Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress.
NUMBERS 18:30KJVWhat does Numbers 18:30 mean?
Numbers 18:30 explains that when the Levites set aside the best part of the offerings they receive, the rest of what remains is considered their own, just as if it were produce they had harvested themselves. This verse clarifies that the Levites are allowed to keep and use what is left after giving the best portion to God.
In this verse, God is instructing Moses to tell the Levites about their share of the offerings brought by the Israelites. The Levites do not own land or farm like the other tribes, so their "increase" comes from what the people bring. After the Levites "heave" or lift up the best part as an offering, the remainder is counted as their rightful income, similar to the harvest from a threshing floor or winepress.
The Hebrew behind Numbers 18:30
- "heaved" (רוּם, rum): This word means to lift up or offer. Here, it refers to the Levites setting aside the best part of their received offerings, showing a deliberate act of dedication to God.
- "best" (חֵלֶב, chelev): This word often means the choicest or richest part. The Levites are to give the finest portion, not just any part, highlighting the importance of giving God the best.
- "counted" (חָשַׁב, chashav): This word means to consider or reckon. The rest of the offering is officially regarded as the Levites’ own, not as something still belonging to God.
- "increase" (תְּבוּאָה, tevuah): This word means produce or yield. The verse compares the Levites’ share to the regular harvest, making it clear that this is their legitimate provision.
Why Numbers 18:30 matters
- Numbers 18:30 clears up any confusion about whether the Levites could use the offerings after giving God His portion; it confirms that the remainder is truly theirs.
- The verse emphasizes fairness and provision for the Levites, who depend on these offerings instead of farming their own land.
- By comparing the Levites’ share to the harvest from a threshing floor or winepress, the verse helps readers understand that their income is just as real and valid as that of any other Israelite.