Numbers 18 Summary: A Concise Overview in 5 Minutes

Numbers 18 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• God’s commands in Numbers 18 appear to have been given during the 40 years the Israelites were living in the wilderness as a punishment for their faithlessness (14:33-35).

• The Israelites were in the wilderness from approximately 1490-1450 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Moses – Moses was selected by God to lead the Israelites to Canaan. God spoke directly to Moses and Moses communicated God’s words to the people.    

• Aaron – Moses’ brother and the High Priest of Israel.

• Aaron’s Sons – Eleazar and Ithamar served under their father as priests.

• Levites (Tribe of Levi) – A tribe of the Israelites which was specially selected by God to assist Aaron with the affairs of the Tabernacle.

WHERE:

• The Israelites were camped in the wilderness of Paran at Kadesh (13:26), but God told them to turn around and go back into the wilderness “by the way to the Red Sea” (14:25). They remained in the wilderness 40 years.  

OUTLINE:

• THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES (18:1-7):

  • Following Korah’s attempt to delegitimize Aaron as High Priest, God reaffirmed Aaron and his sons as the ordained priests.

  • Aaron and his sons were to care for the Tabernacle and the holy items contained within it.

  • The Levites were charged with keeping guard outside the Tabernacle so no unauthorized person could approach.

  • Anyone who approached the Tabernacle inappropriately was to be put to death.

• CONTRIBUTIONS BELONGING TO THE PRIESTS (18:8-19):

  • A portion of the offerings brought to the Tabernacle were given by God to the priests.

  • The priests were to take their portion and eat it with their families in a “holy place.”

  • Anyone one in their family could eat the food unless they were unclean.

  • A few things are specifically mentioned in this chapter as belonging to the priests: the people’s wave offerings, the best of the oil, the best of the wine, the first ripe fruits offered as firstfruits offerings, and the firstborn of all clean animals brought to the Tabernacle.

  • New parents had to “redeem” their firstborn child by giving the priests 5 silver shekels.

  • The firstborn of unclean animals also needed to be redeemed.

• LAND INHERITANCE AND INCOME OF THE LEVITES (18:20-32):

  • God told the Levites they would not inherit land in Canaan like the other tribes.

  • Instead, they were to receive the people’s tithes brought as offerings to God.

  • This did not exempt the Levities from tithing, they were required to offer “a tithe of the tithe” they received and give it to Aaron.

APPLICATION:

• Do you think the priests ever got tired of waking up every day and offering sacrifices?

• I suspect, like all of us, they had days when they were burnt-out.

• But we don’t have any record of Aaron or his sons quitting their work, and it’s a good thing they didn’t because they were the only ones who could help the people with their sins. 

• If you are living the life of a disciple faithfully, there will be days when you’re tired.

• But you can’t quit, because if you stop mirroring Jesus and stop pointing people to Him, people won’t be able to find a solution for their sin problem.

• Galatians 6:9 - And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 

DIAGRAM OF THE CAMP OF ISRAEL:

DIAGRAM OF THE TABERNACLE: