عدد ١٨:١٩

"All the holy heave-offerings" are not the thank-offerings (Knobel), but, as in Num 18:8, all the holy gifts enumerated in Num 18:9-18. Jehovah gives these to the priests as an eternal claim. "An eternal covenant of salt is this before Jehovah," for Aaron and his descendants. A "covenant of salt;" equivalent to an indissoluble covenant, or inviolable contract (see at Lev 2:13).

Aaron being now fully established in the priesthood abundantly to his own satisfaction, and to the satisfaction of the people (which was the good that God brought out of the evil opposition made to him), in this chapter God gives him full instructions concerning his office or rather repeats those which he had before given him. He tells him, I. What must be his work and the care and charge committed to him, and what assistance he should have the Levites in that work (Num 18:1-7). II. What should be his and the Levites' wages for this work. 1. The perquisites or fees peculiar to the priests (Num 18:8-19). 2. The settled maintenance of the Levites (Num 18:20-24). III. The portion which must be paid to the priests out of the Levites' maintenance (Num 18:25-32). Thus every one knew what he had to do, and what he had to live upon.

18:19 These arrangements were part of an eternal and unbreakable covenant (literally a covenant of salt; cp. 2 Chr 13:5). The covenant was apparently meant to be permanent, since salt (a preservative) was a symbol of permanence (Lev 2:13).