Thursday, February 21



I do take the Levites from among the sons of Israel in place of all the firstborn.—Num. 3:12.


What did that selection mean for the Levites? Rather than receiving a land inheritance, they
were entrusted with a priceless privilege of service. Being “the priesthood of Jehovah†was their
inheritance. (Josh. 18:7) The context of Numbers 18:20 shows that this did not leave them impoverished
materially. (Num. 18:19,21, 24)

The Levites were to be given “every tenth part in Israel as an inheritance in return for
their service.†They would receive10 percent of Israel’s produce and
of the increase of the domestic animals. In turn, the Levites were to contribute a tenth part of what

they received, “of the very best of it,†for the support of the priesthood.(Num. 18:25-29)
The priests were also given “all the holy contributions†that the sons of Israel
brought to God at his place of worship. Members of the priesthood
thus had good reason for believing that Jehovah would provide for them.

w11 9/15 1:3, 4
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