Deuteronomy 10:9

9 For which thing Levi had no part, neither possession with his brethren, for the Lord himself is his possession, as thy Lord God promised to him. (That is why the Levites have no part, nor possession, with their brothers, for the Lord himself is their possession, as the Lord thy God promised them.)

Deuteronomy 10:9 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 10:9

Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren,
&c.] In the division of the land of Canaan, because being separated to the service of the sanctuary, he had no leisure to plough and sow, as Jarchi observes:

the Lord is his inheritance,
as the Lord thy God promised him; not in a spiritual sense, for so the Lord was an inheritance and portion of other Israelites; though these being taken off of worldly employments, and devoted to sanctuary service, might have more communion with God than others; but in a temporal sense, provision being made particularly by tithes, which were the Lord's, for their maintenance; and so the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan paraphrase the words;

``gifts which the Lord gave him are his inheritance;''

see ( Numbers 18:20 Numbers 18:21 ) .

Deuteronomy 10:9 In-Context

7 From thence they came into Gudgodah; from which place they went forth, and setted tents in Jotbathah, in the land of waters and of strands. (And from Mosera, they came to Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah they went forth, and pitched their tents at Jotbathah, a land of many rivers.)

8 In that time I separated the lineage of Levi, that it should bear the ark of the bond of peace of the Lord, and it should stand before him in service, and should bless in his name, into this present day. (At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, and to stand before him in service, that is, to minister to him, and to bless in his name, which they continue to do unto this present day.)

9 For which thing Levi had no part, neither possession with his brethren, for the Lord himself is his possession, as thy Lord God promised to him. (That is why the Levites have no part, nor possession, with their brothers, for the Lord himself is their possession, as the Lord thy God promised them.)

10 And I stood in the hill as I did before, forty days and forty nights, and the Lord heard me also in this time, and he would not lose thee. (And I stayed on the mountain like I did before, for forty days and forty nights, and once again the Lord listened to me, and he consented not to destroy thee.)

11 And he said to me, Go thou, and go before this people, that it enter, and wield the land which I swore to their fathers, that I should give to them. (And he said to me, Go thou, and lead this people, so that they enter now, and take the land which I swore to their fathers, that I would give them.)