Deuteronomy 18:1-8

Offerings for Priests and Levites

1 The Levitical priests—indeed, the whole tribe of Levi—are to have no allotment or inheritance with Israel. They shall live on the food offerings presented to the LORD, for that is their inheritance.
2 They shall have no inheritance among their fellow Israelites; the LORD is their inheritance, as he promised them.
3 This is the share due the priests from the people who sacrifice a bull or a sheep: the shoulder, the internal organs and the meat from the head.
4 You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the first wool from the shearing of your sheep,
5 for the LORD your God has chosen them and their descendants out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the LORD’s name always.
6 If a Levite moves from one of your towns anywhere in Israel where he is living, and comes in all earnestness to the place the LORD will choose,
7 he may minister in the name of the LORD his God like all his fellow Levites who serve there in the presence of the LORD.
8 He is to share equally in their benefits, even though he has received money from the sale of family possessions.

Deuteronomy 18:1-8 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 15

  • 1. Jeremiah 33:18,21
  • 2. S Numbers 18:8
  • 3. S Numbers 18:20; Deuteronomy 10:9; 1 Corinthians 9:13
  • 4. Numbers 18:20
  • 5. Joshua 13:14
  • 6. S Exodus 29:27
  • 7. S Leviticus 1:5
  • 8. Leviticus 7:28-34; Numbers 18:12
  • 9. Exodus 22:29; Numbers 18:12
  • 10. S Exodus 28:1
  • 11. Deuteronomy 10:8
  • 12. S Exodus 29:9
  • 13. S Numbers 35:2-3; S Deuteronomy 12:5
  • 14. ver 19; 1 Kings 18:32; 1 Kings 22:16; Psalms 118:26
  • 15. Numbers 18:24; 2 Chronicles 31:4; Nehemiah 12:44,47; Nehemiah 13:12
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