(The Lord speaking is red text)
And [this] your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though [it were] the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.
The gift you set aside will be accounted to you as if it were grain from the thresh-ing-floor and grape juice from the wine vat.
Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress.
And your heave-offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the grain of the threshing-floor, and as the fulness of the winepress.
And this your heave offering{H8641} shall be reckoned{H2803} unto you, as though it were the corn{H1715} of the threshingfloor{H1637}, and as the fulness{H4395} of the winepress{H3342}.
1. **Themes:**
- **Sacred Duties and Offerings:** The verse emphasizes the importance of the heave offering (terumah), a portion of the harvest that the Israelites were required to give to the priests (Levites) as part of their sacred duties. This offering was considered holy and was a key aspect of the religious and economic system that supported the priesthood.
- **Equivalence and Fairness:** The verse suggests that the heave offering should be valued equally with the best produce from the threshing floor and winepress, indicating that the offering should not be inferior or substandard but of the finest quality.
- **Support for the Priesthood:** The instruction underscores the responsibility of the Israelite community to support the priests, who were dedicated to religious service and did not have a personal inheritance of land for farming.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** Numbers 18:27 is set during the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt, as they are organized into a nation under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.
- **Mosaic Law:** This verse is part of the Mosaic Law, which includes detailed instructions for worship, ritual purity, and social order. It reflects the establishment of a religious and socioeconomic system designed to maintain the sanctity of worship and the well-being of the priestly class.
- **Priestly Code:** The instructions regarding offerings are often categorized as part of the Priestly Code, a set of laws and rituals that outline priestly duties and responsibilities. These laws were crucial for maintaining the religious infrastructure of ancient Israel.
- **Agrarian Society:** The imagery of the threshing floor and winepress reflects the agrarian nature of Israelite society. The economy was heavily based on agriculture, and religious practices were intertwined with the cycles of planting and harvesting.
In summary, Numbers 18:27 addresses the theme of sacred offerings within the historical context of the Israelites' establishment as a nation under divine law, highlighting the importance of supporting the priesthood and the sanctity of the offerings given to them.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)