Deuteronomy 18:1-9

1 "The Levitical priests, that is, all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings by fire to the LORD, and his rightful dues.

2 They shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the LORD is their inheritance, as he promised them.

3 And this shall be the priests' due from the people, from those offering a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach.

4 The first fruits of your grain, of your wine and of your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, you shall give him.

5 For the LORD your God has chosen him out of all your tribes, to stand and minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever.

6 "And if a Levite comes from any of your towns out of all Israel, where he lives--and he may come when he desires--to the place which the LORD will choose,

7 then he may minister in the name of the LORD his God, like all his fellow-Levites who stand to minister there before the LORD.

8 They shall have equal portions to eat, besides what he receives from the sale of his patrimony.

9 "When you come into the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.

Deuteronomy 18:1-9 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.