Numbers 18:24

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer [as] an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

Complete Jewish Bible:

because I have given to the L'vi'im as their inheritance the tenths of the produce which the people of Isra'el set aside as a gift for ADONAI. This is why I have said to them that they are to have no inheritance among the people of Isra'el."

Berean Standard Bible:

For I have given to the Levites as their inheritance the tithe that the Israelites present to the LORD as a contribution. That is why I told them that they would not receive an inheritance among the Israelites.”

American Standard Version:

For the tithe of the children of Israel, which they offer as a heave-offering unto Jehovah, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But the tithes^{H4643} of the children^{H1121} of Israel^{H3478}, which they offer^{H7311} as an heave offering^{H8641} unto the LORD^{H3068}, I have given^{H5414} to the Levites^{H3881} to inherit^{H5159}: therefore I have said^{H559} unto them, Among^{H8432} the children^{H1121} of Israel^{H3478} they shall have^{H5157} no inheritance^{H5159}.

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Commentary for Numbers 18:24

1. Themes:
- **Divine Allocation**: The verse emphasizes that the tithes offered by the Israelites are designated by God for the Levites.
- **Support for the Clergy**: It highlights the provision for the Levites, who were responsible for priestly duties and did not receive a tribal inheritance of land like the other Israelites.
- **Sacred Duty**: The giving of tithes is seen as a sacred duty, an "heave offering" to the Lord, which underscores the religious significance of the act.
- **Levitical Inheritance**: The Levites' inheritance is not in land but in the offerings given by the people, which ensures their livelihood and emphasizes their unique role in the religious life of Israel.

2. Historical Context:
- **Mosaic Law**: This verse is part of the Mosaic Law, given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai, which includes detailed instructions on religious practices, social order, and the distribution of responsibilities among the tribes of Israel.
- **Levitical Priesthood**: The Levites were one of the twelve tribes of Israel, set apart for religious service. Unlike the other tribes, they did not receive a territorial inheritance in the Promised Land. Instead, their sustenance came from the tithes and offerings of the other Israelites.
- **Wilderness Wanderings**: Numbers 18 is set during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, after the exodus from Egypt and before their entry into the Promised Land. This was a time when the religious and social systems of the nation were being established and formalized.
- **Covenantal Relationship**: The arrangement reflects the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, where the people were expected to support those who ministered to them spiritually, thereby maintaining the religious order and the fabric of their society.

In summary, Numbers 18:24 outlines the divine directive for the Levites to be supported by the tithes of the other Israelites as their inheritance, reflecting the religious structure and economic support system for the priesthood during the time of Moses.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4643
   There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַעֲשֵׂר
   Transliteration: maʻăsêr
   Pronunciation: mah-as-ayr'
   Description: or מַעֲשַׂר; and (in plural) feminine מַעַשְׂרָה; from עָשָׂר; a tenth; especially a tithe; tenth (part), tithe(-ing).
   
2. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3478
   There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
   Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
   Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
   Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
   
4. Strong's Number: H7311
   There are 185 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רוּם
   Transliteration: rûwm
   Pronunciation: room
   Description: a primitive root; to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively); bring up, exalt (self), extol, give, go up, haughty, heave (up), (be, lift up on, make on, set up on, too) high(-er, one), hold up, levy, lift(-er) up, (be) lofty, ([idiom] a-) loud, mount up, offer (up), [phrase] presumptuously, (be) promote(-ion), proud, set up, tall(-er), take (away, off, up), breed worms.
   
5. Strong's Number: H8641
   There are 63 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תְּרוּמָה
   Transliteration: tᵉrûwmâh
   Pronunciation: ter-oo-maw'
   Description: or תְּרֻמָה; (Deuteronomy 12:11), from רוּם; a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tribute; gift, heave offering (shoulder), oblation, offered(-ing).
   
6. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
7. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3881
   There are 258 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֵוִיִּי
   Transliteration: Lêvîyîy
   Pronunciation: lay-vee-ee'
   Description: or לֵוִי; patronymically from לֵוִי; a Levite or descendant of Levi; Leviite.
   
9. Strong's Number: H5159
   There are 191 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נַחֲלָה
   Transliteration: nachălâh
   Pronunciation: nakh-al-aw'
   Description: from נָחַל (in its usual sense); properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion; heritage, to inherit, inheritance, possession. Compare נַחַל.
   
10. Strong's Number: H559
    There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָמַר
    Transliteration: ʼâmar
    Pronunciation: aw-mar'
    Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
    
11. Strong's Number: H8432
    There are 390 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: תָּוֶךְ
    Transliteration: tâvek
    Pronunciation: taw'-vek
    Description: from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre; among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in).
    
12. Strong's Number: H5157
    There are 59 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָחַל
    Transliteration: nâchal
    Pronunciation: naw-khal'
    Description: a primitive root; to inherit (as a (figurative) mode of descent), or (generally) to occupy; causatively, to bequeath, or (generally) distribute, instate; divide, have (inheritance), take as a heritage, (cause to, give to, make to) inherit, (distribute for, divide (for, for an, by), give for, have, leave for, take (for)) inheritance, (have in, cause to, be made to) possess(-ion).