Numbers 3:7

3:7 They are responsible for his needs ¹  and the needs of the whole community before the tent of meeting, by attending ²  to the service of the tabernacle.

Numbers 8:26

8:26 They may assist ³  their colleagues ⁴  in the tent of meeting, to attend to needs, but they must do no work. This is the way you must establish ⁵  the Levites regarding their duties.”

Numbers 18:5

18:5 You will be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the care of the altar, so that there will be ⁶  no more wrath on the Israelites.

[3:7]  ¹ tn The Hebrew text uses the perfect tense of שָׁמַר(shamar) with a vav (ו) consecutive to continue the instruction of the preceding verse. It may be translated “and they shall keep” or “they must/are to keep,” but in this context it refers to their appointed duties. The verb is followed by its cognate accusative – “they are to keep his keeping,” or as it is often translated, “his charge.” This would mean whatever Aaron needed them to do. But the noun is also used for the people in the next phrase, and so “charge” cannot be the meaning here. The verse is explaining that the Levites will have duties to perform to meet the needs of Aaron and the congregation.

[3:7]  ² tn The form is the Qal infinitive construct from עָבַד (’avad, “to serve, to work”); it is taken here as a verbal noun and means “by (or in) serving” (see R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 36, §195). This explains the verb “keep [his charge].” Here too the form is followed by a cognate accusative; they will be there to “serve the service” or “work the work.”

[8:26]  ³ tn The verb is the Piel perfect of שָׁרַת (sharat, “to serve, minister”). Here the form has the vav (ו) consecutive, and so is equal to the imperfect tense stressing permission. After the Levites reached the age of retirement, they were permitted to assist the others, but were not permitted to do the work themselves.

[8:26]  ⁴ tn Heb “brothers,” but the meaning in this context is “fellow Levites.”

[8:26]  ⁵ tn Heb “you shall do, make.”

[18:5]  ⁵ tn The clause is a purpose clause, and the imperfect tense a final imperfect.