Numbers 18:5

Duties of Priests and Levites · Numbers 18:1–7
Read Numbers 18

Translations

Modern
And you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and of the altar, so that wrath may not fall on the Israelites again.
Traditional
And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel.
Literal
And you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and the duties of the altar, that there be no more wrath on the sons of Israel.
Latin
Excubate in custodia sanctuarii, et in ministerio altaris: ne oriatur indignatio super filios Israël.

Original

Hebrew
English
And you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and of the altar, so that wrath may not fall on the Israelites again.

Notes

Aaron and the priests represented the people in the presence of the Lord. Their actions affected all of Israel (see 16:18–21).

Only the priests, who were Aaron and his descendants, could perform holy duties inside the sanctuary or approach the altar. This altar was a holy area that deserved special honor. Only the high priest could serve in the Most Holy Place. The Levites could only serve in the courtyard, away from the altar. The exception was when it was time to assemble or disassemble the Tent of Meeting (chapter 4).

The instructions here came from the need shown in chapter 17 for clear boundaries between the people, priests, and Levites. The Levites had special privileges and important responsibilities. One key part of their job was to protect the Tent of Meeting from unauthorized entry (chapter 16).

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Deuteronomy, Book of Numbers, Book of

Topics

Christian Minister: Charge Delivered To Church: Sanctuary Levites: Functions of had Charge of the Tabernacle in the Encampments and on the March Priest: Duties of Responsible for the Sanctuary Priest: had Charge of the Sanctuary and Altar Priests: Services of Keeping the Charge of the Tabernacle Sanctuary in the Charge of High Priest Tabernacle: The Priests: Alone Could Enter