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Numbers 17-18
New English Translation

The Budding of Aaron’s Staff

17 [a] The Lord spoke to Moses: 2 “Speak to the Israelites, and receive from them a staff from each tribe,[b] one from every tribal leader,[c] twelve staffs; you must write each man’s name on his staff. 3 You must write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi; for one staff is for the head of every tribe.[d] 4 You must place them[e] in the tent of meeting before the ark of the covenant[f] where I meet with you. 5 And the staff of the man whom I choose will blossom; so I will rid myself of the complaints of the Israelites, which they murmur against you.”

6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff, one for each leader,[g] according to their tribes[h]—twelve staffs; the staff of Aaron was among their staffs. 7 Then Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the testimony.[i]

8 On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony—and[j] the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted, and brought forth buds, and produced blossoms, and yielded almonds![k] 9 So Moses brought out all the staffs from before the Lord to all the Israelites. They looked at them,[l] and each man took his staff.

The Memorial

10 The Lord said to Moses, “Bring Aaron’s staff back before the testimony to be preserved for a sign to the rebels, so that you may bring their murmurings to an end[m] before me, that they will not die.”[n] 11 So Moses did as the Lord commanded him—this is what he did.

12 The Israelites said to Moses, “We are bound to die![o] We perish, we all perish! 13 (17:28)[p] Anyone who even comes close to the tabernacle of the Lord will die! Are we all to die?”[q]

Responsibilities of the Priests

18 [r] The Lord said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your tribe[s] with you must bear the iniquity of the sanctuary,[t] and you and your sons with you must bear the iniquity of your priesthood.

2 “Bring with you your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, so that they may join[u] with you and minister to you while[v] you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony. 3 They must be responsible to care for you and to care for the entire tabernacle. However, they must not come near the furnishings of the sanctuary and the altar, or both they and you will die. 4 They must join[w] with you, and they will be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the tent, but no unauthorized person[x] may approach you. 5 You will be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the care of the altar, so that there will be[y] no more wrath on the Israelites. 6 I myself have chosen[z] your brothers the Levites from among the Israelites. They are given to you as a gift from the Lord, to perform the duties[aa] of the tent of meeting. 7 But you and your sons with you are responsible for your priestly duties, for everything at the altar and within the curtain. And you must serve. I give you the priesthood as a gift for service, but the unauthorized person who approaches must be put to death.”

The Portion of the Priests

8 The Lord spoke to Aaron, “See, I have given you the responsibility for my raised offerings; I have given all the holy things of the Israelites to you as your priestly portion[ab] and to your sons as a perpetual ordinance. 9 Of all the most holy offerings reserved[ac] from the fire this will be yours: Every offering of theirs, whether from every grain offering or from every purification offering or from every reparation offering which they bring to me, will be most holy for you and for your sons. 10 You are to eat it as a most holy offering; every male may eat it. It will be holy to you.

11 “And this is yours: the raised offering of their gift, along with all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I have given them to you and to your sons and daughters with you as a perpetual ordinance. Everyone who is ceremonially clean in your household may eat of it.

12 “All the best of the olive oil and all the best of the wine and of the wheat, the firstfruits of these things that they give to the Lord, I have given to you.[ad] 13 And whatever first ripe fruit in their land they bring to the Lord will be yours; everyone who is ceremonially clean in your household may eat of it.

14 “Everything devoted[ae] in Israel will be yours. 15 The firstborn of every womb which they present to the Lord, whether human or animal, will be yours. Nevertheless, the firstborn sons you must redeem,[af] and the firstborn males of unclean animals you must redeem. 16 And those that must be redeemed you are to redeem when they are a month old, according to your estimation, for five shekels of silver according to the sanctuary shekel (which is twenty gerahs). 17 But you must not redeem the firstborn of a cow or a sheep or a goat; they are holy. You must splash[ag] their blood on the altar and burn their fat for an offering made by fire for a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 18 And their meat will be yours, just as the breast and the right hip of the raised offering is yours. 19 All the raised offerings of the holy things that the Israelites offer to the Lord, I have given to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual ordinance. It is a covenant of salt[ah] forever before the Lord for you and for your descendants with you.”

Duties of the Levites

20 The Lord spoke to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion of property[ai] among them—I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites. 21 See, I have given the Levites all the tithes in Israel for an inheritance, for their service that they perform—the service of the tent of meeting. 22 No longer may the Israelites approach the tent of meeting, or else they will bear their sin[aj] and die. 23 But the Levites must perform the service[ak] of the tent of meeting, and they must bear their iniquity.[al] It will be a perpetual ordinance throughout your generations that among the Israelites the Levites[am] have no inheritance.[an] 24 But I have given[ao] to the Levites for an inheritance the tithes of the Israelites that are offered[ap] to the Lord as a raised offering. That is why I said to them that among the Israelites they are to have no inheritance.”

Instructions for the Levites

25 The Lord spoke to Moses: 26 “You are to speak to the Levites, and you must tell them, ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe that I have given you from them as your inheritance, then you are to offer up[aq] from it as a raised offering to the Lord a tenth of the tithe. 27 And your raised offering will be credited[ar] to you as though it were grain from the threshing floor or as new wine[as] from the winepress. 28 Thus you are to offer up a raised offering to the Lord of all your tithes that you receive from the Israelites; and you must give the Lord’s raised offering from it to Aaron the priest. 29 From all your gifts you must offer up every raised offering due[at] the Lord, from all the best of it, and the holiest part of it.’[au]

30 “Therefore you will say to them,[av] ‘When you offer up[aw] the best of it, then it will be credited to the Levites as the product of the threshing floor and as the product of the winepress. 31 And you may[ax] eat it in any place, you and your household, because it is your wages for your service in the tent of meeting. 32 And you will bear no sin concerning it when you offer up the best of it. And you must not profane the holy things of the Israelites, or else you will die.’”[ay]

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 17:1 sn Num 17:1 in the English Bible is 17:16 in the Hebrew text (BHS). See also the note on 16:36.
  2. Numbers 17:2 tn Heb “receive from them a rod, a rod from the house of a father.”
  3. Numbers 17:2 tn Heb “from every leader of them according to their fathers’ house.”
  4. Numbers 17:3 tn Heb “one rod for the head of their fathers’ house.”
  5. Numbers 17:4 tn The verb is the Hiphil perfect of נוּחַ (nuakh, “to rest”), and so “to set at rest, lay, place, put.” The form with the vav (ו) consecutive continues the instruction of the previous verse.
  6. Numbers 17:4 tn The Hebrew text simply reads “the covenant” or “the testimony.”
  7. Numbers 17:6 tn Heb “a rod for one leader, a rod for one leader.”
  8. Numbers 17:6 tn Heb “the house of their fathers.”
  9. Numbers 17:7 tn The name of the tent now attests to the centrality of the ark of the covenant. Instead of the “tent of meeting” (מוֹעֵד, moʿed) we now find the “the tent of the testimony” (הָעֵדֻת, haʿedut).
  10. Numbers 17:8 tn Here too the deictic particle (“and behold”) is added to draw attention to the sight in a vivid way.
  11. Numbers 17:8 sn There is no clear answer why the tribe of Levi had used an almond staff. The almond tree is one of the first to bud in the spring, and its white blossoms are a beautiful sign that winter is over. Its name became a name for “watcher”; Jeremiah plays on this name for God’s watching over his people (1:11-12).
  12. Numbers 17:9 tn The words “at them” are not in the Hebrew text, but they have been added in the translation for clarity.
  13. Numbers 17:10 tn The verb means “to finish; to complete” and here “to bring to an end.” It is the imperfect following the imperative, and so introduces a purpose clause (as a final imperfect).
  14. Numbers 17:10 tn This is another final imperfect in a purpose clause.
  15. Numbers 17:12 tn The use of הֵן (hen) and the perfect tense in the nuance of a prophetic perfect expresses their conviction that they were bound to die—it was certain (see GKC 312-13 §106.n).
  16. Numbers 17:13 sn Num 17:13 in the English Bible is 17:28 in the Hebrew text (BHS). See also the note on 16:36.
  17. Numbers 17:13 tn The verse stresses the completeness of their death: “will we be consumed by dying” (הַאִם תַּמְנוּ לִגְוֹעַ, haʾim tamnu ligvoaʿ).
  18. Numbers 18:1 sn This chapter and the next may have been inserted here to explain how the priests are to function because in the preceding chapter Aaron’s position was affirmed. The chapter seems to fall into four units: responsibilities of priests (vv. 1-7), their portions (vv. 8-19), responsibilities of Levites (vv. 20-24), and instructions for Levites (vv. 25-32).
  19. Numbers 18:1 tn Heb “your father’s house.”
  20. Numbers 18:1 sn The responsibility for the sanctuary included obligations relating to any violation of the sanctuary. This was stated to forestall any further violations of the sanctuary. The priests were to pay for any ritual errors, primarily if any came too near. Since the priests and Levites come near all the time, they risk violating ritual laws more than any. So, with the great privileges come great responsibilities. The bottom line is that they were responsible for the sanctuary.
  21. Numbers 18:2 sn The verb forms a wordplay on the name Levi, and makes an allusion to the naming of the tribe Levi by Leah in the book of Genesis. There Leah hoped that with the birth of Levi her husband would be attached to her. Here, with the selection of the tribe to serve in the sanctuary, there is the wordplay again showing that the Levites will be attached to Aaron and the priests. The verb is יִלָּווּ (yillavu), which forms a nice wordplay with Levi (לֵוִי). The tribe will now be attached to the sanctuary. The verb is the imperfect with a vav (ו) that shows volitive sequence after the imperative, here indicating a purpose clause.
  22. Numbers 18:2 tn The clause is a circumstantial clause because the disjunctive vav (ו) is on a nonverb to start the clause.
  23. Numbers 18:4 tn Now the sentence uses the Niphal perfect with a vav (ו) consecutive from the same root לָוָה (lavah).
  24. Numbers 18:4 tn The word is “stranger, alien,” but it can also mean Israelites here.
  25. Numbers 18:5 tn The clause is a purpose clause, and the imperfect tense a final imperfect.
  26. Numbers 18:6 tn Heb “taken.”
  27. Numbers 18:6 tn The infinitive construct in this sentence is from עָבַד (ʿavad), and so is the noun that serves as its object: to serve the service.
  28. Numbers 18:8 tn This is an uncommon root. It may be connected to the word “anoint” as here (see RSV). But it may also be seen as an intended parallel to “perpetual due” (see Gen 47:22; Exod 29:28; Lev 6:11 [HT]).
  29. Numbers 18:9 tn Heb “from the fire.” It probably refers to those parts that were not burned.
  30. Numbers 18:12 tn This form may be classified as a perfect of resolve—he has decided to give them to them, even though this is a listing of what they will receive.
  31. Numbers 18:14 tn The “ban” (חֵרֶם, kherem) in Hebrew describes that which is exclusively the Lord’s, either for his sanctuary use, or for his destruction. It seems to refer to an individual’s devoting something freely to God.
  32. Numbers 18:15 tn The construction uses the infinitive absolute and the imperfect tense of the verb “to redeem” in order to stress the point—they were to be redeemed. N. H. Snaith suggests that the verb means to get by payment what was not originally yours, whereas the other root גָאַל (gaʾal) means to get back what was originally yours (Leviticus and Numbers [NCB], 268).
  33. Numbers 18:17 tn Or “throw, toss.”
  34. Numbers 18:19 sn Salt was used in all the offerings; its importance as a preservative made it a natural symbol for the covenant which was established by sacrifice. Even general agreements were attested by sacrifice, and the phrase “covenant of salt” speaks of such agreements as binding and irrevocable. Note the expression in Ezra 4:14, “we have been salted with the salt of the palace.” See further J. F. Ross, IDB 4:167.
  35. Numbers 18:20 tn The phrase “of property” is supplied as a clarification.
  36. Numbers 18:22 tn The Hebrew text uses the infinitive construct of the verb “to bear” with the preposition ל (lamed) to express the result of such an action. “To bear their sin” would mean that they would have to suffer the consequences of their sin.
  37. Numbers 18:23 tn The verse begins with the perfect tense of עָבַד (ʿavad) with vav (ו) consecutive, making the form equal to the instructions preceding it. As its object the verb has the cognate accusative “service.”
  38. Numbers 18:23 sn The Levites have the care of the tent of meeting, and so they are responsible for any transgressions against it.
  39. Numbers 18:23 tn Heb “they”; the referent (the Levites) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
  40. Numbers 18:23 tn The Hebrew text uses both the verb and the object from the same root to stress the point: They will not inherit an inheritance. The inheritance refers to land.
  41. Numbers 18:24 tn The classification of the perfect tense here too could be the perfect of resolve, since this law is declaring what will be their portion—“I have decided to give.”
  42. Numbers 18:24 tn In the Hebrew text the verb has no expressed subject (although the “Israelites” is certainly intended), and so it can be rendered as a passive.
  43. Numbers 18:26 tn The verb in this clause is the Hiphil perfect with a vav (ו) consecutive; it has the same force as an imperfect of instruction: “when…then you are to offer up.”
  44. Numbers 18:27 tn The verb is חָשַׁב (khashav, “to reckon; to count; to think”); it is the same verb used for “crediting” Abram with righteousness. Here the tithe of the priests will be counted as if it were a regular tithe.
  45. Numbers 18:27 tn Heb “fullness,” meaning the fullness of the harvest, i.e., a full harvest.
  46. Numbers 18:29 tn The construction is “every raised offering of the Lord”; the genitive here is probably to be taken as a genitive of worth—the offering that is due the Lord.
  47. Numbers 18:29 tn Or “its hallowed thing.”
  48. Numbers 18:30 tn The wording of this verse is confusing; it may be that it is addressed to the priests, telling them how to deal with the offerings of the Levites.
  49. Numbers 18:30 tn The clause begins with the infinitive construct with its preposition and suffixed subject serving to indicate the temporal clause.
  50. Numbers 18:31 tn The verb is the perfect tense with vav (ו) consecutive; it functions as the equivalent of the imperfect of permission.
  51. Numbers 18:32 tn The final clause could also be rendered “in order that you do not die.” The larger section can also be interpreted differently; rather than take it as a warning, it could be taken as an assurance that when they do all of this they will not be profaning it and so will not die (R. K. Harrison, Numbers [WEC], 253).
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Numbers 17-18
New International Version

