EGW WritingsNumbers 18

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Ms 121, 1899

14LtMs, Ms 121, 1899, par. 2

Certain men were appointed to perform certain parts of the holy service. Moses and Aaron and his sons were most closely connected with the sanctuary service. They were to minister before the tabernacle of witness. “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 the priesthood ... Ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar; that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel. ... Thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest’s office for everything of the altar, and within the veil: and ye shall serve: I have given you your priest’s office unto you as a service of gift; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.” [Numbers 18:1, 5, 7.]

14LtMs, Ms 121, 1899, par. 3

The tribe of Levi was given a specially significant position. They were to unite with others in taking charge of the tabernacle. “Thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi,” God said, “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. ... Behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel; to you they are given as a gift for the Lord, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. ... 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. They shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle; and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.” [Verses 2, 6, 3, 4.]

Selected Messages Book 3

Chapter 13—The Testimonies for the Church

3SM 95.1

Condensation of First Ten Testimony Pamphlets Republished in 1864—During the last nine years, from 1855 to 1864, I have written ten small pamphlets, entitled, Testimony for the Church, which have been published and circulated among Seventh-day Adventists. The first edition of most of these pamphlets being exhausted, and there being an increasing demand for them, it has been thought best to re-print them, as given in the following pages, omitting local and personal matters, and giving those portions only which are of practical and general interest and importance. Most of Testimony No. 4 may be found in the second volume of Spiritual Gifts, hence, it is omitted in this volume. [By popular demand the first ten were reprinted, in 1874, in full in book form, together with a reprinting of Numbers 11-20.—Compilers.]—Spiritual Gifts 4b:ii.

Patriarchs and Prophets

Chapter 24—The Passover

PP 274.4

Furthermore, the first-born of both man and beast were to be the Lord’s, to be bought back only by a ransom, in acknowledgment that when the first-born in Egypt perished, that of Israel, though graciously preserved, had been justly exposed to the same doom but for the atoning sacrifice. “All the first-born are Mine,” the Lord declared; “for on the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, I hallowed unto Me all the first-born in Israel, both man and beast: Mine they shall be,” Numbers 3:13. After the institution of the tabernacle service the Lord chose unto Himself the tribe of Levi for the work of the sanctuary, instead of the first-born of the people. “They are wholly given unto Me from among the children of Israel,” He said. “Instead of the first-born of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto Me.” Numbers 8:16. All the people were, however, still required, in acknowledgment of God’s mercy, to pay a redemption price for the first-born son. Numbers 18:15, 16.

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6

Chapter 37—The Reward of Service

6T 312.4

“I am thy part and thine inheritance.” Numbers 18:20.

Patriarchs and Prophets

Chapter 51—God’s Care for the Poor

PP 530.1

To promote the assembling of the people for religious service, as well as to provide for the poor, a second tithe of all the increase was required. Concerning the first tithe, the Lord had declared, “I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel.” Numbers 18:21. But in regard to the second He commanded, “Thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which He shall choose to place His name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always.” Deuteronomy 14:23, 29; 16:11-14. This tithe, or its equivalent in money, they were for two years to bring to the place where the sanctuary was established. After presenting a thank offering to God, and a specified portion to the priest, the offerers were to use the remainder for a religious feast, in which the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow should participate. Thus provision was made for the thank offerings and feasts at the yearly festivals, and the people were drawn to the society of the priests and Levites, that they might receive instruction and encouragement in the service of God.

From Eternity Past

Chapter 51—God’s Care for the Economically Disadvantaged

EP 380.1

To promote the assembling of the people for religious service, as well as to provide for the poor, a second tithe of all the increase was required. Concerning the first tithe, the Lord declared, “I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel.” Numbers 18:21. The second tithe, they were for two years to bring to the place where the sanctuary was established. After presenting a thank offering to God and a portion to the priest, the offerers were to use the remainder for a religious feast, in which the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow should participate.