Nu 18: 3 words for death, membership has its privileges

       In the end of chapter 17, Aaron’s rod has budded. The leaders take their own rods. Moses per the LORD’s command, puts the rod before the testimony, to be kept there. This is to stop the murmurings so the people will not die.

       The children of Israel respond to Moses:

       12 And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die [ewg gava`], we perish [dba 'abad], we all perish [dba 'abad]. 13 Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die [twm muwth]: shall we be consumed with dying [ewg gava`]?

         Gava` means to die, give up the ghost, be dead. 'Abad has a slightly different meaning: to perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed, be lost; to destroy, kill, cause to perish, exterminate, blot out; used in divine judgment to destroy, put to death. Muwth’s meaning is somewhere between the other words, with a hint of prematurely dying thrown in.

       In 18, note something new. The LORD answers them by speaking to Aaron. He delineates the roles of the sons of Levi once more, but don’t miss the new details.

       3b only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die [muwth].

         Aaron is also at risk for disobedience.

       6 And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given [Ntn nathan] as a gift [hntm mattanah] for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

       The Levites alone are nathan’d to the LORD as a mattanah.

       12 All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee.

       This is a principle that in modern day, we do well to consider for our own pastors. Sure, “membership has its privileges,” but to handle the responsibility of being a pastor or priest? It’s a heavy undertaking. If your pastor asks for a raise, please be compassionate. Unless your pastor is in flagrant sin, give him/her a raise!

       Remember the sobering warning in James:

       Jas 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

       In other words, God holds them to a higher scrutiny. Selah.

      

       20 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.

       The Levites are called to an interesting and difficult position of duty and faith. They don’t have land for their inheritance; they have the LORD. They will, however, have the offerings and the tithes given by the congregation.

       The gem in verse 20 is that the LORD decrees that He will be their portion and their inheritance. Selah.