6. I myself have chosen your fellow Levites from among the Israelites to be your special assistants. They are a gift to you, dedicated to the lord for service in the Tabernacle.
7. But you and your sons, the priests, must personally handle all the priestly rituals associated with the altar and with everything behind the inner curtain. I am giving you the priesthood as your special privilege of service. Any unauthorized person who comes too near the sanctuary will be put to death.”
8. The lord gave these further instructions to Aaron: “I myself have put you in charge of all the holy offerings that are brought to me by the people of Israel. I have given all these consecrated offerings to you and your sons as your permanent share.
9. You are allotted the portion of the most holy offerings that is not burned on the fire. This portion of all the most holy offerings—including the grain offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings—will be most holy, and it belongs to you and your sons.
10. You must eat it as a most holy offering. All the males may eat of it, and you must treat it as most holy.
11. “All the sacred offerings and special offerings presented to me when the Israelites lift them up before the altar also belong to you. I have given them to you and to your sons and daughters as your permanent share. Any member of your family who is ceremonially clean may eat of these offerings.
12. “I also give you the harvest gifts brought by the people as offerings to the lord—the best of the olive oil, new wine, and grain.
13. All the first crops of their land that the people present to the lord belong to you. Any member of your family who is ceremonially clean may eat this food.
14. “Everything in Israel that is specially set apart for the lord also belongs to you.