Bible Commentaries
Go deeper in Scripture
Browse trusted public-domain commentary alongside DiscipleDeck Bible study. References inside each commentary open Bible previews in place.
27,299 commentary entries
The Pulpit Commentary
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:9
Reserved from fire, i.e; from the sacrificial altar. Every oblation of theirs. As specified in the following clauses. The burnt offering is not mentioned because it was wholly consumed, and only the skin fell to the pri…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:10
In the most holy place thou shalt eat it. בְּקֹדֶשׁ הַדָקֹּשִׁים. Septuagint, ἐν τῷ ἀγίῳ τῶν ἁγίων. This expression is somewhat perplexing, because it stands commonly for the holy of holies (Exodus 26:33). As i…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:11
And this is thine. Here begins a second list of holy gifts which might be eaten at home by all members of the priestly families who were clean; they included
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:12
All the best. Literally, "all the fat" (cf. Genesis 45:18).
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:14
Everything devoted. כָּל־חֵרֶם. Septuagint, πᾶν ἀνατεθεματισμένον, all deodands, or things vowed (see on Le 27:28).
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:16
From a month old. Literally, "from the monthly child," as soon as they reach the age of one month. According to thine estimation. See on Le Numbers 5:15; Numbers 27:2-7. It would seem that the priest was to make the val…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:17
But the firstling of a cow, &c. Only those things which were not available for sacrifice could be redeemed; the rest must be offered to him that claimed them. The first-born of men belonged partially to both classes: on…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:18
The flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave breast and as the right shoulder are thine. This is on the face of it inconsistent with the direction given in Deuteronomy 15:19, Deuteronomy 15:20, that the flesh of the fi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:19
A COVENANT OF SALT God has defined the provisions for the priesthood, and indicated in what certainty and sufficiency they would come. He also indicates the permanency of the supply. The things given would be given to A…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:19
All the heave offerings of the holy things. Those, viz; enumerated from Numbers 18:9. It is a covenant of salt for ever. Septuagint, διαθήκη ἀλὸς αἰωνίου (cf. 2 Chronicles 13:5). Salt was the natural emblem of that…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:20
Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land. The priests had of necessity homes wherein to live when not on duty, but they had no territory of their own in the same sense as Jews of other tribes. I am thy part and thin…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:20
GOD, THE BEST INHERITANCE The tribe of Levi was left out in the division of the land. Some of its members might have wished to be landowners rather than Levites. Yet their loss was a special privilege, for they were sel…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:21
All the tenth. The tithe of all fruits and flocks had been already claimed absolutely by the Lord (Le 27:30, 32). It is probable indeed that the giving of tithes had been more or less a matter of obligation from time im…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:22
Lest they boar sin, and die. לָשֵׂאת חֵטְא לָמוּת. Septuagint, λαβεῖν ἀμαρτίαν θανατηφόρον. In the sense of incurring sin, and the consequent wrath and death.
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:23
And they shall bear ( יִשְׂאוּ) their iniquity. The Levites were to take the responsibility of the general iniquity so far as approach to the tabernacle was concerned. They have no inheritance. Like the priests, they ha…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:24
As an heave offering. This means nothing more than an "offering" apparently. It is not to be supposed that any ritual was observed in the giving of tithes.
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:25
And the Lord spake unto Moses. This part of the instruction alone is addressed to Moses, probably because it determined a question as between priests and Levites to the advantage of the former, and therefore would not h…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:26
Ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe. Thus the principle of giving a tenth part of all to God was carried out consistently throughout the whole of his people.
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:28
Ye shall give thereof the Lord's heave offering to Aaron the priest. The Levites tithed the people, the priests tithed the Levites. At this time the other Israelites were nearly fifty times as numerous as the Levites, a…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:30
Thou shalt say unto them, i.e; to the Levites. When they had dedicated their tithe of the best part, the rest was theirs exactly as if they had grown it and gathered it themselves.
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 18:32
Ye shall bear no sin. עָלָיו לֹא־תִשְׂאוּ. They would not incur any guilty responsibility by enjoying it as and where they pleased. Neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die. This s…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 19:1-22
EXPOSITION THE ASHES OF AN HEIFER SPRINKLING THE UNCLEAN (Numbers 19:1-22).
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 19:1
And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron. On the addition of the second name see on Numbers 18:1. There is no note of time in connection with this chapter, but internal evidence points strongly to the supposition th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Numbers 19:1-22
THE REMEDY OF DEATH We have in this chapter, spiritually, death, and the remedy for death. Death is treated of not as the mere physical change which is the end of life, nor as the social and domestic loss which breaks s…