Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 18:19
All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute forever: it [is] a covenant of salt forever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee.
19. a covenant of salt ] In primitive days the eating of salt, or of the smallest portion of food belonging to another man, constituted a sacred bond of friendship. So the expression denotes ‘a covenant which cannot be broken.’ On the Hebrew ideas of a covenant see the writer’s Exodus, pp. 150 4.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A covenant of salt – Compare the marginal reference. covenants were ordinarily cemented in the East by the rites of hospitality; of which salt was the obvious token, entering as it does into every article of diet. It indicates perpetuity: compare Lev 2:13 note.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 19. It is a covenant of salt] That is, an incorruptible, everlasting covenant. As salt was added to different kinds of viands, not only to give them a relish, but to preserve them from putrefaction and decay, it became the emblem of incorruptibility and permanence. Hence, a covenant of salt signified an everlasting covenant. We have already seen that, among the Asiatics, eating together was deemed a bond of perpetual friendship; and as salt was a common article in all their repasts, it may be in reference to this circumstance that a perpetual covenant is termed a covenant of salt; because the parties ate together of the sacrifice offered on the occasion, and the whole transaction was considered as a league of endless friendship. See Clarke on Le 2:13.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
A covenant of salt, i.e. a durable and perpetual covenant; so called here and 2Ch 13:5, either because salt is a sign of incorruption, as being of singular use to preserve things from corruption; or because it is confirmed and ratified on their part by salt, which is therefore called
the salt of the covenant, for which the priests were obliged to take care that it should never be lacking from any meat-offering, Lev 2:13. And this promise or privilege conferred upon the priests is called a
covenant because it is given them conditionally, upon condition of their service, and care about the worship of God, and sacrifices, which were commonly accompanied with meat-offerings, and therefore with salt.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
19. it is a covenant of saltthatis, a perpetual ordinance. This figurative form of expression wasevidently founded on the conservative property of salt, which keepsmeat from corruption; and hence it became an emblem of inviolabilityand permanence. It is a common phrase among Oriental people, whoconsider the eating of salt a pledge of fidelity, binding them in acovenant of friendship. Hence the partaking of the altar meats, whichwere appropriated to the priests on condition of their services andof which salt formed a necessary accompaniment, was naturally called”a covenant of salt” (Le2:13).
Nu18:21-32. THE LEVITES’PORTION.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
All the heave offerings of the holy things,…. All before mentioned, and whatsoever comes under that name:
which the children of Israel offer unto the Lord; either by his commandment, or of their own freewill;
have I given thee, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: so providing for their maintenance by an irrepealable law as long as their priesthood lasted, even until the Messiah should come:
it [is] a covenant of salt for ever before the Lord unto thee, and thy seed with thee: an incorruptible, inviolable, durable covenant, which should last for ever, even until the Gospel dispensation or world to come should take place; and it would remain ever before the Lord in his sight, who would take care it should never be made void, but stand fast with Aaron and his posterity as long as his priesthood endured.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
“ 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).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(19) It is a covenant of salt.i.e., an indissoluble covenant. (See Lev. 2:13, and Note; also 2Ch. 13:5.) Hence the phrases used by the Greeks to denote the breach of a covenant, Where is the salt? and They overstepped the salt. (Comp. Pliny, H. N., xxxi. 41; Cic., De Div., ii. 16; Virgil, Ecl., viii. 82.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
19. A covenant of salt Salt symbolizes the unbending truthfulness of that self-surrender to the Lord implied in the sacrifice, excluding all impurity and hypocrisy.
“Unsavoury all our offerings are
Till acceptable through thy Son:
But hear well pleased our praise and prayer
Presented in his Name alone.
The salt we borrow from our Lord,
His meritorious righteousness,
And every deed, and thought, and word
Is season’d now with Jesus’ grace.”
In common life salt was the emblem of a covenant. Among the modern Arabs, the parties to a treaty ratify it by eating bread and salt together. See Lev 2:13; Mar 9:49; Luk 14:34, notes.
For ever See Lev 3:17, note.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 18:19. It is a covenant of salt That is, a perpetual covenant, or one which should last as long as that dispensation should last; see Lev 2:13. The reason of this mode of expression seems to arise from the preserving nature of salt; which, therefore, most probably, was held a symbol of friendship and fidelity. Hence the Greek proverb, , not to violate the salt and the table; i.e. the laws of friendship and hospitality. It is most likely, that in all solemn covenants which were confirmed by sacrifice, it was an ancient custom to offer salt with the sacrifice, to denote the faith and perpetuity of the covenant; so that, in this view, a covenant of salt will signify a covenant confirmed by sacrifice. It is well known, that the heathens were careful also to offer salt with all their sacrifices; a custom, most probably, derived from the very beginning of the world, and the first sacrifices which were offered; see Spencer, p. 760, and Calmet on the place. The Turks, to this very day, say of those who have entered into a vow of perpetual friendship, that they have eaten salt together; see Adag. Erasmi, under the words Sal and Mensa. Mr. Locke says, it is called a covenant of salt, because covenants were established by eating and drinking together, where salt was a necessary appendage.
REFLECTIONS.God will have his servants liberally provided for: they shall not serve him for nought. As by their service they were excluded from all means of gain, the altar they served supplied them with plenty, and of the best. The offerings and first-fruits provided meat and drink for their families; and the ransom-money, and things dedicated, supplied them with every other necessary. Note; (1.) They who serve at the altar should live by the altar. (2.) A godly people will make a liberal provision for a gospel ministry. (3.) They who have the care of souls need have no other care upon them. (4.) Let faithful ministers trust their families with God; as he has provided for them while they live, he will not forget them when they are dead.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Num 18:19 All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it [is] a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee.
Ver. 19. It is a covenant of salt. ] So 2Ch 13:5 ; that is, Inviolable, incorruptible; non computrescens vetustate, saith Flaccius. Pierius also tells us, that amity and friendship was symbolised by salt – Corpora enim solidiora facit, et diutissime conservat – for its consolidating and conserving property.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
offer = heave up as a heave offering. See note on Exo 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 Isa 58:7 (Authorized Version “deal”); Jer 16:7 (Authorized Version “tear”). Lam 4:4. Eze 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 (Gen 15:10-18. Jer 34:18, Jer 34:19) and then eaten, thus solemnizing an inviolable covenant.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the heave: Num 18:8, Num 18:11, Num 15:19-21, Num 31:29, Num 31:41, Lev 7:14, Deu 12:6, 2Ch 31:4
it is a: Lev 2:13, 2Ch 13:5
Reciprocal: Exo 29:27 – the breast Lev 7:32 – General Lev 7:34 – the wave Lev 21:22 – and of the holy Lev 22:4 – holy things Num 5:9 – offering Num 18:26 – then ye shall Deu 12:26 – holy 1Sa 2:28 – did I give Ezr 2:63 – should not Eze 43:24 – cast salt Eph 2:12 – the covenants
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 18:19. A covenant of salt A durable and perpetual covenant; so called here, and 2Ch 13:5, either because salt is of singular use to preserve things from corruption, and was an emblem of friendship; or because it was ratified on their part by salt, which is therefore called the salt of the covenant, for which the priests were obliged to take care that it should never be lacking from any meal-offering, Lev 2:13. And this privilege conferred upon the priests is called a covenant, because it was given them conditionally, upon condition of their service and care about the worship of God.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
18:19 All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it [is] a covenant {k} of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee.
(k) That is, sure, stable and incorruptible.