Numbers 18:3
Numbers 18:3 in Multiple Translations
And they shall attend to your duties and to all the duties of the Tent; but they must not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar, or both they and you will die.
And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.
And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the Tent: only they shall not come nigh unto the vessels of the sanctuary and unto the altar, that they die not, neither they, nor ye.
They are to do your orders and be responsible for the work of the Tent; but they may not come near the vessels of the holy place or the altar, so that death may not overtake them or you.
They will take care of your responsibilities and those relating to the Tent, but they must not come too close to the sacred objects of the sanctuary or the altar, otherwise they will die, and you will too.
And they shall keepe thy charge, euen the charge of all the Tabernacle: but they shall not come neere the instruments of the Sanctuary, nor to the altar, lest they die, both they and you:
'And they have kept thy charge, and the charge of all the tent; only, unto the vessels of the sanctuary and unto the altar they do not come near, and they die not, either they or you;
They shall keep your commands and the duty of the whole Tent; only they shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary and to the altar, that they not die, neither they nor you.
And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.
And the Levites shall watch to do thy commands, and about all the works of the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary nor the altar, lest both they die, and you also perish with them.
But while they do that work, they must not go near the sacred items inside the tent or near the altar. If they do that, they will die, and you will die, too!
Berean Amplified Bible — Numbers 18:3
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Numbers 18:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Numbers 18:3
Study Notes — Numbers 18:3
- Context
- Cross References
- Numbers 18:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Numbers 18:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 18:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Numbers 18:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Numbers 18:3
- Cambridge Bible on Numbers 18:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Numbers 18:3
- Sermons on Numbers 18:3
Context — Duties of Priests and Levites
3And they shall attend to your duties and to all the duties of the Tent; but they must not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar, or both they and you will die.
4They are to join you and attend to the duties of the Tent of Meeting, doing all the work at the Tent; but no outsider may come near you. 5And you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and of the altar, so that wrath may not fall on the Israelites again.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 4:15 | When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting. |
| 2 | Numbers 16:40 | just as the LORD commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers. |
| 3 | Numbers 4:19–20 | In order that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry. But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.” |
| 4 | Numbers 3:36 | The duties assigned to the sons of Merari were the tabernacle’s frames, crossbars, posts, bases, and all its equipment—all the service for these items, |
| 5 | Numbers 3:25 | The duties of the Gershonites at the Tent of Meeting were the tabernacle and tent, its covering, the curtain for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, |
| 6 | Numbers 3:31 | Their duties were the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used with them, and the curtain—all the service for these items. |
| 7 | Numbers 18:7 | But only you and your sons shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and what is inside the veil, and you are to perform that service. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but any outsider who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.” |
| 8 | Numbers 1:51 | Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever it is to be pitched, the Levites are to set it up. Any outsider who goes near it must be put to death. |
Numbers 18:3 Summary
This verse explains that the Levites were to help the priests with their duties, but they were not allowed to go near the special furniture in the Tent of Meeting or the altar, because that was only for the priests. If they did, they would die, as would the priests if they didn't follow God's instructions, as seen in Numbers 18:5. This shows how important it is to follow God's rules and respect the roles He has given us, just like in Exodus 28:1, where God gives instructions for the priests. By obeying God's commands, we can avoid His wrath and live in harmony with Him, as taught in Deuteronomy 12:32.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of the Levites in relation to the Tent of Meeting?
According to Numbers 18:3, the Levites were to attend to the duties of the Tent and assist the priests, but they were not to come near the sanctuary or altar, as this was the responsibility of the priests, as seen in Numbers 18:5 and Exodus 28:1.
Why were the Levites not allowed to come near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar?
The Levites were not allowed to come near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar because this was a sacred area reserved for the priests, and entering it would result in death, as stated in Numbers 18:3, highlighting the importance of following God's instructions, as seen in Deuteronomy 12:32.
What would happen if the Levites or priests failed to follow God's instructions?
If the Levites or priests failed to follow God's instructions, it would result in death, as stated in Numbers 18:3, and also wrath would fall on the Israelites, as seen in Numbers 18:5, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God's commands, as taught in Leviticus 10:1-2 and Numbers 16:40.
How does this verse relate to the broader theme of priestly responsibility in the Bible?
This verse highlights the importance of priestly responsibility, as seen in Numbers 18:1-7, and is consistent with other biblical teachings on the role of priests, such as in Exodus 28:1 and Ezekiel 44:10-16, emphasizing the need for those in positions of spiritual leadership to follow God's instructions carefully.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can assist those in spiritual leadership, while also respecting their unique role and responsibilities?
- How can I ensure that I am following God's instructions in my own life, and what are the consequences of not doing so?
- What does this verse teach me about the importance of humility and recognizing my own limitations in serving God?
- In what ways can I apply the principle of respecting sacred boundaries in my own relationship with God and others?
Gill's Exposition on Numbers 18:3
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 18:3
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Numbers 18:3
Trapp's Commentary on Numbers 18:3
Cambridge Bible on Numbers 18:3
Whedon's Commentary on Numbers 18:3
Sermons on Numbers 18:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Steadying the Ark of God by Vance Havner | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of true worship and the need for personal responsibility in carrying out God's work. He criticizes the idea of putting on a r |
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Burdens & Gifts by Gareth Evans | In this sermon, the speaker begins by sharing a story from the book of Kings about a mother bird teaching her baby bird to fly. He uses this story as a parable to illustrate the co |
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Uzzah and the Ark of God by Richard Owen Roberts | This sermon emphasizes the importance of doing things God's way and humbling ourselves before Him. It highlights the need for true preaching that moves hearts, not just teaching, a |
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Soaring 2 - Burdens & Gifts by Gareth Evans | In this sermon, the speaker begins by sharing a story from the book of Kings in the Old Testament. The story is about a little bundle that learns to fly and soar without moving its |
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The Pins of the Tabernacle. by Andrew Bonar | Andrew Bonar emphasizes the significance of seemingly insignificant tasks in God's work, using the example of the 'pins' of the tabernacle to illustrate that God notices and values |
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The Order Appointed by God by Clement of Rome | Clement of Rome emphasizes the importance of following God's commands in an orderly and timely manner, specifically in presenting offerings and performing services to Him. He highl |





