Numbers 18

Numbers 18:2-7

Altar] The Levites might not approach to the Altar to minister at it, nor eate of the Sacrifices.

Numbers 18:12

The First-fruits] First-fruits seeme to be of many sorts; First, A Sheaf of the first ripe Corne, or an Homer of it, presented the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Levit. XXIII. 10. Secondly, Two Wave-Loaves, of two tenth deales, at the Feast of Pentecost or weeks, Num. XXVIII. 26. Levit. XXIII. 15, 16, 17, 20.

Thirdly, A Cake of the first of their doughs, for an Heave-offering, Num. XV. 20, 21. Fourthly, brought in a Basket, in the seventh moneth, when all their fruits were gathered in, as most understand that place, Deut. XXVI. 1,—11. First-fruits injoyned without any set or certain proportion or stint, Deut. XVIII. 4.

Of these, and other kindes of First-fruits, see more in this Text, And Exod. XXII. 29. and XXIII. 19. and XXXIV. 22, 26. Levit. II. 12, 14, 15, 16. Deut. XVIII. 4.

Ezek. XLIV. 30.

Numbers 18:24

The tenth] So, ver. 21. Tythes, and their kindes and sorts; thus; Tythes of the yearly increase of all things in the Land paid to the Levites, after the First fruits had been first deducted, and brought to the Priests, Exod. XXXIV. 26. Levit. XXIII. 10. Out of the nine parts remaining, there seems another Tenth taken, set apart for their Journeys, Sacrifices, and Feastings, thrice a year at Jerusalem; and therefore brought up thither, and there eaten by the owners, their families, and the Levites, as most probably appears out of Deut.

XII. 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 17, 18, 26. and Ch. XIV. 22,—26. And this second Tythe seems every third year to be distributed to the poor. Or rather a third Tythe every third year, not carried to Jerusalem, and eaten there; But gathered for these charitable uses onely, and to be eaten any where throughout the Land, Deut. XIV. 28, 29. and XXVI. 12, 13. And this third year is therefore called the year of Tything, Deut.

XXVI. 12. Amos IV. 4.

Of Tythes see more, 2 Chron. XXXI. 4,—19. Nehem. X. 32, —39. and XII. 44, 47. and XIII. 5, 12, 13. Mal. III. 8, 10. Luke XI. 42. and XVIII. 12. Heb. VII. 2,—9.

The great maintenance of the Levites, appears in that the whole Tribe of Levi being three or four times lesse in number then any other Tribe, yet had they distinguished from all the Priests, the Tythes of all the Tribes, and so more then any one other Tribe; Besides their thirty five Cities and Suburbs, whereof five were Cities of Refuge; Josh. XXI. one belonging to the Kohathites Levites; two to the Gershonites, and two to the Merarites. In all twice at least more Cities then some other Tribes had that were twice their number. See also that, Num. XXXI. 30, 47.

The greater maintenance of the Priests appears, in that being but three persons at first, at least of ripe and mature age, yet they had the Tythes yearly of all the Levites Tythes, which were at first 8580 of thirty years old, and upwards; and so about the hundred part of all the fruits and increase of all Israel. And as the numbers of the Priests multiplied afterwards, so did in all probability the number of the other Tribes. They had also all the First-fruits of all things, from all persons, throughout the twelve Tribes, even of their doughs and bakings, Deut. XVIII. 4. Num. XV. 20, 21. which, as some think, exceeded their Tythes aforesaid.

They had also all the First-borne of Oxen, Sheep, and Goats, which were given to them in kinde; And the Redemption money of the First-borne of Men, and of unclean Beasts and cattell, Num. III. 46—52. Exod. XXXIV. 19. 20, and Ch. XXII. 29, 30. Deut.

XV. 19. They had also all Oblations, both Voluntary, and by Vow; And the Redemption of Things, and of Persons, Devoted to God: And all Sacrifices for Sinnes and for Trespasses, and the Meat and Drink Offerings, and Heave-offerings; And the Breast and Shoulder in Peace-offerings, Deut. XVIII. 3. And the Skins of the whole Burnt-offerings. And all their Tythes, First-fruits and Oblations were to be of the best and choisest sorts, Num. XVIII. 12, 29.

Besides these they had thirteen Cities, and Suburbs, and Priviledges belonging to them, whereof one was a City of Refuge, Josh XXI. 13. See Num. XVIII. 8,—19. And that also Num. XXXI. 28, 29, 37, 38, 39, 40, 50. Levit.

X. 12, 13, 14, 15. and Ch. XXVII. 21, 28. See the Annotations on Num. XVIII. 29.