Deuteronomio 18

1 LOS sacerdotes Levitas, toda la tribu de Leví, no tendrán parte ni heredad con Israel; de las ofrendas encendidas á Jehová, y de la heredad de él comerán.

2 No tendrán, pues, heredad entre sus hermanos: Jehová es su heredad, como él les ha dicho.

3 Y este será el derecho de los sacerdotes de parte del pueblo, de los que ofrecieren en sacrificio buey ó cordero: darán al sacerdote la espalda, y las quijadas, y el cuajar.

4 Las primicias de tu grano, de tu vino, y de tu aceite, y las primicias de la lana de tus ovejas le darás:

5 Porque le ha escogido Jehová tu Dios de todas tus tribus, para que esté para ministrar al nombre de Jehová, él y sus hijos para siempre.

6 Y cuando el Levita saliere de alguna de tus ciudades de todo Israel, donde hubiere peregrinado, y viniere con todo deseo de su alma al lugar que Jehová escogiere,

7 Ministrará al nombre de Jehová su Dios, como todos sus hermanos los Levitas que estuvieren allí delante de Jehová.

8 Porción como la porción de los otros comerán, además de sus patrimonios.

9 Cuando hubieres entrado en la tierra que Jehová tu Dios te da, no aprenderás á hacer según las abominaciones de aquellas gentes.

10 No sea hallado en ti quien haga pasar su hijo ó su hija por el fuego, ni practicante de adivinaciones, ni agorero, ni sortílego, ni hechicero,

11 Ni fraguador de encantamentos, ni quien pregunte á pitón, ni mágico, ni quien pregunte á los muertos.

12 Porque es abominación á Jehová cualquiera que hace estas cosas, y por estas abominaciones Jehová tu Dios las echó de delante de ti.

13 Perfecto serás con Jehová tu Dios.

14 Porque estas gentes que has de heredar, á agoreros y hechiceros oían: mas tú, no así te ha dado Jehová tu Dios.

15 Profeta de en medio de ti, de tus hermanos, como yo, te levantará Jehová tu Dios: á él oiréis:

16 Conforme á todo lo que pediste á Jehová tu Dios en Horeb el día de la asamblea, diciendo: No vuelva yo á oir la voz de Jehová mi Dios, ni vea yo más este gran fuego, porque no muera.

17 Y Jehová me dijo: Bien han dicho.

18 Profeta les suscitaré de en medio de sus hermanos, como tú; y pondré mis palabras en su boca, y él les hablará todo lo que yo le mandare.

19 Mas será, que cualquiera que no oyere mis palabras que él hablare en mi nombre, yo le residenciaré.

20 Empero el profeta que presumiere hablar palabra en mi nombre, que yo no le haya mandado hablar, ó que hablare en nombre de dioses ajenos, el tal profeta morirá.

21 Y si dijeres en tu corazón: ¿Cómo conoceremos la palabra que Jehová no hubiere hablado?

22 Cuando el profeta hablare en nombre de Jehová, y no fuere la tal cosa, ni viniere, es palabra que Jehová no ha hablado: con soberbia la habló aquel profeta: no tengas temor de él.

Deuteronomio 18 Commentary

Chapter 18

A provision respecting Levites. (1-8) The abominations of the Canaanites to be avoided. (9-14) Christ the great Prophet. (15-22)

Verses 1-8 Care is taken that the priests entangle not themselves with the affairs of this life, nor enrich themselves with the wealth of this world; they have better things to mind. Care is likewise taken that they want not the comforts and conveniences of this life. The people must provide for them. He that has the benefit of solemn religious assemblies, ought to give help for the comfortable support of those that minister in such assemblies.

Verses 9-14 Was it possible that a people so blessed with Divine institutions, should ever be in any danger of making those their teachers whom God had made their captives? They were in danger; therefore, after many like cautions, they are charged not to do after the abominations of the nations of Canaan. All reckoning of lucky or unlucky days, all charms for diseases, all amulets or spells to prevent evil, fortune-telling, &c. are here forbidden. These are so wicked as to be a chief cause of the rooting out of the Canaanites. It is amazing to think that there should be any pretenders of this kind in such a land, and day of light, as we live in. They are mere impostors who blind and cheat their followers.

Verses 15-22 It is here promised concerning Christ, that there should come a Prophet, great above all the prophets; by whom God would make known himself and his will to the children of men, more fully and clearly than he had ever done before. He is the Light of the world, ( John 8:12 ) . He is the World by whom God speaks to us, ( John 1:1 , Hebrews 1:2 ) . In his birth he should be one of their nation. In his resurrection he should be raised up at Jerusalem, and from thence his doctrine should go forth to all the world. Thus God, having raised up his Son Christ Jesus, sent him to bless us. He should be like unto Moses, only above him. This prophet is come, even JESUS; and is "He that should come," and we are to look for no other. The view of God which he gives, will not terrify or overwhelm, but encourages us. He speaks with fatherly affection and Divine authority united. Whoever refuses to listen to Jesus Christ, shall find it is at his peril; the same that is the Prophet is to be his Judge, ( John 12:48 ) . Woe then to those who refuse to hearken to His voice, to accept His salvation, or yield obedience to His sway! But happy they who trust in Him, and obey Him. He will lead them in the paths of safety and peace, until He brings them to the land of perfect light, purity, and happiness. Here is a caution against false prophets. It highly concerns us to have a right touchstone wherewith to try the word we hear, that we may know what that word is which the Lord has not spoken. Whatever is against the plain sense of the written word, or which gives countenance or encouragement to sin, we may be sure is not that which the Lord has spoken.

Chapter Summary

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.