous rebels were playing with death, for Yahweh said in Numbers 3:10 that anyone outside the Aharonic house who performs the priestly duties was to die!
16:19-22 notes that Yahweh intended to consume the whole congregation, as the whole congregation had joined itself with Korach in the latter's rebellion.
It should therefore be evident that rebels, and their accomplices, are consumed or destroyed by Yahweh.
Moshe's Works Were At Yahweh's
Command
16:28 notes that the works that Moshe undertook in Yisrael were not the origins of his own mind, but were Yahweh's works. He acted as Yahweh commanded him to act.
This is the manner that Yahweh's servants ought to undertake Yahweh's works, doing what Yahweh has instructed them to do, rather than the origins of their own minds.
Rebellion Against Yahweh's Set
Order Is Despising Yahweh
16:30 notes that the rebels had DESPISED YAHWEH! In other words, when a person rebels from under the authority of another, he despises not only that person from whose authority he rebels, but also the one who ultimately gave that one that authority. Therefore, as the rebels had despised Moshe, despising the authority Moshe had, they not only despised Moshe, but also despised Yahweh, for it is Yahweh who gave Moshe the authority that he had.
[A side note: where a wife rebels against her husband's authority, she is not only rebelling against and despising her husband, she is also rebelling against and despising Yahweh, for it is Yahweh who has made her husband head over her! And just as the consequence for those who rebelled against Yahweh was shown to be death, in the case of Datan and Aviram, so it is in the case of wives who rebel against their husbands and Yahweh!]
What Is Offered Before Yahweh
Is Holy
16:38 notes that whatever is offered before Yahweh is holy, provided it does not breach Yahweh's word with respect to what may be offered to him.
No Stranger Should Undertake
Priestly Duties
16:39-40 reiterates the lesson of Numbers 3:10, that NO STRANGER, anyone not of the house of Aharon, should come near to undertake duties that Yahweh has reserved exclusively for Aharonic priests.
The Congregation Was Courting
Death
16:41 notes that the congregation of Yisrael had not really learned the lesson that resulted in the deaths of Korach, Datan and Aviram, together with their households, and the households of the men who accompanied them in their rebellion. That those who rebel against Yahweh's authority deserve to die, and are eventually killed by Yahweh, if they do not repent. For the congregation accused Moshe and Aharon of murdering those whom Yahweh had killed! The very same accusation that Datan and Aviram made against Moshe! In other words, just as the congregation had sided with the rebels prior to the death of the rebels, so also they continued to side with them even after their deaths! It is therefore evident that the congregation was courting death, even as Datan and Aviram were courting death!
Atoning Act Of The High Priest
Covers All Under His Domain
16:42-50 shows that just as the sin of the High Priest is imputed to all the congregation, as seen earlier on, so also is the atoning act of the High Priest good or valid for all the congregation. For Aharon's single atoning act was imputed to the entire congregation of Yisrael, such that when Aharon had performed his atoning act, the plague of death that had already began was stayed, and no more death was inflicted on the remaining sinners.
18:1Yahweh
said to Aharon, You and your sons and your fathers' house with you shall bear
the iniquity of the sanctuary; and you and your sons with you shall bear the
iniquity of your priesthood. 18:2Your
brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, bring you near with
you, that they may be joined to you, and minister to you: but you and your sons
with you shall be before the tent of the testimony. 18:3They shall keep your charge, and the charge
of all the Tent: only they shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary
and to the altar, that they not die, neither they, nor you. 18:4They shall be joined to you, and keep the
charge of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the Tent: and a stranger
shall not come near to you. 18:5You
shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar; that there
be wrath no more on the children of Yisra'el. 18:6I,
behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the children of
Yisra'el: to you they are a gift, given to Yahweh, to do the service of the
tent of meeting. 18:7You and your
sons with you shall keep your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for
that within the veil; and you shall serve: I give you the priesthood as a
service of gift: and the stranger who comes near shall be put to death.
18:8Yahweh
spoke to Aharon, I, behold, I have given you the charge of my heave-offerings,
even all the holy things of the children of Yisra'el; to you have I given them
by reason of the anointing, and to your sons, as a portion forever. 18:9This shall be yours of the most holy
things, reserved from the fire: every offering of theirs, even every
meal-offering of theirs, and every sin-offering of theirs, and every
trespass-offering of theirs, which they shall render to me, shall be most holy
for you and for your sons. 18:10As
the most holy things shall you eat of it; every male shall eat of it: it shall
be holy to you. 18:11This is yours:
the heave-offering of their gift, even all the wave-offerings of the children
of Yisra'el; I have given them to you, and to your sons and to your daughters
with you, as a portion forever; everyone who is clean in your house shall eat
of it. 18:12All the best of the oil,
and all the best of the vintage, and of the grain, the first-fruits of them
which they give to Yahweh, to you have I given them. 18:13The first-ripe fruits of all that is in
their land, which they bring to Yahweh, shall be yours; everyone who is clean
in your house shall eat of it. 18:14Everything
devoted in Yisra'el shall be yours.
