Verse 8. - And the Lord spake unto Aaron. The charge and responsibility of the priests having been declared, the provision for their maintenance is now to be set forth. The charge,מִשְׁמֶרֶת, as in verse 5, etc.; but here it means "the keeping" for their own use (cf. Exodus 12:6). Mine heave offerings.תְּרוּמֹתָי. The possessive pronoun marks the fact that these did not belong to the priest in the first instance, although they naturally came to be looked on as his perquisites (cf. 1 Samuel 2:16), but were a gift to him from the Lord out of what the people had dedicated. The word terumoth must here be understood in its widest sense, as including everything which the Israelites dedicated or "lifted" of all their possessions, so far as these were not destroyed in the act of offering. Of allthe hallowed things. The genitive of identity: "consisting of all the hallowed things." By reason of the anointing. Rather, "for a portion," לְמָשְׁחָה (see on Leviticus 7:35). The Septuagint has εἰςγέρας, "as an honour," or peculium.
18:8-19 All believers are spiritual priests, and God has promised to take care of them. Godliness has the promise of the life that now is. And from the provision here made for the priests, the apostle shows that it is the duty of christian churches to maintain their ministers. Scandalous maintenance makes scandalous ministers. The priests were to be wholly devoted to their ministry, not diverted from it, or disturbed in it, by worldly care or business. Also, that they might be examples of living by faith, not only in God's providence, but in his ordinances. The best should be offered for the first-fruits unto the Lord. Those who think to save, by putting God off with the refuse, deceive themselves, for God is not mocked.
And the Lord spake unto Aaron,.... Having pointed out to him the duty of his office, he now informs him of the perquisites of it; or having told him what was his work, now what his wages, or what was his service, and now his maintenance:
behold, I also have given thee the charge of my heave offerings, of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; such as the heave shoulder and wave breast, and firstfruits, and all other holy things in general, such as were the most holy things; as in Numbers 18:9; and the lighter holy things, as the Jews call them, Numbers 18:11; the charge of these was given to keep for themselves, and for their families:
unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing: because of his office as a priest, to which he was consecrated by anointing:
and to thy sons by an ordinance for ever; see Leviticus 7:34.
Unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing.--Better, unto thee have I given them for an anointing portion. (See Leviticus 7:35, and Note.)
By an ordinance for ever.--Better, as an eternal statute.
behold, I also have given thee the charge of my heave offerings, of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; such as the heave shoulder and wave breast, and firstfruits, and all other holy things in general, such as were the most holy things; as in Numbers 18:9; and the lighter holy things, as the Jews call them, Numbers 18:11; the charge of these was given to keep for themselves, and for their families:
unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing: because of his office as a priest, to which he was consecrated by anointing:
and to thy sons by an ordinance for ever; see Leviticus 7:34.