Deuteronomy 18:1-8

(3) PRIESTS (Deuteronomy 18:1-8)

The priests the Levites, even all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of Jehovah made by fire, and his inheritance. 2 And they shall have no inheritance among their brethren: Jehovah is their inheritance, as he hath spoken unto them. 3 And this shall be the priests-' due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep, that they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the Matthew 4 The first-fruits of thy grain, of thy new wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him. 5 For Jehovah thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of Jehovah, him and his sons for ever.

6 And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourneth, and come with all the desire of his soul unto the place which Jehovah shall choose; 7 then he shall minister in the name of Jehovah his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, who stand there before Jehovah. 8 They shall have like portions to eat, besides that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 18:1-8

297.

What distinction was there between a priest and a Levite?

298.

What three portions of the sacrificial animal belonged to the Levite?

299.

The attitude of the worshipper toward God is reflected in what he gave to the man of God; how so?

300.

There is a special type of Levite described in Deuteronomy 18:6 through Deuteronomy 18:8; who is he?

301.

What is patrimony?

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 18:1-8

The Levitical priests and all the tribe of Levi shall have no part or inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings made 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 priest's due from the people, from those who offer 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 new wine, and of your oil, and the first or best of the fleece of your sheep, you shall give the priest.
5 For the Lord your God has chosen him out of all your tribes, to stand to minister in the name [and presence] 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 is a temporary resident, he may come whenever he desires to [the sanctuary] the place the Lord will choose,
7 Then he may minister in the name [and presence] of the Lord his God, like all his brethren the Levites, who stand to minister there before the Lord.

8 They shall have equal portions to eat, besides what may come of the sale of his patrimony. [Jeremiah 32:6-15.]

COMMENT 18:1-8

We have already studied considerably concerning the priests and their divine allotment from the tithes and offerings of Israel (Deuteronomy 10:8-9, Deuteronomy 12:12; Deuteronomy 12:17-19, Deuteronomy 14:27-29). Having no inheritance, they were dependent upon the goodness and faithfulness of Israel for their support and livelihood.

THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES, EVEN ALL THE TRIBE OF LEVI (Deuteronomy 18:1)On the term Levites, Smith's Bible Dictionary states, Sometimes the name extends to the whole tribe, the priests included, Exodus 6:25; Leviticus 25:32; Numbers 35:2; Deuteronomy 18:1; Joshua 21:3; Joshua 21:41, etc.; sometimes only to those members of the tribe who were not priests, and as distinguished from them. Sometimes again it is added as an epithet of the smaller portion of the tribe, and we read of the priests the Levites Joshua 3:3; Ezekiel 44:15.

One family of Levites, Aaron and his sons, was set apart to be priests as such. The rest of the Levites were assistants to the priests, caring for the transportation and upkeep of the tabernacle, and later, the service of the temple. But they were all a part of the priestly tribe.

AND HIS INHERITANCE (Deuteronomy 18:1) i.e., God'S.. and His rightful dues [Amplified].

AND THIS SHALL BE THE PRIESTS-' DUE (Deuteronomy 18:3)Of that part of the sacrifice that he was to keep for himself.

THE MAW (Deuteronomy 18:3)better, the stomach. The rough stomach of ruminants, in which the digestion was completed (Pulpit).

As much as it might seem otherwise to us, these were regarded as the choice parts of the animal. They were given in addition to the wave breast and heave leg of the peace offerings (Leviticus 7:32 ff., Numbers 18:11, which belonged with the offerings made by fire (Deuteronomy 18:1). God's ministers of Israel were to eat well!

THE FIRST-FRUITS. SHALT THOU GIVE HIM (Deuteronomy 18:4)See Numbers 18:12-13. Moses here adds that the first fleece of the sheep shall be the priests-'.

We can see from these verses, (and by comparing our discussion in ch. 12) that the Israelite had not only to think about the amount he gave, but also the quality. God's servants should not have the worst part of the animal, but the best; and of the tithe from the field and flock, they were to get their share first. And why? Because God had chosen them to minister in his name (Deuteronomy 18:5)! Is anything more important than that?

How often this simple principle could well be learned today, among God's people. Those who preach the gospel should live of the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:14)live, not exist. If we have attached the proper importance and dignity to the work of Christ, his servants will have our generous and hearty assistance. Aaron and Hur, God's servants, needed some one else to hold up their hands to be effective with God.

AND IF A LEVITE COME FROM ANY OF THY GATES (note Deuteronomy 18:6-8)Only a portion of the Levites were engaged in the service of the sanctuary; the rest lived in their towns throughout the country, Numbers 35:7. It might happen, however, that a Levite, moved by holy feeling, would come to the place of the sanctuary to worship there; and it is prescribed that such a one should fare as his brethren the Levites engaged in the service of the sanctuary fared; he should minister along with them, and share with them in the gifts of the worshippers; and this in addition to any means he might have from the sale of his patrimony.

THE SALE OF HIS PATRIMONY (Deuteronomy 18:7)The latter word literally signifies the fathers and which Young renders upon (concerning) the fathers (clans). The I.S.B.E. states, e.g. -house of the fathers.-'It may indicate some private source of income possessed by the Levite [who has come up from a country district] distinct from what he receives as a priest officiating at the central sanctuary. Beyond this one occurrence of patrimony, we have the same idea conveyed elsewhere: Father, give me the portion of thy [Greek, the]substance that falleth unto me. And he divided unto them his living (Luke 15:12). Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me (Luke 12:13).

The Levite, as we have already learned (Deuteronomy 12:12; Deuteronomy 12:19, Deuteronomy 14:27) had no inheritance as such. He was therefore to be provided for out of the tithes and offerings of Israel. But when this sojourner came to the house of God and the place of sacrifice, he too, was to have his portion, along with the other priests. And this was to be so, even though he sold the house he had inherited (that is, that had been passed down to him) from his fathers. See Leviticus 25:32-34. He might also have had such supplies, furniture, etc. as was voluntarily contributed to him by grateful Israelites. These might be passed down from generation to generation, and the sale here might include such. When a man leaves the home he has known from childhood to devote his life to the Lord's ministry, he is not to be deprived the income he might receive in the process of selling out.