Yes, God had forbidden any of His Priests in Israel to own land, thus being able to farm, raising their own food.
These men were to live off the food brought to the Tabernacle! The remains of certain portions of the Offerings presented to God!
For example, concerning the meat (meal) offering here … “And the remainder thereof shall AARON and HIS SONS: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it.” Leviticus 6:16, though it must be eaten within the confines of the Tabernacle itself. With no leaven (a picture of sin) being involved!
God “feeding” His men!
(In fact, a chapter and a half, in several different paragraphs, discuss the specifics of these food portions! What the priests could eat! The last half of Leviticus 6 and a lot of Leviticus 7.)
Even including some of the “whole burnt offering” … “And the priest that offereth any man’s burnt offering, even the priest shall have to himself the SKIN of the burnt offering which he hath offered.” They can eat its skin! According to Leviticus 7:8, surprising!
And especially the “peace offering,” the priest enjoys much of it! “And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the BREAST shall be Aaron’s and his sons’.” But there’s more … “And the RIGHT SHOULDER shall ye give unto the PRIEST for an heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings.” Leviticus 7:31-32
Priests’ food … but God’s idea, God’s bounty … provision for serving Him so faithfully!
Wow!
Read this too, a new truth I have learned this very morning!“For the WAVE breast and the HEAVE shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel.” Leviticus 7:34
“Heave” is derived from a Hebrew verb meaning “to lift up!” Though the meat is the priests to eat … he must first lift it up to God, acknowledging the Source of these blessings, these provisions! God in Heaven. (Upward!)
And then “wave” means “swinging” (back and forth, horizontally) … acknowledging God’s Presence too … in the tabernacle, abiding/living all around these hungry men!
This is the Old Testament “equivalent” of us asking God to bless our food, of thanking God for our daily nourishment … each time we sit down to eat a meal!
Wow!
Paul later wrote, reflecting on the Principle we have studied here: “Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:13-14
God cares for His servants!
Indeed, He feeds us well.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
This query too … Since Jesus is our great High Priest, does HE feed off the Offering of His Blood, His Body on Calvary? I say “YES!” He has been feasting off the results of his Sacrifice for centuries now!
The Cross (what happened there, including Redemption and Propitiation being provided for “whosoever will”) is pictured as a Feast time and time again in Scripture! Psalm 22:26 being one example: “The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.” In the immediate context of Jesus’ vicarious Death, the shedding of His incorruptible Blood.
Jesus … eternally satisfied!
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