SEV Biblia, Chapter 18:21
Y he aquí yo he dado a los hijos de Leví todos los diezmos en Israel por heredad, por su ministerio, por cuanto ellos sirven en el ministerio del tabernáculo del testimonio.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Numbers 18:21
Verse 21. Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth] First, the Levites had the tenth of all the productions of the land. 2. They had forty-eight cities, each forming a square of 4, 000 cubits.
3. They had 2, 000 cubits of ground round each city.
Total of the land they possessed, 53, 000 acres.
4. They had the first-fruits and certain parts of all the animals killed in the land.
Canaan contained about 11, 264, 000 acres; therefore the portion possessed by the Levites was rather less than as one to two hundred and twelve; for 11, 264, 000 divided by 53, 000, quotes only 212 28/53. - See Lowman, Dodd, &c. But though this was a very small proportion for a whole tribe that had consented to annihilate its political existence, that it might wait upon the service of God, and labour for the people's souls; yet let it be considered that what they possessed was the best of the land: and while it was a slender remuneration for their services, yet their portion was such as rendered them independent, and kept them comfortable; so that they could wait on the Lord's work without distraction. This is a proper pattern for the maintenance of the ministers of God: let them have a sufficiency for themselves and families, that there may be no distracting cares; and let them not be encumbered with riches or worldly possessions, that they may not be prevented from taking care of souls.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 21. And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance , etc.] The tenth part of the produce of the land; of the wheat, barley, oil, and wine; the tenth part of their harvest and vintage; so that though they were the least of the tribes, they had the greatest share of the increase of the land, and that without any labour or expense; the other having but nine parts among them all, and at the charge and labour of manuring, cultivating, etc. and this they were to have for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation ; (see Numbers 18:3-6).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 20-32 - As Israel was a people not to be numbered among the nations, so Lev was a tribe to be distinguished from the rest. Those who have God for their Inheritance and their Portion for ever, ought to look with holy contempt and indifference upon the possessions of this world. The Levites were to give God his dues out of their tithes, as well as the Israelites out of their increase. See, in ver. #(31), the way to have comfort in all our worldly possessions, so as to bear no sin by reaso of them. 1. We must be sure that what we have is got honestly and in the service of God. That meat is best eaten which is first earned; but if any will not work, neither shall he eat, 2Th 3:10. 2. We must be sure that God has his dues out of it. We have the comfort of ou substance, when we have honoured the Lord with it. Ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved the best from it. We should giv alms of such things as we have, that all may be holy and comfortable to us __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ולבני 1121 לוי 3878 הנה 2009 נתתי 5414 כל 3605 מעשׂר 4643 בישׂראל 3478 לנחלה 5159 חלף 2500 עבדתם 5656 אשׁר 834 הם 1992 עבדים 5647 את 853 עבדת 5656 אהל 168 מועד׃ 4150
