In addition to the firstfruits already prescribed by the Law to be given to the priests ( Numbers 18:12 , Numbers 18:13 ), Moses here enacts that the first fleece of the sheep shall be given. All these, though legally prescribed, were free gifts on the part of the people; the neglect of the prescription incurred only moral blame, not judicial penalty. read more
For “maw” read stomach, which was regarded as one of the richest and choicest parts. As the animal slain may be considered to consist of three principal parts, head, feet, and body, a portion of each is by the regulation in question to be given to the priest, thus representing the consecration of the whole; or, as some ancient commentators think, the dedication of the words, acts, and appetites of the worshipper to God.The text probably refers to peace-offerings, and animals killed for the... read more
Deuteronomy 18:3. The maw The Hebrew word here rendered maw, or stomach, may have another signification; and some render it the breast; others take it for the part which lies under the breast. read more
Spiritual guides, good and bad (18:1-22)Further information is given concerning the support of priests (18:1-5; see notes on Numbers 18:8-20). If a Levite from the country sold his local possessions to move to the central place of worship, he could retain the money from the sale of his goods and still be financially supported by the people, the same as other Levites (6-8; see notes on Numbers 18:21-32).Israel’s law prohibited all forms of witchcraft and magic, whether cruel practices in which... read more
priest's due = priest's custom. Compare 1 Samuel 2:13 , 1Sa 2:28 , 1 Samuel 2:29 . Leviticus 7:33 , Leviticus 7:34 .Numbers 18:8-14 . offer = sacrifice. See App-43 . read more
wine. Hebrew. tirosh. App-27 . read more
Ver. 3. From them that offer a sacrifice— These words may be rendered, This shall be the priest's due from those who slay an animal: for the original word signifies no more than to kill an animal. Genesis 43:16. See Calmet and Ainsworth. Philo, Josephus, and many others, understand this of beasts slain for food in their several towns, not for sacrifice; for as to animals offered in sacrifice, only the breast and the right shoulder are to be given to the priests, but not a word is said of the... read more
3. this shall be the priest's due from the people—All who offered sacrifices of thanksgiving or peace offerings (Leviticus 7:31-33) were ordered to give the breast and shoulder as perquisites to the priests. Here "the two cheeks" or head and "the maw" or stomach, deemed anciently a great dainty, are specified. But whether this is a new injunction, or a repetition of the old with the supplement of more details, it is not easy to determine. read more
Priests and Levites 18:1-8The Levites lived as sojourners among the other Israelites. While they had their own cities, they did not possess land and territorial inheritances as the other Israelites did. However the privilege of serving God as they alone could was compensation much greater than their loss of physical benefits. They could eat the produce of the land. In addition to the tithes, the Levites also received the parts of the sacrifices allotted to them that included meat of various... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:2-3
As he hath said unto them (cf. Numbers 18:20 ). The shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw ; i . e . the front leg, the two jaw-bones, and the rough stomach of ruminants, in which the digestion is completed. These were regarded as the choice parts of the animal, and were to be given to the priests in addition to the wave breast and heave leg of the peace offerings (Le 7:32, etc.; Numbers 18:11 ), which belonged to the firings of Jehovah, mentioned in Deuteronomy 18:1 . To... read more