Definition: But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Numbers 8:26. It's a really important part of how God wanted people to live in the Old Testament. Here’s what it means in simple terms: The Core Idea: This verse tells us that priests and Levites (a specific group of people dedicated to serving God) were specifically responsible for managing and keeping watch over God's presence – the Tabernacle – and its resources. They weren’t allowed to do anything else. Let’s unpack it: “But shall minister with their brethren…” - This means priests and Levites were working alongside other people who were also serving God. It was a team. “…in the tabernacle of the congregation…” – The Tabernacle was a special building where God lived among his people. It was a place of worship, holiness, and preparation for the coming of Jesus. “To keep the charge…” - This is key! It means they were responsible for managing what happened in the Tabernacle – things like food, animals, rituals, and ensuring everything ran smoothly. “…and shall do no service.” - This is the big one. The priests and Levites were strictly forbidden from doing anything else besides managing the Tabernacle and its resources. They couldn’t be involved in other jobs, businesses, or activities. It was a clear boundary between their role and other people. “Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.” - This is a command – a rule to follow. It means that the priests and Levites were expected to carefully and diligently manage everything within the Tabernacle, ensuring it was clean, safe, and used for God’s purpose. What's the Big Picture? This verse shows that the Tabernacle wasn’t just a building; it was a center of worship and holiness . It emphasized that the people were to be focused on God and his presence, and that those who served him had a very specific role – to manage and keep safe what was important for God. In short: The priests and Levites were entrusted with a huge responsibility within the Tabernacle, and they were expected to do nothing but their job – to care for God’s presence and resources. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Connect it to other parts of the Bible? Give a real-world example of how this principle was practiced in the Old Testament?