Bible Commentaries

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

said. See note on Numbers 3:40.

Aaron. Jehovah "spoke" again to Aaron in Numbers 18:8 and Numbers 18:20.

iniquity. Hebrew. "avah. App-44.

tribe = matteh = staff.

Levi . . . joined. Figure of speech Paronomasia. App-6. Hebrew. Levi . . . veyillavu.

tribe = shebet = rod.

tabernacle = tent. Hebrew. "ohel. App-40.

children = sons.

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

do the service. Hebrew serve the service. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6. perform the solemn service.

spake. See note on Numbers 1:1.

hallowed = holy. See note on "holy", Exodus 3:5.

the anointing. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for the priesthood associated with it.

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5.

oblation. Hebrew approach-offering. See App-43.

shall be. Hebrew "it [shall be]".

wine. Hebrew. tirosh. See App-27.

the = their.

Every thing. See Leviticus 27:28.

devoted. See note on Leviticus 27:1.

the matrix. See Numbers 3:13. Exodus 13:2; Exodus 34:19. Leviticus 27:26.

men . . . man = Hebrew. "adam. App-14.

redeem. Hebrew. padah. See note on Exodus 6:6,

shekels . . . shekel. See App-51.

which = it. Compare Numbers 3:47. Exodus 30:13. Leviticus 27:25.

gerahs. See App-51.

thou. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Targum of Onkelos, and Syriac, read "but thou".

burn = burn as incense. See App-43.

sweet savour. See note on Leviticus 1:9.

offer = heave up as a heave offering. See note on Exodus 29:27.

covenant of salt. Hebrew covenant = berith, from barah. to cut; hence, to eat. As salt was scarce and precious. and used with all eating, so it was put, by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for eating, just as the breaking of bread was. See Isaiah 58:7 (Authorized Version "deal"); Jeremiah 16:7 (Authorized Version "tear"). Lamentations 4:4. Ezekiel 18:7 (Authorized Version "given"). Hence, when wages were paid in kind, by finding the worker in food, "salt" was put (by Figure of speech Metonymy) for wages generally; so that a worker was spoken of as being worth, or not worth, his "salt". "A covenant of salt" was therefore a covenant made by sacrifice, which was first cut in two (Genesis 15:10-18. Jeremiah 34:18, Jeremiah 34:19) and then eaten, thus solemnizing an inviolable covenant.