Show Bible Commentary For A Bible Verse

Click here to show/hide instructions.

Selected Verse: Numbers 18:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Nu 18:1	Strong Concordance	And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto Aaron [0175], Thou and thy sons [01121] and thy father's [01] house [01004] with thee shall bear [05375] the iniquity [05771] of the sanctuary [04720]: and thou and thy sons [01121] with thee shall bear [05375] the iniquity [05771] of your priesthood [03550].
	King James	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.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

Open All | Close All Open All | Close All

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
THE CHARGE OF THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES. (Num 18:1-7) the Lord said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary--Security is here given to the people from the fears expressed (Num 17:12), by the responsibility of attending to all sacred things being devolved upon the priesthood, together with the penalties incurred through neglect; and thus the solemn responsibilities annexed to their high dignity, of having to answer not only for their own sins, but also for the sins of the people, were calculated in a great measure to remove all feeling of envy at the elevation of Aaron's family, when the honor was weighed in the balance with its burdens and dangers.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

THE CHARGE OF THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES. (Num 18:1-7)

the Lord said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary--Security is here given to the people from the fears expressed (Num 17:12), by the responsibility of attending to all sacred things being devolved upon the priesthood, together with the penalties incurred through neglect; and thus the solemn responsibilities annexed to their high dignity, of having to answer not only for their own sins, but also for the sins of the people, were calculated in a great measure to remove all feeling of envy at the elevation of Aaron's family, when the honor was weighed in the balance with its burdens and dangers.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The iniquity of the sanctuary - i. e. the guilt of the offences which an erring people would be continually committing against the majesty of God, when brought into contact, through the ordinances, with the manifestations of His presence. Compare the marginal reference. The iniquity of your priesthood - As the priests themselves were but men, they were strengthened to bear the iniquity of their own unintentional offences, by being entrusted with the ceremonial means of taking it away (compare Lev. 16). The word "bear" has, in the Old Testament, this double sense of "enduring" and "removing;" but in the person of Christ, who atoned by His own endurance, the two axe in effect one.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
bear That is, Be responsible for every neglect or offence relation to. Compare (Exo 28:38). (See Scofield) - (Exo 28:38).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The Official Duties and Rights of the Priests and Levites. - Num 18:1. To impress upon the minds of the priests and Levites the holiness and responsibility of their office, the service of Aaron, of his sons, and of his father's house, i.e., of the family of the Kohathites, is described as "bearing the iniquity of the sanctuary," and the service which was peculiar to the Aaronides, as "bearing the iniquity of their priesthood." "To bear the iniquity of the sanctuary" signifies not only "to have to make expiation for all that offended against the laws of the priests and the holy things, i.e., the desecration of these" (Knobel), but "iniquity or transgression at the sanctuary," i.e., the defilement of it by the sin of those who drew near to the sanctuary; not only of the priests and Levites, but of the whole people who defiled the sanctuary in the midst of them with its holy vessels, not only by their sins (Lev 16:6), but even by their holy gifts (Exo 28:38), and thus brought guilt upon the whole congregation, which the priests were to bear, i.e., to take upon themselves and expunge, by virtue of the holiness and sanctifying power communicated to their office (see at Exo 28:38). The "iniquity of the priesthood," however, not only embraced every offence against the priesthood, every neglect of the most scrupulous and conscientious fulfilment of duty in connection with their office, but extended to all the sin which attached to the official acts of the priests, on account of the sinfulness of their nature. It was to wipe out these sins and defilements, that the annual expiation of the holy things on the day of atonement had been appointed (Lev 16:16.). The father's house of Aaron, i.e., the Levitical family of Kohath, was also to join in bearing the iniquity of the sanctuary, because the oversight of the holy vessels of the sanctuary devolved upon it (Num 4:4.). Num 18:2-4 Aaron was also to bring his (other) brethren (sc., to the sanctuary), viz., the tribe of Levi, that is to say, the Gershonites and Merarites, that they might attach themselves to him and serve him, both him (ואתּה) and his sons, before the tent of testimony, and discharge the duties that were binding upon them, according to Num 4:24., Num 4:31. (cf. Num 3:6-7; Num 8:26). Only they were not to come near to the holy vessels and the altar, for that would bring death both upon them and the priests (see at Num 4:15). On Num 18:4, cf. Num 1:53 and Num 3:7. Num 18:5-7 The charge of the sanctuary (i.e., the dwelling) and the altar (of burnt-offering) devolved upon Aaron and his sons, that the wrath of God might not come again upon the children of Israel (see Num 8:19), - namely, through such illegal acts as Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10:2), and the company of Korah (Num 16:35), had committed. To this end God had handed over the Levites to them as a gift, to be their assistants (see at Num 3:9 and Num 8:16, Num 8:19). But Aaron and his sons were to attend to the priesthood "with regard to everything of the altar and within the vail" (i.e., of the most holy place, see Lev 16:12). The allusion is to all the priestly duties from the altar of burnt-offering to the most holy place, including the holy place which lay between. This office, which brought them into the closest fellowship with the Lord, was a favour accorded to them by the grace of God. This is expressed in the words, "as a service of gift (a service with which I present you) I give you the priesthood." The last words in Num 18:7 are the same as in Num 1:51; and "stranger" (zar), as in Lev 22:10.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The Official Duties and Rights of the Priests and Levites. - Num 18:1. To impress upon the minds of the priests and Levites the holiness and responsibility of their office, the service of Aaron, of his sons, and of his father's house, i.e., of the family of the Kohathites, is described as "bearing the iniquity of the sanctuary," and the service which was peculiar to the Aaronides, as "bearing the iniquity of their priesthood." "To bear the iniquity of the sanctuary" signifies not only "to have to make expiation for all that offended against the laws of the priests and the holy things, i.e., the desecration of these" (Knobel), but "iniquity or transgression at the sanctuary," i.e., the defilement of it by the sin of those who drew near to the sanctuary; not only of the priests and Levites, but of the whole people who defiled the sanctuary in the midst of them with its holy vessels, not only by their sins (Lev 16:6), but even by their holy gifts (Exo 28:38), and thus brought guilt upon the whole congregation, which the priests were to bear, i.e., to take upon themselves and expunge, by virtue of the holiness and sanctifying power communicated to their office (see at Exo 28:38). The "iniquity of the priesthood," however, not only embraced every offence against the priesthood, every neglect of the most scrupulous and conscientious fulfilment of duty in connection with their office, but extended to all the sin which attached to the official acts of the priests, on account of the sinfulness of their nature. It was to wipe out these sins and defilements, that the annual expiation of the holy things on the day of atonement had been appointed (Lev 16:16.). The father's house of Aaron, i.e., the Levitical family of Kohath, was also to join in bearing the iniquity of the sanctuary, because the oversight of the holy vessels of the sanctuary devolved upon it (Num 4:4.).

Num 18:2-4

Aaron was also to bring his (other) brethren (sc., to the sanctuary), viz., the tribe of Levi, that is to say, the Gershonites and Merarites, that they might attach themselves to him and serve him, both him (ואתּה) and his sons, before the tent of testimony, and discharge the duties that were binding upon them, according to Num 4:24., Num 4:31. (cf. Num 3:6-7; Num 8:26). Only they were not to come near to the holy vessels and the altar, for that would bring death both upon them and the priests (see at Num 4:15). On Num 18:4, cf. Num 1:53 and Num 3:7.

Num 18:5-7

The charge of the sanctuary (i.e., the dwelling) and the altar (of burnt-offering) devolved upon Aaron and his sons, that the wrath of God might not come again upon the children of Israel (see Num 8:19), - namely, through such illegal acts as Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10:2), and the company of Korah (Num 16:35), had committed. To this end God had handed over the Levites to them as a gift, to be their assistants (see at Num 3:9 and Num 8:16, Num 8:19). But Aaron and his sons were to attend to the priesthood "with regard to everything of the altar and within the vail" (i.e., of the most holy place, see Lev 16:12). The allusion is to all the priestly duties from the altar of burnt-offering to the most holy place, including the holy place which lay between. This office, which brought them into the closest fellowship with the Lord, was a favour accorded to them by the grace of God. This is expressed in the words, "as a service of gift (a service with which I present you) I give you the priesthood." The last words in Num 18:7 are the same as in Num 1:51; and "stranger" (zar), as in Lev 22:10.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary - Shall suffer the punishment of all the usurpations, or pollutions of the sanctuary, or the holy things, by the Levites, or any of the people, because you have power from me to keep them all within their bounds. Thus the people are in good measure secured against their fears. Also they are informed that Aaron's high dignity was attended with great burdens, having not only his own, but the people's sins to answer for; and therefore they had no such reason to envy him, if the benefits and dangers were equally considered. The iniquity of your priesthood - That is, Of all the errors committed by yourselves, or by you permitted in others in things, belonging to your priesthood.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Thou and thy sons - shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary, etc. - That is, They must be answerable for its legal pollutions, and must make the necessary atonements and expiations. By this they must feel that though they had got a high and important office confirmed to them by a miraculous interference, yet it was a place of the highest responsibility; and that they must not be high-minded, but fear.

