Numbers 18:5

My Notes

What Does Numbers 18:5 Mean?

"And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel." The priests' duty is stated with its PURPOSE: keep the charge of the sanctuary AND the altar SO THAT there be no more wrath on Israel. The priestly service is PROTECTIVE — the priests stand BETWEEN God's holiness and the people's vulnerability. The keeping prevents the wrath. The guarding shields the community. The priests' faithfulness is the community's INSURANCE against divine anger.

The phrase "keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar" (ushemartem et mishmeret haqqodesh ve'et mishmeret hammizbeach — you shall guard the keeping of the holy and the keeping of the altar) doubles the GUARDING responsibility: the sanctuary (the sacred space) AND the altar (the sacrifice-point) both require KEEPING. The word mishmeret appears TWICE — the guard-duty covers BOTH the space and the instrument. The keeping is COMPREHENSIVE: guard the place WHERE God dwells AND the object WHERE the offerings are made.

The "that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel" (velo yihyeh od qetzeph al benei Yisra'el — and there shall not be again wrath upon the children of Israel) reveals the PURPOSE: the priestly service PREVENTS divine wrath. The 'any more' (od — again, still, more) references PAST wraths — Korah's rebellion (chapter 16), the plague (16:46-49). The priestly service is the SOLUTION to the wrath-problem: proper mediation prevents the wrath that improper access provoked.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What guarding of the sacred protects your community from consequences?
• 2.What does the priestly service PREVENTING wrath teach about mediation as protection?
• 3.How does the double charge (sanctuary AND altar) describe comprehensive sacred responsibility?
• 4.What 'no more wrath' depends on your faithful keeping of the charge you've been given?

Devotional

Keep the charge of the sanctuary AND the altar — so that wrath doesn't fall on Israel AGAIN. The priestly duty is PROTECTIVE: the keeping prevents the anger. The guarding shields the community. The priests stand between God's holiness and the people's vulnerability. The faithfulness of the priesthood is the SAFETY of the nation.

The DOUBLE charge (sanctuary AND altar) covers the FULL scope of priestly responsibility: the SANCTUARY is the space — the holy place, the dwelling of divine presence. The ALTAR is the instrument — the place where offerings meet fire, where sacrifice happens, where blood is applied. Both require GUARDING. Both require the priest's vigilant attention. The space and the instrument are both under priestly care.

The 'no wrath any more' references the RECENT catastrophes: Korah's rebellion produced WRATH (chapter 16). The plague that followed killed 14,700 (16:49). The 'any more' says: the priestly service exists to PREVENT this from happening AGAIN. The wrath was the consequence of unauthorized access. The priestly charge is the AUTHORIZED access that prevents unauthorized access. The priesthood MEDIATES so the people don't PROVOKE.

The PROTECTIVE function of the priesthood means the priests serve the PEOPLE by serving GOD: the keeping of the sanctuary isn't for the priests' benefit. It's for ISRAEL'S protection. The priestly service shields the community from the divine wrath that unauthorized approach provokes. The priests' faithfulness IS the community's safety. The guarding IS the protecting. The charge IS the shield.

What 'charge' — what guarding of the sacred — protects your community from consequences they can't survive on their own?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture