Numbers 18:23

23 But 1the Levites shall do the service of the tent of meeting, 2and they shall bear their iniquity. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, and among the people of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

Numbers 18:23 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 18:23

But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the
congregation
In guarding the tabernacle, that no unclean persons enter into it, or any others take anything out of it, and in assisting the priests in their service, and carrying the vessels of the sanctuary when required:

and they shall bear their iniquity:
that is, when they fail in the duty of their office, are not careful in their service and work, and business appointed them; if either they did not do their business themselves, or suffered others to do it, or such to come to the tabernacle who should not, they would be blameworthy and suffer for it:

[it shall be] a statute for ever throughout your generations, that the
children of Israel they have no inheritance;
having such a plentiful provision made for them, by a statute as durable as this.

Numbers 18:23 In-Context

21 "To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting,
22 so that the people of Israel do not come near the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin and die.
23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, and among the people of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
24 For the tithe of the people of Israel, which they present as a contribution to the LORD, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. Therefore I have said of them that they shall have no inheritance among the people of Israel."
25 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Cross References 2

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.