---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse Numbers 18:1. Thou and thy sons - shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary, c. — That is, They must be answerable for its legal pollutions, and must"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/numbers/18"
---

Verse [Numbers 18:1](../../../kjv/numbers/18/1). ***Thou and thy sons - shall bear the iniquity of the**********sanctuary, c.*** — 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.

Verse [Numbers 18:2](../../../kjv/numbers/18/2). ***Thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi - may be joined**********unto thee*** — There is a fine paronomasia, or play upon words, in the original. לוי *Levi* comes from the root לוה *lavah, to join* *to, couple, associate*: hence Moses says, the *Levites*, ילוו yillavu, shall be *joined*, or *associated* with the priests; they shall conjointly perform the whole of the sacred office, but the priests shall be *principal*, the Levites only their *associates* or *assistants*. For an explanation of many parts of this chapter, see the notes on several of the passages referred to in the *margin*.

Verse [Numbers 18:15](../../../kjv/numbers/18/15). ***The first-born of man - and the firstling of unclean**********beasts*** — Thus vain man is ranked with the beasts that perish; and with the *worst* kinds of them too, those deemed *unclean*.

Verse [Numbers 18:16](../../../kjv/numbers/18/16). ***Shalt thou redeem - for the money of five shekels*** — Redemption of the first-born is one of the rites which is still practised among the Jews. According to Leo of Modena, it is performed in the following manner: - When the child is thirty days old, the father sends for one of the descendants of Aaron: several persons being assembled on the occasion, the father brings a cup containing several pieces of gold and silver coin. The priest then takes the child into his arms, and addressing himself to the mother, says: *Is this thy son*?
MOTHER. Yes.
PRIEST. *Hast thou* *never had another child, male or female, a miscarriage or untimely* *birth*?
MOTHER. No.
PRIEST. *This being the case, this child, as* *first-born, belongs to me*.
Then, turning to the father, he says: *If it be thy desire to have this child, thou must redeem* *it*.
FATHER. I present thee with this gold and silver for this purpose.
PRIEST. *Thou dost wish, therefore, to redeem the* *child*?
FATHER. I do wish so to do.
The priest then, turning himself to the assembly, says: *Very well; this child, as* *first-born, is mine, as it is written in Bemidbar*, ([Numbers 18:16](../../../kjv/numbers/18/16)), *Thou shalt redeem the first-born of a month old for five shekels*, *but I shall content myself with this in exchange*. He then takes two gold crowns, or thereabouts, and returns the child to his parents.

Verse [Numbers 18:19](../../../kjv/numbers/18/19). ***It is a covenant of salt*** — That is, an incorruptible, everlasting covenant. As *salt* was added to different kinds of viands, not only to give them a relish, but to preserve them from putrefaction and decay, it became the emblem of *incorruptibility* and *permanence*. Hence, a *covenant* of *salt* signified an *everlasting covenant*. We have already seen that, among the Asiatics, eating together was deemed a bond of perpetual friendship; and as *salt* was a common article in all their repasts, it may be in reference to this circumstance that a perpetual covenant is termed a *covenant of salt*; because the parties ate together of the sacrifice offered on the occasion, and the whole transaction was considered as a league of endless friendship. [Leviticus 2:13](../../../kjv/leviticus/2/13); [Leviticus 2:13](../../../kjv/leviticus/2/13).

Verse [Numbers 18:20](../../../kjv/numbers/18/20). ***I am thy part and thine inheritance*** — The principal part of what was offered to God was the portion of the priests, therefore they had no inheritance of *land* in Israel; independently of that they had a very ample provision for their support. The rabbins say *twenty-four* gifts were given to the priests, and they are all expressed in the law. *Eight* of those gifts the priests ate nowhere but in the sanctuary: these *eight* are the following: -
1. The flesh of the SIN-OFFERING, whether of beasts or fowls, [Leviticus 6:25-26](../../../kjv/leviticus/6/25-26).
2. The flesh of the TRESPASS-OFFERING, [Leviticus 7:1](../../../kjv/leviticus/7/1); [Leviticus 7:6](../../../kjv/leviticus/7/6).
3. The PEACE-OFFERINGS of the congregation, [Leviticus 23:19-20](../../../kjv/leviticus/23/19-20).
4. The *remainder* of the OMER or SHEAF, [Leviticus 23:10](../../../kjv/leviticus/23/10), c.
5. The *remnants* of the MEAT-OFFERINGS of the Israelites, [Leviticus 6:16](../../../kjv/leviticus/6/16).
6. The two LOAVES, [Leviticus 23:17](../../../kjv/leviticus/23/17).
7. The SHEW-BREAD, [Leviticus 24:9](../../../kjv/leviticus/24/9).
8. The LOG of OIL offered by the *leper*, [Leviticus 14:10](../../../kjv/leviticus/14/10), c.
*Five* of those gifts they ate only in Jerusalem: -
1. The *breast* and *shoulder* of the PEACE-OFFERINGS, [Leviticus 7:31](../../../kjv/leviticus/7/31) [Leviticus 7:34](../../../kjv/leviticus/7/34).
2. The HEAVE-OFFERING of the sacrifice of *confession*, [Leviticus 7:12-14](../../../kjv/leviticus/7/12-14).
3. The HEAVE-OFFERING of the Nazarite's *ram*, [Leviticus 6:17-20](../../../kjv/leviticus/6/17-20).
4. The FIRSTLING of the *clean beast*, [Numbers 18:15](../../../kjv/numbers/18/15); [Deuteronomy 15:19-20](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/15/19-20).
5. The FIRST-FRUITS, [Numbers 18:13](../../../kjv/numbers/18/13).
FIVE gifts were not due unto them by the law, but in the land of Israel only: -
1. The *heave-offering* or FIRST-FRUITS, [Numbers 18:12](../../../kjv/numbers/18/12).
2. The *heave-offering* of the TITHE, [Numbers 18:28](../../../kjv/numbers/18/28).
3. The CAKE, [Numbers 15:20](../../../kjv/numbers/15/20).
These three were *holy*.
4. The *first-fruits* of the FLEECE, [Deuteronomy 18:4](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/18/4).
5. The FIELD of POSSESSION, [Numbers 35:2](../../../kjv/numbers/35/2) c.
These two were *common*.
FIVE gifts were due unto them both *within* and *without* the land: -
1. The *gifts* of the BEASTS SLAIN, [Deuteronomy 18:3](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/18/3).
2. The redemption of the FIRST-BORN SON, [Numbers 18:15](../../../kjv/numbers/18/15).
3. The LAMB for the *firstling* of an *ass*, [Exodus 4:20](../../../kjv/exodus/4/20); [Numbers 18:15-16](../../../kjv/numbers/18/15-16).
4. The restitution of that taken by violence from a stranger, [Numbers 5:8](../../../kjv/numbers/5/8).
5. All DEVOTED *things*, [Numbers 18:14](../../../kjv/numbers/18/14).
ONE gift was due unto them from the sanctuary: -
1. The *skins of the burnt-offering*, and all the skins of the other most holy things, [Leviticus 7:8](../../../kjv/leviticus/7/8).
In all 24. See *Ainsworth*.
The gifts which the females of the priests' families had a part in were these: -
1. The *heave-offering*, or *first-fruits*.
2. The heave-offering of the *tithe*.
3. The *cake*.
4. The gifts of the *beast*, [Deuteronomy 18:3](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/18/3).
5. The first of the *fleece*.
-See Mishna, Tract. *Biccurim*, and Ainsworth on the Pentateuch.
Besides all this the priests had the tribute money mentioned [Numbers 31:28-29](../../../kjv/numbers/31/28-29).

Verse [Numbers 18:21](../../../kjv/numbers/18/21). ***Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the**********tenth*** —
First, the Levites had the tenth of all the productions of the land.
2. They had forty-eight cities, each forming a square of 4,000 cubits.
3. They had 2,000 cubits of ground round each city.
Total of the land they possessed, 53,000 acres.
4. They had the first-fruits and certain parts of all the animals killed in the land.
Canaan contained about 11,264,000 acres; therefore the portion possessed by the Levites was rather less than as *one* to *two* *hundred and twelve*; for 11,264,000 divided by 53,000, quotes only 212 28/53. - See *Lowman, Dodd*, c. But though this was a very small proportion for a *whole tribe* that had consented to annihilate its *political existence*, that it might wait upon the service of God, and labour for the people's souls yet let it be considered that what they possessed was the *best of the land*: and while it was a slender remuneration for their services, yet their portion was such as rendered them independent, and kept them comfortable; so that they could wait on the Lord's work without distraction. This is a proper pattern for the maintenance of the ministers of God: let them have a *sufficiency* for *themselves* and *families*, that there may be no *distracting cares*; and let them not be encumbered with *riches* or *worldly possessions*, that they may not be prevented from taking *care of souls*.

Verse [Numbers 18:28](../../../kjv/numbers/18/28). ***Thus ye also shall offer a heave-offering*** — As the Levites had the tithe of the whole land, they themselves were obliged to give the *tithe* of this *tithe* to the priests, so that this considerably lessened their revenue. And this tithe or tenth they were obliged to select from the *best part* of the substance they had received, [Numbers 18:29](../../../kjv/numbers/18/29), &c. A portion of all must be given to God, as an evidence of his goodness, and their dependence on him. [Numbers 18:29](../../../kjv/numbers/18/29)

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