And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.
And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the people of Israel, to do the work for the Israelites in the tent of meeting, and to make atonement for the Israelites, so that no plague will come upon the Israelites when they come near the sanctuary.
God is explaining that He gave the Levites to serve as priests alongside Aaron to protect the people from His holy judgment when they approach His sacred place.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes from God's instructions about the Levites' role in Israel's worship system during their wilderness journey. The tabernacle was God's dwelling place among His people, and approaching it required careful ritual purification and proper priestly mediation. The Levites served as a buffer between the holy God and the people, preventing divine judgment that could result from improper approach to the sacred.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.