Numbers 18 in the early church

62 passages quote, allude to, or echo Numbers 18, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 12 · 15 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 26 · 27

Numbers 18:1

So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s house must bear the iniquity involving the sanctuary. And you and your sons alone must bear the iniquity involving your priesthood.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 18:1Homilies on Numbers 10.1 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 18:1Homilies on Numbers 10.3 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 18:1Apostolic Constitutions 2.18.6 · Anonymousquotation, high confidenceca. 380
Num 18:1Apostolic Constitutions 2.25.9 · Anonymousquotation, high confidenceca. 380
Num 18:1–7Apostolic Constitutions 8.46.6 · Anonymousallusion, high confidenceca. 380
Num 18:1–7Letter 1 to Himerius of Tarragona, chapter 7 · Siricius, bishop of Romeallusion, medium confidence385

Numbers 18:2

But bring with you also your brothers from the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may join you and assist you and your sons before the Tent of the Testimony.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 18:2Homilies on Numbers 10.3 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 18:3

And they shall attend to your duties and to all the duties of the Tent; but they must not come near to the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar, or both they and you will die.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 18:3Homilies on Numbers 10.3 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 18:5

And you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and of the altar, so that wrath may not fall on the Israelites again.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 18:5Homilies on Numbers 10.3 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 18:7

But only you and your sons shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and what is inside the veil, and you are to perform that service. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but any outsider who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 18:7Homilies on Numbers 10.3 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 18:7Question 46, section 2 · Ambrosiasterallusion, medium confidenceca. 370–384
Num 18:7Apostolic Constitutions 2.27.1 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidenceca. 380
Num 18:7Letter 2, chapter 9 · Innocent I, bishop of Romeallusion, medium confidence401–417

Numbers 18:8

Then the LORD said to Aaron, “Behold, I have put you in charge of My offerings. As for all the sacred offerings of the Israelites, I have given them to you and your sons as a portion and a permanent statute.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 18:8Homilies on Numbers 11.6 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 18:8Homilies on Numbers 11.7 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 18:8Letter 78.17 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Num 18:8–10Apostolic Constitutions 2.25.9 · Anonymousquotation, high confidenceca. 380

Numbers 18:9

A portion of the most holy offerings reserved from the fire will be yours. From all the offerings they render to Me as most holy offerings, whether grain offerings or sin offerings or guilt offerings, that part belongs to you and your sons.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 18:9Homilies on Numbers 11.7 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 18:9Homilies on Numbers 11.8 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 18:9Homilies on Numbers 11.9 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

Numbers 18:12

I give you all the freshest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain that the Israelites give to the LORD as their firstfruits.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 18:12Didache 13.3 · Anonymousecho, medium confidenceca. 50–150 (often ca. 100)
Num 18:12Homilies on Numbers 11.1 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 18:12Homilies on Numbers 11.3 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 18:12–13Letter 64.2 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Num 18:12–15Apostolic Constitutions 2.25.9 · Anonymousquotation, high confidenceca. 380
Num 18:12Life of Macrina, part 5 · Gregory of Nyssaecho, low confidenceca. 380

Numbers 18:15

The firstborn of every womb, whether man or beast, that is offered to the LORD belongs to you. But you must surely redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 18:15–16Letter 64.2 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Num 18:15–17Against Helvidius 12 · Jeromequotation, high confidenceca. 383

Numbers 18:20

Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 18:20Homilies on Joshua 9.5 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 18:20Homilies on Joshua 17.2 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 18:20Homilies on Leviticus 7.1 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 18:20Homilies on Numbers 21.1 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 18:20Homilies on Numbers 27.4 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 18:20Tractates on the Psalms 118.8.3 · Hilary of Poitiersallusion, high confidenceca. 360–367
Num 18:20–21Letter 52.5 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Num 18:20Letter 64.2 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Num 18:20Letter 118.4 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Num 18:20On Cain and Abel 2.7 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 375-378
Num 18:20–24Apostolic Constitutions 2.25.6 · Anonymousallusion, high confidenceca. 380
Num 18:20On the Duties of the Clergy 1.50 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386–390
Num 18:20Exposition of Psalm 118 3.26.3 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 386-397
Num 18:20Exposition of Psalm 118 8.4.4 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
Num 18:20On Fleeing the World 7 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 387-391
Num 18:20Against Jovinianus 2.34 · Jeromeallusion, high confidence393
Num 18:20Letters 11.14 · Paulinus of Nolaecho, low confidenceca. 394–413
Num 18:20To the Church 2.38 · Salvian of Marseillesallusion, high confidenceca. 435-440

Numbers 18:21

Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 18:21Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 575 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Num 18:21–28Commentary on John 1.9 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 230–248
Num 18:21Homilies on Joshua 25.1 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 18:21Homilies on Leviticus 16.2 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 18:21Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 16 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century)
Num 18:21–24Letter 1.1 · Cyprian of Carthageallusion, high confidence249/250–258
Num 18:21–24Question 46, section 12 · Ambrosiasterallusion, high confidenceca. 370–384
Num 18:21Apostolic Constitutions 2.25.5 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidenceca. 380
Num 18:21On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins 2.40 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidence411–412
Num 18:21The Conferences 21.3 · John Cassianallusion, high confidenceca. 426–429

Numbers 18:22

No longer may the Israelites come near to the Tent of Meeting, or they will incur guilt and die.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 18:22Commentary on Matthew 13.30 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 246–248

Numbers 18:26

“Speak to the Levites and tell them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe that I have given you as your inheritance, you must present part of it as an offering to the LORD—a tithe of the tithe.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 18:26Eclogae on Exodus-Judges, column 575 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 220-254
Num 18:26Homilies on Joshua 25.1 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
Num 18:26Letter 64.2 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419

Numbers 18:27

Your offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Num 18:271 Clement 29.3 · Clement of Romeallusion, medium confidenceca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100)
Num 18:27Commentary on Romans 7.5 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406)