Top

¹² And the children [01121] of Israel [03478] spake [0559] unto Moses [04872], saying [0559], Behold, we die [01478], we perish [06], we all perish [06].

¹ And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto Aaron [0175], Thou and thy sons [01121] and thy father's [01] house [01004] with thee shall bear [05375] the iniquity [05771] of the sanctuary [04720]: and thou and thy sons [01121] with thee shall bear [05375] the iniquity [05771] of your priesthood [03550].
² And thy brethren [0251] also of the tribe [04294] of Levi [03878], the tribe [07626] of thy father [01], bring [07126] thou with thee, that they may be joined [03867] unto thee, and minister [08334] unto thee: but thou and thy sons [01121] with thee shall minister before [06440] the tabernacle [0168] of witness [05715].
³ And they shall keep [08104] thy charge [04931], and the charge [04931] of all the tabernacle [0168]: only they shall not come nigh [07126] the vessels [03627] of the sanctuary [06944] and the altar [04196], that neither they, nor ye also, die [04191].
⁴ And they shall be joined [03867] unto thee, and keep [08104] the charge [04931] of the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150], for all the service [05656] of the tabernacle [0168]: and a stranger [02114] shall not come nigh [07126] unto you.
⁵ And ye shall keep [08104] the charge [04931] of the sanctuary [06944], and the charge [04931] of the altar [04196]: that there be no wrath [07110] any more upon the children [01121] of Israel [03478].
⁶ And I, behold, I have taken [03947] your brethren [0251] the Levites [03881] from among [08432] the children [01121] of Israel [03478]: to you they are given [05414] as a gift [04979] for the LORD [03068], to do [05647] the service [05656] of the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150].
⁷ Therefore thou and thy sons [01121] with thee shall keep [08104] your priest's office [03550] for every thing [01697] of the altar [04196], and within [01004] the vail [06532]; and ye shall serve [05647]: I have given [05414] your priest's office [03550] unto you as a service [05656] of gift [04979]: and the stranger [02114] that cometh nigh [07131] shall be put to death [04191].

³⁸ And it shall be upon Aaron's [0175] forehead [04696], that Aaron [0175] may bear [05375] the iniquity [05771] of the holy things [06944], which the children [01121] of Israel [03478] shall hallow [06942] in all their holy [06944] gifts [04979]; and it shall be always [08548] upon his forehead [04696], that they may be accepted [07522] before [06440] the LORD [03068].

¹⁰ There shall no stranger [02114] eat [0398] of the holy thing [06944]: a sojourner [08453] of the priest [03548], or an hired servant [07916], shall not eat [0398] of the holy thing [06944].

⁵¹ And when the tabernacle [04908] setteth forward [05265], the Levites [03881] shall take it down [03381]: and when the tabernacle [04908] is to be pitched [02583], the Levites [03881] shall set it up [06965]: and the stranger [02114] that cometh nigh [07131] shall be put to death [04191].

⁷ Therefore thou and thy sons [01121] with thee shall keep [08104] your priest's office [03550] for every thing [01697] of the altar [04196], and within [01004] the vail [06532]; and ye shall serve [05647]: I have given [05414] your priest's office [03550] unto you as a service [05656] of gift [04979]: and the stranger [02114] that cometh nigh [07131] shall be put to death [04191].

¹² And he shall take [03947] a censer [04289] full [04393] of burning [0784] coals [01513] of fire [0784] from off the altar [04196] before [06440] the LORD [03068], and his hands [02651] full [04393] of sweet [05561] incense [07004] beaten small [01851], and bring [0935] it within [01004] the vail [06532]:

¹⁹ And I have given [05414] the Levites [03881] as a gift [05414] to Aaron [0175] and to his sons [01121] from among [08432] the children [01121] of Israel [03478], to do [05647] the service [05656] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478] in the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150], and to make an atonement [03722] for the children [01121] of Israel [03478]: that there be no plague [05063] among the children [01121] of Israel [03478], when the children [01121] of Israel [03478] come nigh [05066] unto the sanctuary [06944].

¹⁶ For they are wholly given [05414] unto me from among [08432] the children [01121] of Israel [03478]; instead of such as open [06363] every womb [07358], even instead of the firstborn [01060] of all the children [01121] of Israel [03478], have I taken [03947] them unto me.

⁹ And thou shalt give [05414] the Levites [03881] unto Aaron [0175] and to his sons [01121]: they are wholly given [05414] unto him out of the children [01121] of Israel [03478].

