Deuteronomy 18:5-15

5 "1For the LORD your God has chosen him and his sons from all your tribes, to 2stand and serve in the name of the LORD forever *.
6 "Now if a Levite comes from any of your towns throughout * Israel where * he 3resides, 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 "4They 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 5imitate the detestable things of those nations.
10 "There shall not be found among you anyone 6who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one 7who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
11 or one who casts a spell, 8or a medium *, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.
12 "For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and 9because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before * you.
13 "10You shall be blameless before the LORD your God.
14 "For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who 11practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do so.
15 "12The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.

Deuteronomy 18:5-15 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. Exodus 29:9
  • 2. Deuteronomy 10:8
  • 3. Numbers 35:2, 3
  • 4. Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:21-24; 2 Chronicles 31:4; Nehemiah 12:44
  • 5. Deuteronomy 9:5
  • 6. Deuteronomy 12:31
  • 7. Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 19:26, 31; Leviticus 20:6; Jeremiah 27:9, 10; Malachi 3:5
  • 8. Leviticus 19:31
  • 9. Leviticus 18:24
  • 10. Genesis 6:9; Genesis 17:1; Matthew 5:48
  • 11. 2 Kings 21:6
  • 12. Matthew 21:11; Luke 2:25-34; Luke 7:16; Luke 24:19; John 1:21, 25; John 4:19; Acts 3:22; Acts 7:37

Footnotes 7

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.