Deuteronomy 18:1-7

1 "And there shall not be for the Levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, a plot of ground and an inheritance with Israel, [rather] they may eat an offering made by fire [as] their inheritance, for Yahweh.

2 And there shall not be for them an inheritance [of land] in the midst of his brothers; [rather] Yahweh is his inheritance, [just] as he {promised} to them.

3 Now this shall be the share of the priest from the people, from {those who sacrifice the sacrifice}, [whether it is] an ox, sheep, or goat, and they shall give the priest the shoulder and the jawbones and the stomach.

4 The firstfruits of your grain, your wine, and your olive oil and the firstfruits of the fleece of your sheep you shall give to him.

5 For Yahweh your God has chosen him from [among] all your tribes to stand to minister in the name of Yahweh, he and his sons {forever}.

6 And if a Levite comes from one of your {towns} from {anywhere in Israel} where he is residing, {he may come whenever he desires}, to the place that Yahweh will choose,

7 and he may minister in the name of Yahweh his God, [just] like all his brothers, {the Levites who stand there} {before} Yahweh.

Deuteronomy 18:1-7 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. The meaning of the Hebrew text here is uncertain; possibly it reads: "[rather] an offering by fire then they will eat as [their] inheritance/patrimony"
• [b]. Hebrew "him"
• [c]. Literally "spoke"
• [d]. Hebrew "him"
• [e]. Literally "the sacrificers of the sacrifice"
• [f]. Hebrew "firstfruit"
• [g]. Hebrew "firstfruit"
• [h]. Literally "all [of] the days"
• [i]. Hebrew "the"
• [j]. Literally "gates"
• [k]. Literally "all [of] Israel"
• [l]. Literally "he may come in all the desire of his soul/inner self"
• [m]. Literally "the Levites the ones standing there"
• [n]. Literally "to the face of"