12 "I give you all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain they give the Lord as the firstfruits of their harvest.
12 All the best of the oil and all the best of the wine and of the grain, the firstfruits of what they give to the Lord, I give to you.
12 I also give you all the best olive oil, the best new wine, and the grain that is offered to God as the firstfruits of their harvest -
12 All the best of the oil, all the best of the new wine and the grain, their firstfruits which they offer to the Lord, I have given them to you.
12 "I also give you the harvest gifts brought by the people as offerings to the Lord -the best of the olive oil, new wine, and grain.
4 The firstfruit also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.
4 You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the first wool from the shearing of your sheep,
4 The firstfruits of your grain, of your wine and of your oil, and the first fleece of your sheep, you shall give him.
4 You must also give them the firstfruits of your grain, wine, and oil and the first fleece of your sheep,
4 The firstfruits of your grain and your new wine and your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, you shall give him.
4 You must also give to the priests the first share of the grain, the new wine, the olive oil, and the wool at shearing time.
(Read Deuteronomy 18:1-8)
Care is taken that the priests entangle not themselves with the affairs of this life, nor enrich themselves with the wealth of this world; they have better things to mind. Care is likewise taken that they want not the comforts and conveniences of this life. The people must provide for them. He that has the benefit of solemn religious assemblies, ought to give help for the comfortable support of those that minister in such assemblies.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 18:12
Commentary on Numbers 18:8-19
(Read Numbers 18:8-19)
All believers are spiritual priests, and God has promised to take care of them. Godliness has the promise of the life that now is. And from the provision here made for the priests, the apostle shows that it is the duty of christian churches to maintain their ministers. Scandalous maintenance makes scandalous ministers. The priests were to be wholly devoted to their ministry, not diverted from it, or disturbed in it, by worldly care or business. Also, that they might be examples of living by faith, not only in God's providence, but in his ordinances. The best should be offered for the first-fruits unto the Lord. Those who think to save, by putting God off with the refuse, deceive themselves, for God is not mocked.