Numbers 18:23
But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.
Original Language Analysis
וְעָבַ֨ד
shall do
H5647
וְעָבַ֨ד
shall do
Strong's:
H5647
Word #:
1 of 19
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
ה֗וּא
H1931
ה֗וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
3 of 19
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
4 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֹ֣הֶל
of the tabernacle
H168
אֹ֣הֶל
of the tabernacle
Strong's:
H168
Word #:
6 of 19
a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
מוֹעֵ֔ד
of the congregation
H4150
מוֹעֵ֔ד
of the congregation
Strong's:
H4150
Word #:
7 of 19
properly, an appointment, i.e., a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for
יִשְׂא֣וּ
and they shall bear
H5375
יִשְׂא֣וּ
and they shall bear
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
9 of 19
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
עוֹלָם֙
for ever
H5769
עוֹלָם֙
for ever
Strong's:
H5769
Word #:
12 of 19
properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם
throughout your generations
H1755
לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם
throughout your generations
Strong's:
H1755
Word #:
13 of 19
properly, a revolution of time, i.e., an age or generation; also a dwelling
וּבְתוֹךְ֙
that among
H8432
וּבְתוֹךְ֙
that among
Strong's:
H8432
Word #:
14 of 19
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
בְּנֵ֣י
the children
H1121
בְּנֵ֣י
the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
15 of 19
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
16 of 19
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
לֹ֥א
H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
17 of 19
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Historical Context
The Levites descended from Jacob's third son Levi, set apart after the golden calf incident when they alone sided with Moses (Exodus 32:26-29). Their 48 cities scattered throughout Israel (Numbers 35) placed teachers and worship leaders in every region, though they owned no tribal territory. This arrangement persisted until the Babylonian exile disrupted the temple system.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the Levites' willingness to "bear iniquity" for others preview Christ's substitutionary atonement?
- What does it mean that they found complete satisfaction in having "no inheritance" except God?
- How might modern ministers lose the Levitical vision of being supported by others precisely because they serve others full-time?
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Analysis & Commentary
The Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle, and they shall bear their iniquity (עָוֺן avon, iniquity/guilt)—Levites absorbed the liability for Israel's inadvertent violations of sacred space. Their physical placement between the tabernacle and the twelve tribes (ch. 1-2) symbolized their function as a protective buffer against holy contagion.
A statute for ever throughout your generations (חֻקַּת עוֹלָם chuqqat olam)—Yet this "eternal" statute ended with Christ's once-for-all sacrifice. The paradox resolves when we see Levitical service as eternally valid typology, not eternally required ritual. Hebrews 7-10 explains how Christ fulfilled what Aaron foreshadowed. They have no inheritance—Landlessness marked their unique consecration; possession of God surpassed possession of Canaan.