The Share of the Priests (NUM 18:8-20)

[18:8] The Lord said to Aaron, “Remember that I am giving you all the special contributions made to me that are not burned as sacrifices. I am giving them to you and to your descendants as the part assigned to you forever.

[18:9] Of the most sacred offerings not burned on the altar, the following belong to you: the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the repayment offerings. Everything that is presented to me as a sacred offering belongs to you and your sons.

[18:10] You must eat these things in a holy place, and only males may eat them; consider them holy.

[18:11] “In addition, any other special contributions that the Israelites present to me shall be yours. I am giving them to you, your sons, and your daughters for all time to come. Every member of your family who is ritually clean may eat them.

[18:12] “I am giving you all the best of the first produce which the Israelites give me each year: olive oil, wine, and grain.

[18:13] It all belongs to you. Every member of your family who is ritually clean may eat it.

[18:14] “Everything in Israel that has been unconditionally dedicated to me belongs to you.

[18:15] “Every first-born child or animal that the Israelites present to me belongs to you. But you must accept payment to buy back every first-born child, and must also accept payment for every first-born animal that is ritually unclean.

[18:16] Children shall be bought back at the age of one month for the fixed price of five pieces of silver, according to the official standard.

[18:17] But the first-born of cows, sheep, and goats are not to be bought back; they belong completely to me and are to be sacrificed. Throw their blood against the altar and burn their fat as a food offering, an odor pleasing to me.

[18:18] The meat from them belongs to you, like the breast and the right hind leg of the special offering.

[18:19] “I am giving to you, to your sons, and to your daughters, for all time to come, all the special contributions which the Israelites present to me. This is an unbreakable covenant that I have made with you and your descendants.”

[18:20] The Lord said to Aaron, “You will not receive any property that can be inherited, and no part of the land of Israel will be assigned to you. I, the Lord, am all you need.”

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