Numbers 18: 1/10th

Chapter 18 begins with the now oft repeated pronouncement that the kohamin and the Leviim are holy for God. At first this chapter seems to repeat what the Torah has dictated many times before- that the kohanim work in the Mishkan and the Leviim help as well. But this time when God explains that the Leviim and kohanim do not get any land, God also dictates the special gifts that they should receive. The kohanim get trumah, first fruits, and first born animal, and the Leviim get maaser- 1/10th of certain produce. These gifts are given to the kohanim and Leviim because they are not given any specific property in the land and as a gift for working in the Mishkan. The idea of maaser had come up before, but it was never designated as gift for the Leviim before. In Leviticus 27:30-32 God commands that 1/10 of all grains and fruits and flocks should be “holy for God.” Why does God only dictate now that maaser should be given to the Leviim? Perhaps this is another gift given to mollify the rebellion by the Leviim. Another possible answer is that it links the Leviim to the people. The kohanim are given the task of performing the sacrificial rites, so they have constant contact with the people who bring the korbanot and other offerings. These gifts given from these korbanot are personal in nature as the kohen and the penitent share the same animal. In the case of the Leviim, they perform perfunctory jobs. They sing, blow the trumpets, carry the Mishkan, and guard it. There is not as much interaction with the people. The concern here is that a rift may be created between the Leviim and the people. God gives the Leviim to create a symbiotic relationship between the people and the Leviim like to kohanim. The Leviim are given a leadership role in the Mishkan, but they are reliant on gifts from the people. This is a constant reminder that they serve at the behest of God and the people.