While "take" is a significant word in Numbers 16, "give" and "gift" are key words in Numbers 18 (see verses 6, 8, 11-12, 21, 26). God "gave" the rest of the tribe of Levi to the priests, and Israel's tithes and offerings to the Levites and priests, in return for their service. This relationship between God and the priests was a lasting one, a "covenant of salt" (verse 19; cf. Jer 33:21-22).
So the priests and Levites received extensive gifts, and they also had weighty responsibilities. In the camp of Israel the tribe of Levi was a kind of buffer, even a "lightning rod," between God's presence and the people (Num 1:53; 8:19; 18:21-22). Within the tribe of Levi, the priests were responsible for making sure that the rest of the tribe of Levi did not come to harm by coming in too close a contact with the tabernacle and its holy objects (Num 4:18-20; 18:1-5).
With Exodus 19 in mind, Peter refers to Christians as "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession (1 Pe 2:9). It is natural, then, to ask about what responsibilities go with this priesthood. Peter states that its purpose is for these priests to "proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Kyle Kettering discussed the responsibilities of priests in a sermon at Church of the Messiah on May 30, 2026. He noted that the expansion of priesthood to people from nations beyond Israel was prophesied in Isaiah 66:19-21, backing up Peter's assertion.
He observed that in Israel
- the priests/Levites served as intermediaries.
- they were chosen for this role.
- the role came with responsibilities for the behavior of others.
- they risked danger on behalf of others.
Surveying a number of passages on priestly responsibilities, Kyle explained that priests need to
- study (Neh 8:13)
- learn
- listen to God.
- instruct (Dt 24:8; Hosea 6:4-6)
- judge.
- uphold the holiness of God (Zeph 3:4)
- make distinctions (Eze 22:26)
- remember Torah
- guard knowledge (Mal 2:7)
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