offer = heave up as a heave offering. See note on Exodus 29:27 .
covenant of salt. Hebrew covenant = berith, from barah. to cut ; hence, to eat. As salt was scarce and precious. and used with all eating, so it was put, by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for eating, just as the breaking of bread was. See Isaiah 58:7 (Authorized Version "deal"); Jeremiah 16:7 (Authorized Version "tear"). Lamentations 4:4 .Ezekiel 18:7 (Authorized Version "given"). Hence, when wages were paid in kind, by finding the worker in food, "salt" was put (by Figure of speech Metonymy) for wages generally; so that a worker was spoken of as being worth, or not worth, his "salt". "A covenant of salt" was therefore a covenant made by sacrifice, which was first cut in two (Genesis 15:10-18 . Jeremiah 34:18 , Jeremiah 34:19 ) and then eaten, thus solemnizing an inviolable covenant.
Verse 1
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
said. See note on Numbers 3:40 .
Aaron. Jehovah "spoke" again to Aaron in Numbers 18:8 and Numbers 18:20 .
iniquity. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 .
Verse 2
tribe = matteh = staff.
Levi . . . joined. Figure of speech Paronomasia. App-6 . Hebrew. Levi . . . veyillavu.
tribe = shebet = rod.
tabernacle = tent. Hebrew. 'ohel. App-40 .
Verse 5
children = sons.
Verse 6
behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
do the service. Hebrew serve the service. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 . perform the solemn service.
Verse 8
spake. See note on Numbers 1:1 .
hallowed = holy. See note on "holy", Exodus 3:5 .
the anointing. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the priesthood associated with it.
Verse 9
holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .
oblation. Hebrew approach-offering. See App-43 .
shall be. Hebrew "it [shall be]".
Verse 12
wine. Hebrew. tirosh. See App-27 .
Verse 13
the = their.
Verse 14
Every thing. See Leviticus 27:28 .
devoted. See note on Leviticus 27:1 .
Verse 15
the matrix. See Numbers 3:13 .Exodus 13:2 ; Exodus 34:19 . Leviticus 27:26 .
men . . . man = Hebrew. 'adam . App-14 .
redeem. Hebrew. padah. See note on Exodus 6:6 ,
Verse 16
shekels . . . shekel. See App-51 .
which = it. Compare Numbers 3:47 . Exodus 30:13 .Leviticus 27:25 .
gerahs. See App-51 .
Verse 17
thou. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Targum of Onkelos, and Syriac, read "but thou".
burn = burn as incense. See App-43 .
sweet savour. See note on Leviticus 1:9 .
Verse 19
offer = heave up as a heave offering. See note on Exodus 29:27 .
covenant of salt. Hebrew covenant = berith, from barah. to cut ; hence, to eat. As salt was scarce and precious. and used with all eating, so it was put, by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for eating, just as the breaking of bread was. See Isaiah 58:7 (Authorized Version "deal"); Jeremiah 16:7 (Authorized Version "tear"). Lamentations 4:4 .Ezekiel 18:7 (Authorized Version "given"). Hence, when wages were paid in kind, by finding the worker in food, "salt" was put (by Figure of speech Metonymy) for wages generally; so that a worker was spoken of as being worth, or not worth, his "salt". "A covenant of salt" was therefore a covenant made by sacrifice, which was first cut in two (Genesis 15:10-18 . Jeremiah 34:18 , Jeremiah 34:19 ) and then eaten, thus solemnizing an inviolable covenant.