Deuteronomy 18:2-12

2 But they don't get land-inheritance like the rest of their kinsmen. God is their inheritance.

3 This is what the priests get from the people from any offering of an ox or a sheep: the shoulder, the two cheeks, and the stomach.

4 You must also give them the firstfruits of your grain, wine, and oil and the first fleece of your sheep,

5 because God, your God, has chosen only them and their children out of all your tribes to be present and serve always in the name of God, your God.

6 If a Levite moves from any town in Israel - and he is quite free to move wherever he desires - and comes to the place God designates for worship,

7 he may serve there in the name of God along with all his brother Levites who are present and serving in the Presence of God.

8 And he will get an equal share to eat, even though he has money from the sale of his parents' possessions.

9 When you enter the land that God, your God, is giving you, don't take on the abominable ways of life of the nations there.

10 Don't you dare sacrifice your son or daughter in the fire. Don't practice divination, sorcery, fortunetelling, witchery,

11 casting spells, holding séances, or channeling with the dead.

12 People who do these things are an abomination to God. It's because of just such abominable practices that God, your God, is driving these nations out before you.

Deuteronomy 18:2-12 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.