The Budding of Aaron’s Staff

17 [a]The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs(A) from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes.(B) Write the name of each man on his staff. 3 On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name,(C) for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. 4 Place them in the tent of meeting(D) in front of the ark of the covenant law,(E) where I meet with you.(F) 5 The staff belonging to the man I choose(G) will sprout,(H) and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling(I) against you by the Israelites.”

6 So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron’s staff was among them. 7 Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the covenant law.(J)

8 The next day Moses entered the tent(K) and saw that Aaron’s staff,(L) which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.(M) 9 Then Moses brought out all the staffs(N) from the Lord’s presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each of the leaders took his own staff.

10 The Lord said to Moses, “Put back Aaron’s staff(O) in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious.(P) This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.” 11 Moses did just as the Lord commanded him.

12 The Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost!(Q) 13 Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die.(R) Are we all going to die?”

Duties of Priests and Levites

18 The Lord said to Aaron, “You, your sons and your family are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the sanctuary,(S) and you and your sons alone are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the priesthood. 2 Bring your fellow Levites from your ancestral tribe to join you and assist you when you and your sons minister(T) before the tent of the covenant law. 3 They are to be responsible to you(U) and are to perform all the duties of the tent,(V) but they must not go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar. Otherwise both they and you will die.(W) 4 They are to join you and be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting—all the work at the tent—and no one else may come near where you are.(X)

5 “You are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar,(Y) so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites again. 6 I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you,(Z) dedicated to the Lord to do the work at the tent of meeting.(AA) 7 But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain.(AB) I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift.(AC) Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death.(AD)”

Offerings for Priests and Levites

8 Then the Lord said to Aaron, “I myself have put you in charge of the offerings presented to me; all the holy offerings the Israelites give me I give to you and your sons as your portion,(AE) your perpetual share.(AF) 9 You are to have the part of the most holy offerings(AG) that is kept from the fire. From all the gifts they bring me as most holy offerings, whether grain(AH) or sin[b](AI) or guilt offerings,(AJ) that part belongs to you and your sons. 10 Eat it as something most holy; every male shall eat it.(AK) You must regard it as holy.(AL)

11 “This also is yours: whatever is set aside from the gifts of all the wave offerings(AM) of the Israelites. I give this to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share.(AN) Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean(AO) may eat it.

12 “I give you all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain(AP) they give the Lord(AQ) as the firstfruits of their harvest.(AR) 13 All the land’s firstfruits that they bring to the Lord will be yours.(AS) Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it.(AT)

14 “Everything in Israel that is devoted[c] to the Lord(AU) is yours. 15 The first offspring of every womb, both human and animal, that is offered to the Lord is yours.(AV) But you must redeem(AW) every firstborn(AX) son and every firstborn male of unclean animals.(AY) 16 When they are a month old,(AZ) you must redeem them at the redemption price set at five shekels[d](BA) of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel,(BB) which weighs twenty gerahs.(BC)

17 “But you must not redeem the firstborn of a cow, a sheep or a goat; they are holy.(BD) Splash their blood(BE) against the altar and burn their fat(BF) as a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.(BG) 18 Their meat is to be yours, just as the breast of the wave offering(BH) and the right thigh are yours.(BI) 19 Whatever is set aside from the holy(BJ) offerings the Israelites present to the Lord I give to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt(BK) before the Lord for both you and your offspring.”

20 The Lord said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them;(BL) I am your share and your inheritance(BM) among the Israelites.

21 “I give to the Levites all the tithes(BN) in Israel as their inheritance(BO) in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.(BP) 22 From now on the Israelites must not go near the tent of meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die.(BQ) 23 It is the Levites who are to do the work at the tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it. This is a lasting ordinance(BR) for the generations to come.(BS) They will receive no inheritance(BT) among the Israelites.(BU) 24 Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord.(BV) That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.’”

25 The Lord said to Moses, 26 “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you(BW) as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering.(BX) 27 Your offering will be reckoned(BY) to you as grain from the threshing floor(BZ) or juice from the winepress.(CA) 28 In this way you also will present an offering to the Lord from all the tithes(CB) you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the Lord’s portion to Aaron the priest. 29 You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.’

30 “Say to the Levites: ‘When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress.(CC) 31 You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the tent of meeting.(CD) 32 By presenting the best part(CE) of it you will not be guilty in this matter;(CF) then you will not defile the holy offerings(CG) of the Israelites, and you will not die.’”

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 17:1 In Hebrew texts 17:1-13 is numbered 17:16-28.
  2. Numbers 18:9 Or purification
  3. Numbers 18:14 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord.
  4. Numbers 18:16 That is, about 2 ounces or about 58 grams
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