18:15Everything
that opens the womb, of all flesh which they offer to Yahweh, both of man and
animal shall be yours: nevertheless the firstborn of man shall you surely
redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals shall you redeem. 18:16Those who are to be redeemed of them from
a month old shall you redeem, according to your estimation, for the money of
five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary (the same is twenty gerahs). 18:17But the firstborn of a cow, or the
firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat, you shall not redeem; they
are holy: you shall sprinkle their blood on the altar, and shall burn their fat
for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savor to Yahweh. 18:18The flesh of them shall be yours, as the
wave-breast and as the right thigh, it shall be yours.
18:19All
the heave-offerings of the holy things, which the children of Yisra'el offer to
Yahweh, have I given you, and your sons and your daughters with you, as a
portion forever: it is a covenant of salt forever before Yahweh to you and to
your seed with you. 18:20Yahweh said
to Aharon, 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
children of Yisra'el. 18:21To the
children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Yisra'el for an
inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of
the tent of meeting. 18:22Henceforth
the children of Yisra'el shall not come near the tent of meeting, lest they
bear sin, and die. 18:23But the
Levites shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their
iniquity: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations; and among
the children of Yisra'el they shall have no inheritance. 18:24For the tithe of the children of Yisra'el,
which they offer as a heave-offering to Yahweh, I have given to the Levites for
an inheritance: therefore I have said to them, Among the children of Yisra'el
they shall have no inheritance.
18:25Yahweh
spoke to Moshe, saying, 18:26Moreover
you shall speak to the Levites, and tell them, When you take of the children of
Yisra'el the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then
you shall offer up a heave-offering of it for Yahweh, a tithe of the tithe. 18:27Your heave-offering shall be reckoned to
you, as though it were the grain of the threshing floor, and as the fullness of
the winepress. 18:28Thus you also
shall offer a heave-offering to Yahweh of all your tithes, which you receive of
the children of Yisra'el; and of it you shall give Yahweh's heave-offering to
Aharon the Kohen. 18:29Out of all
your gifts you shall offer every heave-offering of Yahweh, of all the best of
it, even the holy part of it out of it. 18:30Therefore
you shall tell them, When you heave the best of it from it, then it shall be
reckoned to the Levites as the increase of the threshing floor, and as the
increase of the wine-press. 18:31You
shall eat it in every place, you and your households: for it is your reward
in return for your service in the tent of meeting. 18:32You shall bear no sin by reason of it,
when you have heaved from it the best of it: and you shall not profane the holy
things of the children of Yisra'el, that you not die.
18:2 notes that the brothers of the Aharonic priests, the Levites, were brought near TOGETHER with the Aharonic priests, in the service of the tent of testimony. And their role was to MINISTER to the Aharonic priests. But they were not to have the status that Aharonic priests had, for Aharonic priests stood before the tent of testimony, while other Levites did not.
Priests Should Act To Ensure
That Wrath Does Not Befall Those Under Their Domain
18:5 shows that the purpose of the works of the priesthood, and those of their assistants or servants, is to avert wrath falling on the children of Yisrael.
Yahweh's Priests Should Be
Consulted In Determining Difficult Legal Matters
27:1Then
drew near the daughters of Tzelohchad, the son of Chefer, the son of Gil`ad,
the son of Makhir, the son of Menashshe, of the families of Menashshe the son
of Yosef; and these are the names of his daughters: Machlah, Noach, and
Choglah, and Milkah, and Tirtzah. 27:2They
stood before Moshe, and before El`azar the Kohen, and before the princes and
all the congregation, at the door of the tent of meeting, saying, 27:3Our father died in the wilderness, and he
was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against
Yahweh in the company of Korach: but he died in his own sin; and he had no
sons. 27:4Why should the name of our
father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give to us a
possession among the brothers of our father.
27:5Moshe
brought their cause before Yahweh. 27:6Yahweh
spoke to Moshe, saying, 27:7The
daughters of Tzelohchad speak right: you shall surely give them a possession of
an inheritance among their father's brothers; and you shall cause the
inheritance of their father to pass to them. 27:8You
shall speak to the children of Yisra'el, saying, If a man die, and have no son,
then you shall cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter. 27:9If he has no daughter, then you shall give
his inheritance to his brothers. 27:10If
he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father's
brothers. 27:11If his father have no
brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his kinsman who is next to him
of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be to the children of
Yisra'el a statute and ordinance, as Yahweh commanded Moshe.
It is evident from 27:2 that in difficult legal matters those who were consulted were the Kohanim or priests. And in legal matters too difficult for the priests, the High Priest was consulted, that determination of the matter be made.
It is also evident that it is Yahweh's answer that was to be given to the people seeking legal direction or determination, and not the personal opinions of those so consulted.
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