Deuteronomy 18:6-8

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 18:6

And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of Israel, where he sojourned ,.... In any of the cities through the land, for they were dispersed all over the country, and employed in instructing and teaching the people; and, excepting the cities which were given them to dwell in out of the various tribes, they were but sojourners: and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the Lord shall choose ; the city of Jerusalem, where the temple would be built, and sacrifices... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:7

And he shall minister in the name of the Lord his God ,.... The Targum of Jonathan is,"he shall minister in the name of the Word of the Lord his God;'in the name of Christ, as a type of him, as every priest and every sacrifice were: he was to be allowed to officiate, though it was not his course or turn: as all his brethren the Levites do, which stand there before the Lord ; daily offering the same sacrifices, and whatsoever are brought unto them; who might be said to stand before the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:8

They shall have like portions to eat ,.... Equal parts of the sacrifices with the priests that usually ministered there; hence we learn, says Jarchi, that they divided the skins and flesh of the sin offerings; perhaps even such as did not come by virtue of the feast, as the daily sacrifices, and the additions of the sabbath, and the vows, and the freewill offerings: beside that which cometh by the sale of his patrimony : for though the priests and Levites had no inheritance divided to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 18:8

The sale of his patrimony - So we find that, though the Levites might have no part of the land by lot, yet they were permitted to make purchases of houses, goods, and cattle, yea, of fields also. See the case of Abiathar, 1 Kings 2:26 ; (note), and of Jeremiah, Jeremiah 32:7-8 ; (note). read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 18:6

Verse 6 6.And if a Levite come. This third head more clearly explains what is elsewhere more obscurely declared; for God seemed to curtail from the Levites whatever He gave to the priests. But He now more distinctly places the priests in the first rank, yet so that they should admit the Levites on the score of their labor’s to a share of the oblations. This is the sum of the law, that the Levites who remained at home, should be content with the tithes, and touch nothing of the other offerings;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:1-8

EXPOSITION RIGHTS OF THE PRIESTS AND THE LEVITES . THE ARTS OF DIVINATION OF THE HEATHEN TO BE AVOIDED . PROPHETS PROMISED WHOM ISRAEL MUST HEAR . THE FALSE AND PRESUMPTUOUS PROPHET TO BE PUT TO DEATH . After the ruling powers, the judges and the king, come the priests and the Levites. In regard to them Moses repeats here the law as before laid down (cf. Numbers 18:20 , Numbers 18:23 , Numbers 18:24 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:1-8

The support of the ministry the duty of God's people. In a note on a corresponding passage in Numbers 18:21 , Numbers 18:22 , Dr. Jameson remarks, "Neither the priests nor the Levites were to possess any allotments of land, but to depend entirely upon him who liberally provided for them out of his own portion; and this law was subservient to many important purposes, such as that, being exempted from the cares and labors of worldly business, they might be exclusively devoted to his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:1-8

God's provision for the priests and Levites. From the limitations of the monarchy, Moses next turns to the provision for the " priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi." They were not to receive any estate in Canaan beyond the suburbs of certain cities. They were to take " the Lord as their inheritance." We have already seen that Palestine was a good land for training up a spiritual people; it was a land where dependence upon God was constantly enforced. Bat among this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 18:1-8

The true priest is the highest type of man. God here lays down the lines along which men may rise to the dignity of the true priesthood. The ordinance did not secure the ideal reality. "The Law was weak through the flesh." Human choice and endeavor were requisite to attain to God's ideal priest. It is his privilege to receive from God, and to reveal to men. I. DIVINE CHOICE AND HUMAN DESIRE MUST COMBINE TO MAKE A REAL PRIEST . The man, though born a Levite, must... read more

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