Numbers 18:22
20 Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.
21 Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting.
No longer may the Israelites come near to the Tent of Meeting, or they will incur guilt and die.
23 The Levites are to perform the work of the Tent of Meeting, and they must bear their iniquity. This is a permanent statute for the generations to come. The Levites will not receive an inheritance among the Israelites.
24 For I have given to the Levites as their inheritance the tithe that the Israelites present to the LORD as a contribution. That is why I told them that they would not receive an inheritance among the Israelites.”
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- No longer may the Israelites come near to the Tent of Meeting, or they will incur guilt and die.
- KJV
- Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.
- WEB
- Henceforth the children of Israel shall not come near the Tent of Meeting, lest they bear sin, and die.
- ASV
- And henceforth the children of Israel shall not come nigh the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin, and die.
- DARBY
- Neither shall the children of Israel henceforth come near the tent of meeting, to bear sin and die.
- BLB
- And hereafter the sons of Israel shall not come near to the Tent of Meeting, lest they bear sin and die.
- ÅB
- Israels barn skal ikke mere komme nær til sammenkomstens telt, for da fører de synd over seg og må dø.
- OTB
- Fra nå av må ikke israelittene nærme seg møteteltet, ellers vil de bære konsekvensene av sin synd og dø.
- B1930
- Israels barn skal ikke mere komme nær til sammenkomstens telt, for da fører de synd over sig og må dø.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Leviticus 22:9
The priests must keep My charge, lest they bear the guilt and die because they profane it. I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
Read in contextNumbers 3:38
Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.
Read in contextNumbers 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.”
Read in contextLeviticus 20:20
If a man lies with his uncle’s wife, he has uncovered the nakedness of his uncle. They will bear their sin; they shall die childless.
Read in contextNumbers 3:10
So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.”
Read in contextNumbers 1:51–52
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.
Read in context