Verses 1-7
God evidently gave these instructions to Aaron (Numbers 18:1). They deal with the boundary lines between Israelites who were not Levites, Levites, and priests.
The priestly office carried great responsibility as well as great privilege. The priests bore the guilt of what all the Israelites did as well as what they themselves did. The sacrifices, of course, covered this guilt.
God gave the Levites to the priests as their assistants to help them with certain aspects of the work of the sanctuary (Numbers 18:6). Outsiders, non-priests, and Levites could not intrude on the priestly office or they would die (Numbers 18:7).
"The study of the cultic use of qrb/ngs demonstrates that its meaning goes beyond simple, physical approach to the more abstract amplifications: ’have access to,’ ’be admitted to,’ ’be associated with.’ In prohibitions . . . it means ’encroach.’" [Note: Jacob Milgrom, "The Cultic Use of qrb/ngs," in Proceedings of the Fifth World Congress of Jewish Studies, 1:84.]
"A key phrase of this chapter is ’I give you’ (Numbers 18:7; cf. Numbers 18:12; Numbers 18:19; Numbers 18:26, etc.). God takes care of His own." [Note: Jensen, p. 77.]
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