Numbers 3:10

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.

And thou shalt appoint {H6485} Aaron {H175} and his sons {H1121}, and they shall wait on {H8104} their priest's office {H3550}: and the stranger {H2114} that cometh nigh {H7131} shall be put to death {H4191}.

You are to appoint Aharon and his sons to carry out the duties of cohanim; anyone else who involves himself is to be put to death."

So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.โ€

And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

Commentary

Numbers 3:10 is a pivotal verse that highlights the strict divine order for the priesthood in ancient Israel. It specifically charges Aaron and his sons with the exclusive responsibility of ministering in the Tabernacle and issues a severe warning against any unauthorized person attempting to perform these sacred duties.

Context of Numbers 3:10

This verse is situated within the book of Numbers, which details the organization of the Israelite camp and the duties of the Levites following their exodus from Egypt. While the entire tribe of Levi was set apart for service to the Tabernacle, God specifically designated the family of Aaron and his sons to be the priests, performing the most sacred functions such as offering sacrifices and burning incense. This clear distinction was crucial for maintaining the holiness and order required in approaching a holy God under the Old Covenant.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Appointment and Exclusivity: The verse underscores that the priestly office was not a matter of human choice or ambition but a direct, divinely ordained role. Only those specifically chosen and consecrated by God could serve in this capacity, emphasizing God's sovereign authority over worship.
  • Holiness and Sacred Boundaries: The stern warning that "the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death" reveals the absolute holiness of God and the sacredness of the Tabernacle and its service. It taught the Israelites that unauthorized access or irreverent approach to God's presence carried severe consequences, reinforcing the need for strict obedience and reverence. This principle is powerfully illustrated by the deaths of Nadab and Abihu, who offered "strange fire."
  • Order and Authority: By establishing such clear roles and boundaries, God ensured order in worship and prevented chaos. This divine structure reflected His own character and the importance of respecting spiritual authority.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "stranger" is zar (ื–ึธืจ), which in this context does not refer to a foreigner, but rather to an "unauthorized person" or someone outside the consecrated Aaronic priestly lineage. It signifies anyone who is not holy or set apart for this specific office. "Cometh nigh" is from the Hebrew verb qฤrab (ืงึธืจึทื‘), meaning to draw near, particularly for the purpose of ministering or performing a sacred function. The phrase emphasizes an act of intrusion into a forbidden sphere.

Practical Application and New Covenant Perspective

While the Old Covenant's specific Aaronic priesthood has been fulfilled, the principles of God's holiness and the proper approach to Him endure. Under the New Covenant, Jesus Christ is our great High Priest, who offered the perfect and final sacrifice. Through His work, believers are granted direct access to God's presence, an access that was once restricted. We are now called a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), with the privilege to draw near to God with confidence (Hebrews 10:19-22). This incredible privilege, however, calls for reverence, humility, and a life devoted to holiness, recognizing the immense grace that allows us to approach the Almighty.

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Cross-References

  • Numbers 1:51 (5 votes)

    And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

  • Numbers 3:38 (4 votes)

    But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, [even] before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, [shall be] Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

  • Romans 12:7 (3 votes)

    Or ministry, [let us wait] on [our] ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

  • Numbers 18:7 (3 votes)

    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.

  • Numbers 18:3 (2 votes)

    And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.

  • Numbers 16:35 (2 votes)

    ยถ And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

  • Hebrews 8:4 (2 votes)

    For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: