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Numbers 18: 8-32
God seems to be emphasizing to Aaron that the Levites are getting a pretty good deal out of this servants of the temple thing. First off, they get grain, sin, and guilt offerings. The people bring them as a sacrifice to God - and God gives the most holy part of the sacrifice kept from the fire to Aaron's family. These are to be treated as holy- and every male needs to eat from them.
Plus- they get wave offerings, and the best olive oil and new wine and grain brought as the first-fruits of the harvest. Anyone who is ceremonially clean can dig in. Plus- all firstborn from every womb belong to them- however they must redeem all human firstborn and unclean animals. At a month of age they are to accept five shekels of silver for them.
But cows, sheep, and goats? Splash that blood on the altar. Burn the fat as an offering and enjoy the steak for yourself. He refers to this as an "everlasting covenant of salt" which is a bit confusing to me- but regardless this seems to be intended as a long term arrangement.
However, this is it- they don't get another inheritance. The Levites get all the tithes in exchange for all the work they will do- but THEY must do the work. Israelites must no longer go near the tent of meeting or they will die.
Now the Levites are to take the tithes, and give Aaron ten percent of them. They are to offer grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress. It should be the best and holiest of what they were given. By offering the best, they will be free to enjoy the rest of the blessing without defiling what was offered.
I think it's interesting that the people serving God weren't exempt from paying tribute to Him. Although their payment came from other's work, God still expected sacrifice from them, too. Maybe the lesson here is to remember that now matter how noble our work may be- no matter what level of service we label our work with, what we're given in exchange (no matter how large or small) still comes from God. And us such, He expects us to sacrifice (whether financially and/or otherwise).
Numbers 18: 8-32
God seems to be emphasizing to Aaron that the Levites are getting a pretty good deal out of this servants of the temple thing. First off, they get grain, sin, and guilt offerings. The people bring them as a sacrifice to God - and God gives the most holy part of the sacrifice kept from the fire to Aaron's family. These are to be treated as holy- and every male needs to eat from them.
Plus- they get wave offerings, and the best olive oil and new wine and grain brought as the first-fruits of the harvest. Anyone who is ceremonially clean can dig in. Plus- all firstborn from every womb belong to them- however they must redeem all human firstborn and unclean animals. At a month of age they are to accept five shekels of silver for them.
But cows, sheep, and goats? Splash that blood on the altar. Burn the fat as an offering and enjoy the steak for yourself. He refers to this as an "everlasting covenant of salt" which is a bit confusing to me- but regardless this seems to be intended as a long term arrangement.
However, this is it- they don't get another inheritance. The Levites get all the tithes in exchange for all the work they will do- but THEY must do the work. Israelites must no longer go near the tent of meeting or they will die.
Now the Levites are to take the tithes, and give Aaron ten percent of them. They are to offer grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress. It should be the best and holiest of what they were given. By offering the best, they will be free to enjoy the rest of the blessing without defiling what was offered.
I think it's interesting that the people serving God weren't exempt from paying tribute to Him. Although their payment came from other's work, God still expected sacrifice from them, too. Maybe the lesson here is to remember that now matter how noble our work may be- no matter what level of service we label our work with, what we're given in exchange (no matter how large or small) still comes from God. And us such, He expects us to sacrifice (whether financially and/or otherwise).
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