Numbers 18:3

and the deacons shall (stand) watch at thy commandments, and at all the works of the tabernacle; so only that they nigh not to the vessels of the saintuary, and to the altar, lest both they die, and ye, and (you all) perish together. (and the Levites shall do thy commands, and all their work in the Tabernacle; but they must not go near the vessels of the sanctuary, lest both they and ye die, and all of you perish together.)

Wycliffe Modern Spelling

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

2But also take thou with thee thy brethren of the lineage of Levi, and the sceptre, or power, of thy father, and be they ready, that they minister to thee. Forsooth thou and thy sons shall minister in the tabernacle of witnessing; (And also take with thee thy brothers from the tribe of Levi, thy father’s tribe, and be they ready to serve thee. But thou and thy sons shall minister in the Tabernacle of the Witnessing;)

4Soothly be they with thee, and (stand) watch they in the keepings of the tabernacle, and in all the ceremonies thereof. An alien shall not be meddled with you. (Yea, be they with thee, and do their duties in the Tabernacle, and at all of its ceremonies. But do not let a foreigner, or a stranger, be mixed in with you.)

Read all of Numbers 18

Cross References

Numbers 1:53forsooth the deacons shall set their tents by compass of the tabernacle, lest indignation be made on the multitude of the sons of Israel; and they shall (stand) watch in the keepings of the tabernacle of witnessing. (but the Levites shall pitch their tents around the Tabernacle, lest my indignation come upon all the multitude of the Israelites; and they shall keep charge of the Tabernacle of the Witnessing.)

Numbers 3:31And they shall keep (charge of) the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, the altars, and the vessels of the saintuary in which it is served, and the veil, and all such manner purtenance. (And they shall keep charge of the Ark, that is, the Box containing the tablets of the Law, and the table, and the lampstand, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary with which they shall serve, or they shall minister, and the Veil, and all the other things in the service thereof.)

Numbers 4:15And when Aaron and his sons have wrapped the saintuary, and all [the] vessels thereof, in the moving of tents, then the sons of Kohath shall enter, that they bear the things wrapped, and touch not the vessels of the saintuary, lest they die. These be the burdens of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of [the] bond of peace, (And when Aaron and his sons have wrapped up the sanctuary, and all its vessels, in the moving of the tents, then the sons of Kohath shall enter to carry the things that be wrapped up, but they must not touch the sanctuary vessels, or they shall die, or for if they touch them, then they must be put to death. These be the loads for the sons of Kohath in the Tabernacle of the Covenant.)

Numbers 4:20Other men see not by any curiosity those things that be in the saintuary, before that those be wrapped; else they shall die. (And do not let other people who be curious see those things that be in the sanctuary, before that they be wrapped up; for if they do, then they shall die or then they must be put to death.)

Numbers 18:7Soothly thou and thy sons, keep your priesthood; and all things that pertain to the adorning of the altar, and be within the veil, shall be ministered by [the] priests; if any stranger nigheth thereto, he shall be slain. (Thou and thy sons, do your priestly duties; and all the things in the service of the altar, and that be within the Veil, shall be the priests’ responsibility; if any stranger nigheth thereto, he shall be put to death.)

Matthew Henry on Numbers 18:2-8

The Service of the Priests and Levites. ( b. c. 1490.) 1 And the Lord said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. 2 And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness. 3 And they shall keep thy… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Numbers 18:3