³⁵ And there came out [03318] a fire [0784] from the LORD [03068], and consumed [0398] the two hundred [03967] and fifty [02572] men [0376] that offered [07126] incense [07004].

² And there went out [03318] fire [0784] from the LORD [03068], and devoured [0398] them, and they died [04191] before [06440] the LORD [03068].

⁵ And ye shall keep [08104] the charge [04931] of the sanctuary [06944], and the charge [04931] of the altar [04196]: that there be no wrath [07110] any more upon the children [01121] of Israel [03478].
⁶ And I, behold, I have taken [03947] your brethren [0251] the Levites [03881] from among [08432] the children [01121] of Israel [03478]: to you they are given [05414] as a gift [04979] for the LORD [03068], to do [05647] the service [05656] of the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150].
⁷ Therefore thou and thy sons [01121] with thee shall keep [08104] your priest's office [03550] for every thing [01697] of the altar [04196], and within [01004] the vail [06532]; and ye shall serve [05647]: I have given [05414] your priest's office [03550] unto you as a service [05656] of gift [04979]: and the stranger [02114] that cometh nigh [07131] shall be put to death [04191].

⁷ And they shall keep [08104] his charge [04931], and the charge [04931] of the whole congregation [05712] before [06440] the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150], to do [05647] the service [05656] of the tabernacle [04908].

⁵³ But the Levites [03881] shall pitch [02583] round about [05439] the tabernacle [04908] of testimony [05715], that there be no wrath [07110] upon the congregation [05712] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478]: and the Levites [03881] shall keep [08104] the charge [04931] of the tabernacle [04908] of testimony [05715].

⁴ And they shall be joined [03867] unto thee, and keep [08104] the charge [04931] of the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150], for all the service [05656] of the tabernacle [0168]: and a stranger [02114] shall not come nigh [07126] unto you.

¹⁵ And when Aaron [0175] and his sons [01121] have made an end [03615] of covering [03680] the sanctuary [06944], and all the vessels [03627] of the sanctuary [06944], as the camp [04264] is to set forward [05265]; after [0310] that, the sons [01121] of Kohath [06955] shall come [0935] to bear [05375] it: but they shall not touch [05060] any holy thing [06944], lest they die [04191]. These things are the burden [04853] of the sons [01121] of Kohath [06955] in the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150].

²⁶ But shall minister [08334] with their brethren [0251] in the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150], to keep [08104] the charge [04931], and shall do [05647] no service [05656]. Thus shalt thou do [06213] unto the Levites [03881] touching their charge [04931].

⁶ Bring [07126] the tribe [04294] of Levi [03878] near [07126], and present [05975] them before [06440] Aaron [0175] the priest [03548], that they may minister [08334] unto him.
⁷ And they shall keep [08104] his charge [04931], and the charge [04931] of the whole congregation [05712] before [06440] the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150], to do [05647] the service [05656] of the tabernacle [04908].

³¹ And this is the charge [04931] of their burden [04853], according to all their service [05656] in the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150]; the boards [07175] of the tabernacle [04908], and the bars [01280] thereof, and the pillars [05982] thereof, and sockets [0134] thereof,

²⁴ This is the service [05656] of the families [04940] of the Gershonites [01649], to serve [05647], and for burdens [04853]:

² And thy brethren [0251] also of the tribe [04294] of Levi [03878], the tribe [07626] of thy father [01], bring [07126] thou with thee, that they may be joined [03867] unto thee, and minister [08334] unto thee: but thou and thy sons [01121] with thee shall minister before [06440] the tabernacle [0168] of witness [05715].
³ And they shall keep [08104] thy charge [04931], and the charge [04931] of all the tabernacle [0168]: only they shall not come nigh [07126] the vessels [03627] of the sanctuary [06944] and the altar [04196], that neither they, nor ye also, die [04191].
⁴ And they shall be joined [03867] unto thee, and keep [08104] the charge [04931] of the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150], for all the service [05656] of the tabernacle [0168]: and a stranger [02114] shall not come nigh [07126] unto you.

⁴ This shall be the service [05656] of the sons [01121] of Kohath [06955] in the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150], about the most [06944] holy things [06944]:

¹⁶ And he shall make an atonement [03722] for the holy [06944] place, because of the uncleanness [02932] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478], and because of their transgressions [06588] in all their sins [02403]: and so shall he do [06213] for the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150], that remaineth [07931] among them in the midst [08432] of their uncleanness [02932].

⁶ And Aaron [0175] shall offer [07126] his bullock [06499] of the sin offering [02403], which is for himself [01157], and make an atonement [03722] for himself, and for his house [01004].