That is, for the violation of the sanctity of the tabernacle, which was the dwelling place of God among His people. In the NT the individual Christian is God’s holy sanctuary (1 Cor. 6:19), as also is the church as a whole (1 Cor. 3:16, 17). In both of these texts the word translated “temple” is the one that applies to the holy and most holy places, exclusive of all other buildings adjacent to it in the Temple area.

The word translated “wrath” is from a root allied to the Syriac and Arabic that means “to break off,” “to snap off.” Thenoun, masculine, is “splinter,” a piece broken off. So the wrath of God here involves the idea of severing from the church one who has sinned concerning God’s holy things. The Levites were stationed round about the tabernacle to prevent any unauthorized person from entering the sacred precincts of God’s dwelling place.

 Outside the priestly cordon the laity of Israel pitched their tents according to a divinely given plan. God was in their midst. His unapproachableness was stressed. Only designated persons of particular office could draw near to Him. This was strictly observed. The Christian ideal is disclosed by Paul in Heb. 4:16, wherein he exhorts the Christian to come “boldly unto the throne of grace,” into the very presence of Jehovah.