Numbers 18:7

“Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest’s office, etc.] Observe all the duties of it, and keep out others from intruding into it: for everything of the altar: both of incense and of burnt offering with respect to burning incense on the one, and offering sacrifices on the other; both were to be done by priests, and by no other: and within the vail; in the most holy place, where the high priest entered but once a year, and he only with incense, and the blood of sacrifices, (see <580907> Hebrews 9:7); and ye shall serve; do all the business that is to be done at either altar, whether in the court, or in the holy place, and whatsoever is to be done in the most holy place…”

“The Lord instructs here the priests that the office which they fill, and the help which they enjoy, are gifts from Him, and are to be viewed as such. return to 'Top of Page'”

“The altar - Of burnt - offering. Within the veil - This phrase here comprehends both the holy and the most holy place. As a gift which I have freely conferred upon you, and upon you alone; and therefore let no man henceforth dare either to charge you with arrogance in appropriating this to yourselves, or to invade your office. Numbers 18:8”

“18:7 Any unauthorized person . . . will be put to death: This verse warned Israelites at all levels in the sacred hierarchy to avoid areas where they were not allowed. Certain sacred places were off limits to those not qualified in a technical religious sense. Access to the most sacred areas was restricted, set apart for the holiest members of the religious community. Those who broke that taboo violated God’s holiness at the cost of their lives (see also 1:51, 53; 3:10, 29-38; 4:1-20).”

“Therefore thou: Num 18:5, Num 3:10 within: Lev 16:2, Lev 16:12-14; Heb 9:3-6 as a service: Num 16:5-7; Sa1 2:28; Joh 3:27; Rom 15:15, Rom 15:16; Eph 3:8; Heb 5:4 the stranger: Num 18:4, Num 3:38, Num 16:40 Numbers 18:8”