Deuteronomy 18:1-11

1 "The priestly tribe of Levi is not to receive any share of land in Israel; instead, they are to live on the offerings and other sacrifices given to the Lord.

2 They are to own no land, as the other tribes do; their share is the privilege of being the Lord's priests, as the Lord has promised. ¹

3 "Whenever cattle or sheep are sacrificed, the priests are to be given the shoulder, the jaw, and the stomach.

4 They are to receive the first share of the grain, wine, olive oil, and wool.

5 The Lord chose from all your tribes the tribe of Levi to serve him as priests forever.

6 "Any Levite who wants to may come from any town in Israel to the one place of worship

7 and may serve there as a priest of the Lord his God, like the other Levites who are serving there.

8 He is to receive the same amount of food as the other priests, and he may keep whatever his family sends him.

9 "When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, don't follow the disgusting practices of the nations that are there.

10 Don't sacrifice your children in the fires on your altars; and don't let your people practice divination or look for omens or use spells ²

11 or charms, and don't let them consult the spirits of the dead. ³

Deuteronomy 18:1-11 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

• 1. 18.2Numbers 18.20.
• 2. 18.10 aLeviticus 19.26; bExodus 22.18.
• 3. 18.11Leviticus 19.31.

Footnotes

• [a]. [Probable text] and he may keep . . . sends him; [Hebrew unclear.]