Bilangan 18:8

The Portion of the Priests

18:8 The Lord spoke to Aaron, “See, I have given you the responsibility for my raised offerings; I have given all the holy things of the Israelites to you as your priestly portion ¹  and to your sons as a perpetual ordinance.

Bilangan 22:18

22:18 Balaam replied ²  to the servants of Balak, “Even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I could not transgress the commandment ³  of the Lord my God ⁴  to do less or more.

[18:8]  ¹ tn This is an uncommon root. It may be connected to the word “anoint” as here (see RSV). But it may also be seen as an intended parallel to “perpetual due” (see Gen 47:22; Exod 29:28; Lev 6:11 [HT]).

[22:18]  ² tn Heb “answered and said.”

[22:18]  ³ tn Heb “mouth.”

[22:18]  ⁴ sn In the light of subsequent events one should not take too seriously that Balaam referred to Yahweh as his God. He is referring properly to the deity for which he is acting as the agent.