Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 18:3

And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.

3. keep thy charge, &c.] see on Num 3:7.

the vessels ] The Heb. word is capable of wider use than the Engl. ‘vessel’; it includes all the sacred utensils and furniture.

For the prohibition to come into contact with the sacred things cf. Num 4:15.

neither they, nor ye ] they, for breaking the law, and ye for permitting it.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Thy charge, i.e. that which thou shalt command them and commit unto them.

Of all the tabernacle, i.e. of the boards and hangings and utensils of the tabernacle, to take them down, and carry them, and set them up again.

The vessels, which therefore were to be covered by the priests before the Levites might meddle with them.

They, nor ye, they for presuming to touch them, and you for your negligence in not covering them well, or not looking to them.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle,…. That is, the Levites, whatever Aaron and his sons, the priests, should charge them to do, or commit to their care and charge, that they should observe; as to watch and keep out all unfit persons, to take down and set up the tabernacle when needful, c.

only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary as the ark and mercy seat in the holy of holies, the shewbread table, and candlestick in the holy place; wherefore when these were removed from place to place in journeying, they were covered, that they might not touch them as they carried them:

and the altar; both of incense and burnt offering, on neither of which might they offer:

that neither they nor you also die: the priests for suffering them to meddle with things that did not belong to them, and the Levites for intruding themselves.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

The tabernacle of witness was before the most holy place, in which was the ark. And as this represented the presence of JEHOVAH, no Levite, much less a stranger could venture to approach. What a delightful representation is all this of the infinite importance of the mediation and intercession of JESUS? Joh 14:6 .

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Num 18:3 And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.

Ver. 3. And you also die. ] For your ‘other men’s sins’ which you have not prevented or prohibited. Qui non, cum potest, prohibet, iubet.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)