Numbers 18:8-13

Numbers 18:8-13

[8] And the LORD  spake  unto Aaron,  Behold, I also have given  thee the charge  of mine heave offerings  of the children  of Israel;  unto thee have I given  them by reason of the anointing,  and to thy sons,  by an ordinance  for ever.  [9] This shall be thine of the most  reserved from the fire:  every oblation  of theirs, every meat offering  of theirs, and every sin offering  of theirs, and every trespass offering  of theirs, which they shall render  unto me, shall be most  for thee and for thy sons.  [10] In the most  place shalt thou eat  it; every male  shall eat  it: it shall be holy  unto thee. [11] And this is thine; the heave offering  of their gift,  with all the wave offerings  of the children  of Israel:  I have given  them unto thee, and to thy sons  and to thy daughters  with thee, by a statute  for ever:  every one that is clean  in thy house  shall eat  of it. [12] All the best  of the oil,  and all the best  of the wine,  and of the wheat,  the firstfruits  of them which they shall offer  unto the LORD,  them have I given  thee. [13] And whatsoever is first ripe  in the land,  which they shall bring  unto the LORD,  shall be thine; every one that is clean  in thine house  shall eat  of it.

What does Numbers 18:8-13 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

God gave Aaron these instructions too ( Numbers 18:8). The priests received all the heave offerings that the Israelites brought to the tabernacle. These were all the gifts that the people presented to God ( Numbers 18:8-9; cf. Numbers 5:9). They included parts of the meal, sin, and trespass offerings ( Numbers 18:9-10). The skin of some burnt offerings became the priests" too, but Moses did not mention this, probably because its value was negligible. These were "most holy" offerings ( Numbers 18:9). The priest also received what the offerer waved before the Lord in the peace offering ( Numbers 18:11) and the gifts of first-fruits that the people offered each year ( Numbers 18:12; cf. 2 Chronicles 31:5; Nehemiah 10:36; Nehemiah 10:38).