Deuteronomy 10:9

9 That is why the tribe of Levi received no land as the other tribes did; what they received was the privilege of being the Lord's priests, as the Lord your God promised.)

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 there they went to Gudgodah and then on to Jotbathah, a well-watered place.

8 At the mountain the Lord appointed the men of the tribe of Levi to be in charge of the Covenant Box, to serve him as priests, and to pronounce blessings in his name. And these are still their duties.

9 That is why the tribe of Levi received no land as the other tribes did; what they received was the privilege of being the Lord's priests, as the Lord your God promised.)

10 "I stayed on the mountain forty days and nights, as I did the first time. The Lord listened to me once more and agreed not to destroy you.

11 Then he told me to go and lead you, so that you could take possession of the land that he had promised to give to your ancestors.