Numbers 18:7

Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office [unto you] as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

Therefore thou and thy sons {H1121} with thee shall keep {H8104} your priest's office {H3550} for every thing {H1697} of the altar {H4196}, and within {H1004} the vail {H6532}; and ye shall serve {H5647}: I have given {H5414} your priest's office {H3550} unto you as a service {H5656} of gift {H4979}: and the stranger {H2114} that cometh nigh {H7131} shall be put to death {H4191}.

You and your sons with you will exercise your prerogatives and duties as cohanim in regard to everything having to do with the altar and within the curtain. I entrust the service required of cohanim to you; the unauthorized person who tries to perform it is to be put to death."

But only you and your sons shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and what is inside the veil, and you are to perform that service. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but any outsider who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”

And thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil; and ye shall serve: I give you the priesthood as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

Commentary

Commentary on Numbers 18:7

Numbers 18:7 continues the Lord's detailed instructions to Aaron and his sons regarding their exclusive responsibilities within the Tabernacle, distinguishing their sacred duties from those of the Levites and the rest of the Israelite community.

Context of Numbers 18:7

This verse is part of a larger passage (Numbers 18) that clearly defines the roles and support for the priests (Aaron and his descendants) and the Levites. This delineation was crucial, especially following the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (Numbers 16), who challenged the divinely appointed authority of Moses and Aaron. God’s response to that rebellion firmly established that only those specifically chosen by Him could perform priestly functions, thus preventing unauthorized access and maintaining the holiness of His sanctuary. The "vail" refers to the curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies), where the Ark of the Covenant resided, signifying the most sacred area of the Tabernacle.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Exclusive Divine Appointment: The verse reiterates that the priestly office is a specific, hereditary calling for Aaron and his sons. It is not open to all, emphasizing God's sovereign choice in matters of worship and service.
  • Sacred Responsibility: Priests were entrusted with all duties concerning "the altar" (sacrifices, offerings) and "within the vail" (serving in the Holy Place and the High Priest's annual entry into the Holy of Holies). This highlights the weight and solemnity of their service to God and the people.
  • A "Service of Gift": The phrase "I have given your priest's office [unto you] as a service of gift" underscores that this privilege was a gracious endowment from God, not something earned or achieved by human merit. This concept of divine grace and calling is central to understanding God's relationship with His people, echoing principles seen later in scripture regarding salvation by grace through faith.
  • Holiness and Consequences: The severe warning, "the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death," reinforces the absolute holiness of God and the strict requirements for approaching Him. "Stranger" here refers to anyone not designated for priestly service, emphasizing the peril of unauthorized intrusion into sacred spaces or duties. This was powerfully demonstrated by the judgment on Nadab and Abihu.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "stranger" here is zar (Χ–ΦΈΧ¨), which means "one who is unauthorized" or "profane" in a sacred context, not merely a foreigner. It emphasizes someone who does not belong to the designated priestly lineage or has not been consecrated for that specific duty. The phrase "service of gift" (Hebrew: kehunat matanah) powerfully conveys that the priesthood was a divine endowment, a gracious bestowal rather than a human achievement.

Practical Application

While the Aaronic priesthood has been fulfilled in Christ, our eternal High Priest, Numbers 18:7 still offers timeless lessons:

  • Respect for God's Order: It teaches us the importance of respecting God's established order and authority, whether in the church or in daily life.
  • Seriousness of Service: All forms of service to God should be undertaken with reverence and a recognition of His holiness. Our spiritual gifts and callings are also a "service of gift" from Him.
  • Holiness of God: The verse reminds us of God's profound holiness and the seriousness with which He views disobedience or casual approaches to His presence. Though believers now have direct access to God through Christ, this access is still predicated on His grace and the atoning work of Jesus.
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Cross-References

  • Numbers 3:10 (5 votes)

    And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

  • Romans 15:15 (5 votes)

    Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,

  • Romans 15:16 (5 votes)

    That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

  • John 3:27 (5 votes)

    John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

  • Numbers 16:40 (3 votes)

    [To be] a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which [is] not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.

  • Numbers 18:20 (3 votes)

    ΒΆ And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I [am] thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.

  • Numbers 16:5 (3 votes)

    And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who [are] his, and [who is] holy; and will cause [him] to come near unto him: even [him] whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.