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: -
- The flesh of the Sin-Offering, whether of beasts or fowls, Leviticus 6:25 , Leviticus 6:26 .
The flesh of the Trespass-Offering, Leviticus 7:1 , Leviticus 7:6 . The Peace-Offerings of the congregation, Leviticus 23:19 , Leviticus 23:20 . The remainder of the Omer or Sheaf, Leviticus 23:10 , etc. The remnants of the Meat-Offerings of the Israelites, Leviticus 6:16 . The two Loaves, Leviticus 23:17 . The Shew-Bread, Leviticus 24:9 . The Log of oil offered by the leper, Leviticus 14:10 , etc. Five of those gifts they ate only in Jerusalem: -
- The breast and shoulder of the Peace-Offerings, Leviticus 7:31 , Leviticus 7:34 .
The Heave-Offering of the sacrifice of confession, Leviticus 7:12-14 . The Heave-Offering of the Nazarite's ram, Leviticus 6:17-20 . The Firstling of the clean beast, Numbers 18:15 ; Deuteronomy 15:19 , Deuteronomy 15:20 . The First-Fruits, Numbers 18:13 . Five gifts were not due unto them by the law, but in the land of Israel only: -
- The heave-offering or First-Fruits, Numbers 18:12 .
The heave-offering of the Tithe, Numbers 18:28 . The Cake, Numbers 15:20 . These three were holy.
The first-fruits of the Fleece, Deuteronomy 18:4 . The Field of Possession, Numbers 35. These two were common.
Five gifts were due unto them both within and without the land: -
- The gifts of the Beasts Slain, Deuteronomy 18:3 .
The redemption of the First-Born Son, Numbers 18:15 . The Lamb for the firstling of an ass, Exodus 4:20 ; Numbers 18. The restitution of that taken by violence from a stranger, Numbers 5:8 . All Devoted things, Numbers 18:14 . One gift was due unto them from the sanctuary: -
- 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: -
- The heave-offering, or first-fruits.
The heave-offering of the tithe. The cake. The gifts of the beast, Deuteronomy 18:3 . 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 , Numbers 31:29 .
