Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest’s office for everything of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest’s office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
So you and your sons must take care of all the priestly duties at the altar and behind the curtain in the holy place, and you must serve there. I have given you the priesthood as a gift of service. Any unauthorized person who comes too close will be put to death.
God is telling Aaron that the priesthood is a sacred gift given specifically to him and his family, and anyone else who tries to perform these duties will face severe consequences.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes after Korah's rebellion, where non-Levites challenged Aaron's priestly authority and were destroyed by God. God is now reinforcing that only Aaron and his descendants can serve as priests, while the other Levites assist them. The 'vail' refers to the curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle.
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