Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Numbers 18:31 mean when it says the priests can eat their portion 'in every place'?
A: This verse refers to the terumah (heave-offering) given to the Kohanim (priests) as their portion. Unlike other holy offerings that could only be eaten in the Temple courtyard, terumah could be eaten by the priests and their families anywhere, even outside Jerusalem, as long as they were in a state of ritual purity (Rashi on Numbers 18:31, Mishnah Terumot 8:1).
Q: Why does the Torah call the priests' portion a 'reward' in Numbers 18:31?
A: The Torah calls it a reward because the Kohanim dedicated their lives to serving in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and later the Temple. Since they didn't receive a portion of land like the other tribes, these offerings were their livelihood in exchange for their holy service (Rambam, Hilchot Terumot 1:1; Sforno on Numbers 18:31).
Q: Who was allowed to eat the priestly portions mentioned in Numbers 18:31?
A: The verse specifies 'you and your households' - meaning the Kohen himself, his wife, his children, and even his non-Jewish servants could eat the terumah, as long as they were under his roof and part of his household (Talmud Yevamot 69b, Rambam Hilchot Terumot 6:1-2).
Q: Does Numbers 18:31 still apply today without the Temple?
A: While the full system of terumah only applies when the Temple stands, certain aspects remain. In Israel today, farmers still separate terumah from their produce (though it cannot be eaten), and Kohanim receive other priestly gifts like the redemption of firstborn sons (Chazon Ish, Zeraim 15:1).
Q: What lesson can we learn from Numbers 18:31 about supporting Torah scholars?
A: Just as the Kohanim were supported for their holy work, the Talmud (Ketubot 105b) derives that communities should support Torah scholars who dedicate their lives to study. This maintains the continuity of Torah knowledge, similar to how the priestly service was maintained through their portions (Rambam, Hilchot Talmud Torah 3:10).
Context of the Verse
The verse (Bamidbar 18:31) is part of Hashem's instructions to the Levites regarding their portion of the terumah (heave-offerings) given by Bnei Yisrael. Unlike the Kohanim, who eat their portions in a state of ritual purity within sacred spaces, the Levites are permitted to eat their share anywhere, even in a state of tumah (impurity), as Rashi explains.
The Reward for Service
The phrase "כי שכר הוא לכם חלף עבודתכם באהל מועד" ("for it is your reward for your service in the Tent of Meeting") teaches that the Levites' portion is compensation for their sacred duties—transporting the Mishkan and assisting the Kohanim. Ramban (Nachmanides) elaborates that this reward is unique because it is not tied to a specific location, unlike the Kohanim's portions, which must be eaten in purity.
Halachic Implications
Spiritual Significance
The Kli Yakar (R' Shlomo Ephraim Luntschitz) explains that the Levites' reward reflects their role as intermediaries between Bnei Yisrael and the Kohanim. Their service was mobile (carrying the Mishkan), so their sustenance was not bound to a fixed place, symbolizing their dedication to the broader spiritual mission of Klal Yisrael.