Definition: And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’s office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Numbers 3:10. It's a really important passage about how God wants to establish a special group of people in Israel. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: God is saying that he wants a specific team – Aaron and his sons – to be the primary people responsible for leading the religious activities in Israel. And, crucially, he's setting up a rule where anyone who comes near to worship God will be put to death. Let’s look at it piece by piece: “And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons…” : This means that God is choosing a specific group of people – specifically, the priestly family – to handle all the important religious duties. “…and they shall wait on their priest’s office:” This tells us that these chosen individuals will be responsible for performing rituals, offering sacrifices, and guiding the people in worship. They'll be working under the direction of a priest. Think of it like a team leader overseeing an operation. “And the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.” : This is the shocking part! It means that any traveler or foreigner (someone who isn’t Jewish) who comes to worship God will be killed. This is a very strict rule – it highlights the importance of keeping the religious space pure and separate from the rest of the world. Why is this important? This verse speaks to several key points in the Old Testament: Separation: It’s about establishing a clear boundary between God's people and outsiders, protecting them from potential harm or disrespect. Religious Authority: It emphasizes that religious leadership should be controlled by God. Protection of Sacred Space: It shows God’s concern for the sanctity and purity of worship. In short, this verse establishes a very strict system where a group of priests, overseen by Aaron, would be responsible for leading the religious activities in Israel, with a specific and potentially deadly rule against those who come too close. --- Do you want to explore any particular aspect of this verse further? For example, we could discuss: The significance of the names Aaron and his sons. What this verse suggests about God's perspective on foreigners?