Discovery BoxNumbers 18:3-6 
Context18:3 They must be responsible to care for you and to care for the entire tabernacle. However, they must not come near the furnishings of the sanctuary and the altar, or both they and you will die. 18:4 They must join 1 with you, and they will be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the tent, but no unauthorized person 2 may approach you. 18:5 You will be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the care of the altar, so that there will be 3 no more wrath on the Israelites. 18:6 I myself have chosen 4 your brothers the Levites from among the Israelites. They are given to you as a gift from the Lord, to perform the duties 5 of the tent of meeting.
1 tn Now the sentence uses the Niphal perfect with a vav (ו) consecutive from the same root לָוָה (lavah).
2 tn The word is “stranger, alien,” but it can also mean Israelites here.
3 tn The clause is a purpose clause, and the imperfect tense a final imperfect.
4 tn Heb “taken.”
5 tn The infinitive construct in this sentence is from עָבַד (’avad), and so is the noun that serves as its object: to serve the service.
