Matthew Henry on Numbers 18:1-7
The coherence of this chapter with that foregoing is very observable.
I. The people, in the close of that chapter, had complained of the difficulty and peril that there were in drawing near to God, which put them under some dreadful apprehensions that the tabernacle in the midst of them, which they hoped would have been their joy and glory, would rather be their terror and ruin. Now, in answer to this complaint, God here gives them to understand by Aaron that the priests should come near for them as their representatives; so that, though the people were obliged to keep their distance, yet that should not at all redound to their disgrace or prejudice, but their comfortable communion with God…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 18:2
thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi--The departments of the sacred office, to be filled respectively by the priests and Levites, are here assigned to each. To the priests was committed the charge of the sanctuary and the altar, while the Levites were to take care of everything else about the tabernacle. The Levites were to attend the priests as servants--bestowed on them as "gifts" to aid in the service of the tabernacle--while the high and dignified office of the priesthood was a "service of gift." "A stranger," that is, one, neither a priest nor a Levite, who should intrude into any departments of the sacred office, should incur the penalty of death.
John Gill on Numbers 18:6
And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites, from among the children of Israel,.... See Gill on Numbers 3:12; where the same is said, only they, are here called the brethren of the priests for the reason given, Numbers 18:2,
to you they are given as a gift for the Lord, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; See Gill on Numbers 3:7, Numbers 3:8, and See Gill on Numbers 3:9.
John Calvin on Numbers 18:1-7
Numbers 18:1-7, 22, 23
1. And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.
1. Et dixit Jehova ad Aharon, Tu et filii tui, et domus patris tui tecum, portabitis iniquitatem sanctuarii: tu quoque et alii tui tecum portabitis iniquitatem sacerdotii vestri.
2. And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.
2. Et etiam fratres tuos, tribum Levi, tribum patris tui,…
