Deuteronomy 18:2-12

2 "1They shall have no inheritance among their countrymen; the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them.
3 "2Now this shall be the priests' due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, either an ox or a sheep, of which they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach.
4 "You shall give him the 3first fruits of your grain, your new wine, and your oil, and the first shearing of your sheep.
5 "4For the LORD your God has chosen him and his sons from all your tribes, to 5stand and serve in the name of the LORD forever *.
6 "Now if a Levite comes from any of your towns throughout * Israel where * he 6resides, and comes whenever he desires to the place which the LORD chooses,
7 then he shall serve in the name of the LORD his God, like all his fellow Levites who stand there before the LORD.
8 "7They shall eat equal portions, except what they receive from the sale of their fathers' estates.

Spiritism Forbidden

9 "When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to 8imitate the detestable things of those nations.
10 "There shall not be found among you anyone 9who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one 10who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
11 or one who casts a spell, 11or a medium *, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.
12 "For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and 12because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before * you.

Deuteronomy 18:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 18

This chapter gives an account of the provision made for the priests and Levites, with the reason of it, De 18:1-5, of allowance of a country Levite to minister at Jerusalem, and take his portion with the rest, De 18:6-8, and of several persons of bad practices not to be suffered among the people of Israel, De 18:9-14, and of an extraordinary prophet that should be raised up among them, to whom they should hearken, or it would be the worse for them, De 18:15-19, but a false prophet was to be put to death, of whom a sign is given by which he might be known, De 18:20-22.

Cross References 12

  • 1. Numbers 18:20
  • 2. Leviticus 7:32-34; Numbers 18:11, 12
  • 3. Numbers 18:12
  • 4. Exodus 29:9
  • 5. Deuteronomy 10:8
  • 6. Numbers 35:2, 3
  • 7. Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:21-24; 2 Chronicles 31:4; Nehemiah 12:44
  • 8. Deuteronomy 9:5
  • 9. Deuteronomy 12:31
  • 10. Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 19:26, 31; Leviticus 20:6; Jeremiah 27:9, 10; Malachi 3:5
  • 11. Leviticus 19:31
  • 12. Leviticus 18:24

Footnotes 7

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