Numbers 18:20

Verse Numbers 18:20. I am thy part and thine inheritance] The principal part of what was offered to God was the portion of the priests, therefore they had no inheritance of land in Israel; independently of that they had a very ample provision for their support. The rabbins say twenty-four gifts were given to the priests, and they are all expressed in the law. Eight of those gifts the priests ate nowhere but in the sanctuary: these eight are the following: -

1. The flesh of the SIN-OFFERING, whether of beasts or fowls, Leviticus 6:25-3.

2. The flesh of the TRESPASS-OFFERING, Leviticus 7:1; Leviticus 7:6.

3. The PEACE-OFFERINGS of the congregation, Leviticus 23:19-3.

4. The remainder of the OMER or SHEAF, Leviticus 23:10, c.

5. The remnants of the MEAT-OFFERINGS of the Israelites, Leviticus 6:16.

6. The two LOAVES, Leviticus 23:17.

7. The SHEW-BREAD, Leviticus 24:9.

8. The LOG of OIL offered by the leper, Leviticus 14:10, c.

Five of those gifts they ate only in Jerusalem: -

1. The breast and shoulder of the PEACE-OFFERINGS, Leviticus 7:31 Leviticus 7:34.

2. The HEAVE-OFFERING of the sacrifice of confession, Leviticus 7:12-3.

3. The HEAVE-OFFERING of the Nazarite's ram, Leviticus 6:17-3.

4. The FIRSTLING of the clean beast, Numbers 18:15; Deuteronomy 15:19-5.

5. The FIRST-FRUITS, Numbers 18:13.

FIVE gifts were not due unto them by the law, but in the land of Israel only: -

1. The heave-offering or FIRST-FRUITS, Numbers 18:12.

2. The heave-offering of the TITHE, Numbers 18:28.

3. The CAKE, Numbers 15:20.

These three were holy.

4. The first-fruits of the FLEECE, Deuteronomy 18:4.

5. The FIELD of POSSESSION, Numbers 35:2 c.

These two were common.

FIVE gifts were due unto them both within and without the land: -

1. The gifts of the BEASTS SLAIN, Deuteronomy 18:3.

2. The redemption of the FIRST-BORN SON, Numbers 18:15.

3. The LAMB for the firstling of an ass, Exodus 4:20; Numbers 18:15-4.

4. The restitution of that taken by violence from a stranger, Numbers 5:8.

5. All DEVOTED things, Numbers 18:14.

ONE gift was due unto them from the sanctuary: -

1. The skins of the burnt-offering, and all the skins of the other most holy things, Leviticus 7:8.

In all 24. See Ainsworth.

The gifts which the females of the priests' families had a part in were these: -

1. The heave-offering, or first-fruits.

2. The heave-offering of the tithe.

3. The cake.

4. The gifts of the beast, Deuteronomy 18:3.

5. The first of the fleece.

-See Mishna, Tract. Biccurim, and Ainsworth on the Pentateuch.

Besides all this the priests had the tribute money mentioned Numbers 31:28-4.