The priests the Levites, [and] all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance. Ver. 1. _And his inheritance,_] _i.e., _ Whatsoever by the law belonged to the Lord, as _decimae Deo sacrae, &c._... [ Continue Reading ]
_The firstfruit [also] of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him._ Ver. 4. _The firstfruits also._] Pliny tells us, _a_ that among the Romans also no man might taste of his own corn, wine, or other fruits, _priusquam Sacerdotes primiti... [ Continue Reading ]
And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the LORD shall choose; Ver. 6. _With all the desire of his mind._] To do God better service. A good heart holds the best he can do, but a little of that mu... [ Continue Reading ]
They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony. Ver. 8. _Besides that._] He shall not maintain himself of his own private stock, but live of the holy things of the temple.... [ Continue Reading ]
There shall not be found among you [any one] that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, [or] that useth divination, [or] an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Ver. 10. _That maketh his son._] _See Trapp on "_ Lev 18:21 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. Ver. 11. _Or a necromancer._] Bellarmine and other Papists play the necromancers, when they would prove a Purgatory from the apparitions of spirits, that tell of themselves or others there tormented.... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. Ver. 13. _Thou shalt be perfect._] _See Trapp on "_ Mat 5:48 _"_ In the original there is a bigger _tau_ than ordinary in the word _Tamim,_ rendered perfect, to show, say Hebricians, that we must keep the whole law of God from the first letter thereof to... [ Continue Reading ]
For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so [to do]. Ver. 14. _Hath not suffered thee so to do._] He hath showed thee a more excellent way, and kept thee from these devoratory evils, a... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; Ver. 15. _Like unto me._] Both in the participation of nature and of office: a true man, and a true Mediator. _Similes_ they are, but not _pares:_ Christ being "worth... [ Continue Reading ]
I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. Ver. 18. _And he shall speak unto them._] Christ is that _palmoni hammedabbar_ Dan 10:5-6 that excellent speaker that spake with a... [ Continue Reading ]
When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that [is] the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, [but] the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. Ver. 22. _Thou shalt not be afraid._] Though he speak "great swelling wor... [ Continue Reading ]