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Numbers 18:4

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 18:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the Tent: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the Tent: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.
Numbers 18:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1And Jehovah said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy fathers` house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.
2And thy brethren also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou near with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall be before the tent of the testimony.
3And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the Tent: only they shall not come nigh unto the vessels of the sanctuary and unto the altar, that they die not, neither they, nor ye.
4And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the Tent: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.
5And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar; that there be wrath no more upon the children of Israel.
6And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are a gift, given unto Jehovah, to do the service of the tent of meeting.
7And 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.
← Numbers 18:3Numbers 18:5 →
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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
“And they shall be joined unto thee, etc.] As assistants in the sacred service: and keep the charge of tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle; (see Gill on “<040307>Numbers 3:7”) and (see Gill on “<040308>Numbers 3:8”); and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you; not any of the other tribes, only such as were of the tribe of Levi; they only were to be brought with them, and joined unto them, and assist them, and minister to them, as in (<041802>Numbers 18:2); though the Jews f243 understand by a stranger anyone that was not a priest.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“A stranger - i. e. every one not a Levite. So in Numbers 18:7, it denotes each one who was not a priest: compare Numbers 3:10; Numbers 16:40. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“a stranger: Num 1:51, Num 3:10; Sa1 6:19; Sa2 6:6, Sa2 6:7 Numbers 18:5”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification