Numbers 18:7

⁵ And you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and of the altar, so that wrath may not fall on the Israelites again.

⁶ Behold, I Myself have selected your fellow Levites from the Israelites as a gift to you, dedicated to the LORD to perform the service for the Tent of Meeting.

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 Then the LORD said to Aaron, “Behold, I have put you in charge of My offerings. As for all the sacred offerings of the Israelites, I have given them to you and your sons as a portion and a permanent statute.

⁹ A portion of the most holy offerings reserved from the fire will be yours. From all the offerings they render to Me as most holy offerings, whether grain offerings or sin offerings or guilt offerings, that part belongs to you and your sons.

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: 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.”
KJV: Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest’s office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest’s office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
WEB: You and your sons with you shall keep your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil. You shall serve. I give you the service of the priesthood as a gift. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.”
ASV: And thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil; and ye shall serve: I give you the priesthood as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
DARBY: But thou and thy sons with thee shall attend to your priesthood for all that concerneth the altar, and for that which is inside the veil; and ye shall perform the service: I give you your priesthood as a service of gift, and the stranger that cometh near shall be put to death.
BLB: Therefore you and your sons with you shall attend to your⁺ priesthood for everything concerning the altar and behind the veil, and you⁺ shall serve. I give [to you] your⁺ priesthood as a service for a gift, and the outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”

ÅB: Men du og dine sønner skal ta vare på deres prestetjeneste i alt som vedkommer alteret og gjerningen innenfor forhenget, og utføre tjenesten. Jeg gir dere deres prestetjeneste som en gave; men den fremmede som kommer nær til, skal late livet.
OTB: Men bare du og dine sønner skal tjene som prester i forhold til alt ved alteret og innenfor forhenget. Jeg gir deg prestedømmet som en gave. Enhver annen som kommer nær, skal bli drept."
B1930: Men du og dine sønner skal ta vare på eders prestetjeneste i alt som vedkommer alteret og gjerningen innenfor forhenget, og utføre tjenesten. Jeg gir eder eders prestetjeneste som en gave; men den fremmede som kommer nær til, skal late livet.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Numbers 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 context
John 3:27
John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
Read in context
Romans 15:15–16
However, I have written you a bold reminder on some points, because of the grace God has given me
Read in context
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.
Read in context
Numbers 18:20
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.
Read in context
Numbers 18:4–5
They 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.
Read in context
Numbers 16:5–7
Then he said to Korah and all his followers, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will reveal who belongs to Him and who is holy, and He will bring that person near to Himself. The one He chooses, He will bring near to Himself.
Read in context
Numbers 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 context