But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
NUMBERS 18:24KJVWhat does Numbers 18:24 mean?
Numbers 18:24 explains that the tithes collected from the Israelites, which they present as a special offering to the LORD, are given to the Levites as their share or inheritance. Because of this, the Levites do not receive a land inheritance among the other tribes of Israel.
In this verse, God is speaking to Moses, instructing him about the arrangements for the Levites. The Levites are set apart for service in the tabernacle, and instead of receiving land like the other tribes, their portion is the tithes (a tenth of the produce and goods) given by the rest of Israel. This arrangement highlights the unique role and dependence of the Levites on the community’s offerings rather than on land ownership.
The Hebrew behind Numbers 18:24
- "tithes" (מַעֲשֵׂר, ma‘ăsēr): This word refers to a tenth part, specifically the portion of produce or goods set aside for religious purposes. Here, it emphasizes that the Levites’ support comes from the people’s offerings, not from land.
- "inherit" and "inheritance" (נַחֲלָה, naḥălāh): This word means a possession or portion, usually land passed down through families. The verse uses it to stress that the Levites’ inheritance is not land, but the tithes.
- "Levites" (לֵוִי, Lēwī): This identifies the tribe set apart for religious duties. Their unique status is underlined by their different kind of inheritance.
- "offer" (רוּם, rūm): This verb means to lift up or present, describing the act of giving the tithes as a special, elevated offering to God.
Why Numbers 18:24 matters
- Numbers 18:24 clears up why the Levites did not receive land like the other tribes; their inheritance was the tithes, not territory.
- The verse reveals the practical arrangement God set up to provide for those serving in the tabernacle, showing the community’s responsibility to support them.
- This verse connects to the wider passage by explaining the ongoing relationship between the Levites and the rest of Israel, setting a pattern for how religious service was supported in ancient Israel.