Deuteronomy 18:1-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:1-8

Magistracy and ministry are two divine institutions of admirable use for the support and advancement of the kingdom of God among men. Laws concerning the former we had in the close of the foregoing chapter, directions are in this given concerning the latter. Land-marks are here set between the estates of the priests and those of the people. I. Care is taken that the priests entangle not themselves with the affairs of this life, nor enrich themselves with the wealth of this world; they have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:1

The priests, the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel ,.... That is, in the land of Canaan, in the division of it among the tribes: they shall eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and his inheritance ; the meat offerings, see Leviticus 2:2 , and whatsoever of the sin offerings and peace offerings which were the Lord's; so Ben Melech says, the flesh of the offerings which belonged to the priests was called fire offerings, after part... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:2

Therefore shall they have none inheritance among their brethren ,.... Neither of the field, nor of the vineyard, as the above Targum, because provision was made for them otherwise, and especially because the Lord is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them ; see Gill on Numbers 18:20 , which as it may be understood in a spiritual sense of their interest in God, as their covenant God, and of their enjoyment of him, and communion with him; so chiefly in a temporal sense of all those... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:3

And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from them that offer sacrifice ,.... Not from the priests, as Jarchi observes, but from those that bring the sacrifices to the priests, particularly the peace offerings: whether it be ox or sheep ; the one of the herd, the other of the flock, creatures used in sacrifice, and takes in goats and the kids of them, rams and lambs: and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw ; the first of these... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:4

The firstfruit also of thy corn, and of thy wine, and of thy oil ,.... This is the "terumah", or heave offering, the offering of the firstfruits; what the measure or quantity was is not declared, but is fixed by the Jews; See Gill on Exodus 22:29 , and the first of the fleece of thy sheep shall thou give him : concerning which in the Misnah F18 Cholin, c. 11. sect. 1, 2. it is said, the first of the fleece is used in the land and without the land, of which they give the weight of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:5

For the Lord thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes ,.... That is, has chosen the tribe of Levi out of all the other tribes of Israel: to stand to minister in the name of the Lord ; the priests to minister to the Lord by offering sacrifices, and the Levites to minister to the priests in assisting them in their service; and both their ministry were in the name of the Lord, and for his glory, and done standing; for there was no sitting in the sanctuary F23 Maimon. in Misn.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 18:1

The priests the Levites - shall have no part - That is, says Rab. Maimon, they shall have no part in the spoils taken from an enemy. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 18:2

The Lord is their inheritance - He is the portion of their souls; and as to their bodies, they shall live by the offerings of the Lord made by fire, i. e., the meat-offering, the sin-offering, and the trespass-offering; and whatever was the Lord's right, in these or other offerings, he gave to the priests. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 18:3

Offer a sacrifice - הזבח זבחי zobechey hazzebach . The word זבח zebach is used to signify, not only an animal sacrificed to the Lord, but also one killed for common use. See Genesis 46:1 ; Proverbs 17:1 ; Ezekiel 39:17 . And in this latter sense it probably should be understood here; and, consequently, the command in this verse relates to what the people were to allow the priests and Levites from the animals slain for common use. The parts to be given to the priests were, The... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 18:4

The first-fruit also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, etc. - All these firstfruits and firstlings were the Lord's portion, and these he gave to the priests. read more

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