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Numbers 18:22

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 18:22 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And henceforth the children of Israel shall not come nigh the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin, and die.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And henceforth the children of Israel shall not come nigh the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin, and die.
Numbers 18:22 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
19All the heave-offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto Jehovah, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, as a portion for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before Jehovah unto thee and to thy seed with thee.
20And Jehovah said unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any portion among them: I am thy portion and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.
21And unto the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the tent of meeting.
22And henceforth the children of Israel shall not come nigh the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin, and die.
23But the Levites shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations; and among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
24For the tithe of the children of Israel, which they offer as a heave-offering unto Jehovah, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
25And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
← Numbers 18:21Numbers 18:23 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, etc.] To do any part of the priest’s office, as to burn incense, as Korah and his company had done; or to do any part of the work of the Levites, by watching in the tabernacle, by taking it down and setting it up, and bearing the vessels of it; otherwise they might come to it, to bring their sacrifices, to pay their vows, and for their purification when necessary, and such like things: lest they bear sin and die; lest sin be charged upon them, and punishment be inflicted, even the punishment of death; for it was death to intrude into the priest’s office.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Nigh - So nigh as to do any proper act to the priests or Levites. Numbers 18:23”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“come nigh: Num 18:7, Num 1:52, Num 3:10, Num 3:38 bear sin: Lev 20:20, Lev 22:9 and die: Heb. to die Numbers 18:23”
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Related study paths

Read Numbers 18 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification