Numbers 18:21-32

The Levites’ compensation

²¹ I have given all the one-tenth portions in Israel to the Levites as an inheritance. They are a reward for performing their service in the meeting tent. ²² The Israelites will no longer be able to approach the meeting tent, or they will be responsible for their sin and die. ²³ The Levites will perform the service of the meeting tent, and they will be responsible for their own sins. This is a permanent regulation for all time. But they will not inherit land among the Israelites ²⁴ because I’ve given the Israelites’ one-tenth portion, which they have raised to the Lord as a gift offering, as an inheritance to the Levites. Therefore, I’ve said to them, “They won’t inherit land among the Israelites.”

²⁵ The Lord spoke to Moses: ²⁶ Speak to the Levites and say to them: When you receive from the Israelites the one-tenth portion that I have given you from them as your inheritance, you also must present a gift offering to the Lord from it, a tenth from the one-tenth portion. ²⁷ It will be considered your gift offering, like the grain of the threshing floor and what fills the winepress. ²⁸ In this way you will also present a gift offering to the Lord from all the one-tenth portions that you take from the Israelites. You will provide from it a gift offering to the Lord for Aaron the priest. ²⁹ You will present each gift offering to the Lord from all your gifts, from its best portions and its holiest parts.

³⁰ You will say to them: When you have presented the best portion, it will be considered for the Levites equivalent to the produce of the grain and the produce of the winepress. ³¹ You and your household may eat it anywhere, because it is payment for your service in the meeting tent. ³² You will not bear guilt after you have presented the best portion. But you must not make the sacred gifts of the Israelites impure, on penalty of death.