Numbers 18:8-19 | The Way of Scripture

Numbers 18:8-19

How do the offerings provide for the priestly household?

Berean Standard Bible

8 Then the LORD said to Aaron, “Behold, I have put you in charge of My offerings. As for all the sacred offerings of the Israelites, I have given them to you and your sons as a portion and a permanent statute. 9 A portion of the most holy offerings reserved from the fire will be yours. From all the offerings they render to Me as most holy offerings, whether grain offerings or sin offerings or guilt offerings, that part belongs to you and your sons. 10 You are to eat it as a most holy offering, and every male may eat it. You shall regard it as holy. 11 And this is yours as well: the offering of their gifts, along with all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I have given this to you and your sons and daughters as a permanent statute. Every ceremonially clean person in your household may eat it. 12 I give you all the freshest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain that the Israelites give to the LORD as their firstfruits. 13 The firstfruits of everything in their land that they bring to the LORD will belong to you. Every ceremonially clean person in your household may eat them. 14 Every devoted thing in Israel belongs to you. 15 The firstborn of every womb, whether man or beast, that is offered to the LORD belongs to you. But you must surely redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals. 16 You are to pay the redemption price for a month-old male according to your valuation: five shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, which is twenty gerahs. 17 But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep, or a goat; they are holy. You are to splatter their blood on the altar and burn their fat as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 18 And their meat belongs to you, just as the breast and right thigh of the wave offering belong to you. 19 All the holy offerings that the Israelites present to the LORD I give to you and to your sons and daughters as a permanent statute. It is a permanent covenant of salt before the LORD for you and your offspring.”

What is the context?

The Lord assigns portions of sacred offerings, firstfruits, and firstborn animals to Aaron and his household. The rules distinguish most holy portions eaten by males from other provisions shared by ceremonially clean household members.

Human firstborn and firstborn unclean animals must be redeemed, while the named clean animals are offered as instructed. The arrangement is called a permanent covenant of salt. It provides for the household through the Lord’s gifts while retaining the distinct handling of sacred portions.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley and the USCCB notes distinguish the kinds of portions and who may eat them. Wesley explains covenant of salt as a lasting covenant. The phrase’s stated permanence is clear here even without deciding between proposed customs behind the image.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

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