
Text -- Deuteronomy 18:1-8 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley: Deu 18:1 - -- The Lord's portion or inheritance, which God had reserved to himself, as tithes and first fruits, and other oblations distinct from those which were m...
The Lord's portion or inheritance, which God had reserved to himself, as tithes and first fruits, and other oblations distinct from those which were made by fire.

Wesley: Deu 18:3 - -- 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 u...
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.

Wesley: Deu 18:6 - -- With full purpose to fix his abode, and to spend his whole time and strength in the service of God. It seems, the several priests were to come from th...
With full purpose to fix his abode, and to spend his whole time and strength in the service of God. It seems, the several priests were to come from their cities to the temple by turns, before David's time; and it is certain they did so after it. But if any of them were not contented with this attendance upon God in his tabernacle, or temple, and desired more entirely and constantly to devote himself to God's service there, he was permitted so to do, because this was an eminent act of piety joined with self - denial, to part with those great conveniences which he enjoyed in the city of his possession.

Wesley: Deu 18:8 - -- With their brethren who were in actual ministration: as they share with them in the work, so shall they in the encouragements.
With their brethren who were in actual ministration: as they share with them in the work, so shall they in the encouragements.

Wesley: Deu 18:8 - -- The reason of this law was, because he that waited on the altar, ought to live by the altar: and because it was fit he should keep his money, wherewit...
The reason of this law was, because he that waited on the altar, ought to live by the altar: and because it was fit he should keep his money, wherewith he might redeem what he sold, if afterwards he saw occasion for it. Mr. Henry adds a remarkable note here: especially considering he wrote threescore years ago. "A hearty, pious zeal to serve God and his church, tho' it may a little encroach upon a settled order, and there may be somewhat in it that looks irregular, yet ought to be gratified, and not discouraged. He that loves dearly to be employed in the service of the sanctuary: in God's name let him minster. He shall be as welcome to God as the Levites, whose course it was to minister, and should be so to them."
JFB: Deu 18:1 - -- As the tribe of Levi had no inheritance allotted them like the other tribes but were wholly consecrated to the priestly office, their maintenance was ...
As the tribe of Levi had no inheritance allotted them like the other tribes but were wholly consecrated to the priestly office, their maintenance was to arise from tithes, first-fruits, and certain portions of the oblations presented on the altar, which God having by express appointment reserved to Himself made over, after being offered, to His ministers.

JFB: Deu 18:3 - -- All who offered sacrifices of thanksgiving or peace offerings (Lev 7:31-33) were ordered to give the breast and shoulder as perquisites to the priests...
All who offered sacrifices of thanksgiving or peace offerings (Lev 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.

JFB: Deu 18:6-8 - -- It appears that the Levites served in rotation from the earliest times; but, from their great numbers, it was only at infrequent intervals they could ...
It appears that the Levites served in rotation from the earliest times; but, from their great numbers, it was only at infrequent intervals they could be called into actual service. Should any Levite, however, under the influence of eminent piety, resolve to devote himself wholly and continually to the sacred duties of the sanctuary, he was allowed to realize his ardent wishes; and as he was admitted to a share of the work, so also to a share of the remuneration. Though he might have private property, that was to form no ground for withholding or even diminishing his claim to maintenance like the other ministering priests. The reason or principle of the enactment is obvious (1Co 9:13). At the same time, while every facility was afforded for the admission of such a zealous and self-denying officer, this admission was to be in an orderly manner: he was to minister "as all his brethren"--that is, a Gershonite with Gershonites; a Merarite with Merarites; so that there might be no derangement of the established courses.
Clarke: Deu 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.
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.

Clarke: Deu 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,...
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.

Clarke: Deu 18:3 - -- Offer a sacrifice - זבחי הזבח zobechey hazzebach . The word זבח zebach is used to signify, not only an animal sacrificed to the Lord...
Offer a sacrifice -
1. The shoulder, probably cut off from the beast with the skin on; so Maimonides
2. The two cheeks, which may include the whole head
3. The maw - the whole of those intestines which are commonly used for food.

Clarke: Deu 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 thes...
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.

Clarke: Deu 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 ...
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, 1Ki 2:26 (note), and of Jeremiah, Jer 32:7-8 (note).
Calvin: Deu 18:1 - -- 1.The priests, the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi This chapter contains three principal heads; for first, God shews that there was no reason wh...
1.The priests, the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi This chapter contains three principal heads; for first, God shews that there was no reason why the Israelites should be aggrieved at paying tithes to the Levites, and at remitting the first-fruits and other oblations to the priests, since this tribe was deprived of their inheritance. Secondly, He obviates all quarrels, and prevents unlawful gains and pilferings, by assigning their just share to the priests and Levites. Thirdly, He defines how the oblations should be parted among them, and what part of the victims the priests were to take. As to the first clause, since God was as it were the lot of their inheritance, they justly claimed to themselves the right which he had transferred to them. If it were disagreeable to the people that their revenue should be tithed, God came as it were between, and declaring that it was His property in His right as King, appointed the Levites to be His stewards and collectors for receiving it. There was then no ground for any one to raise a dispute, unless he chose professedly to rob God. But this declaration often occurs; since it was of great importance that the people should be assured that God accounted as received by Himself what He had assigned to the Levites; not. only lest any portion should be withheld from them, but also that every one should willingly pay the lawful dues of God’s ministers; and again, lest any should wickedly murmur because the first-fruits and some portion of the sacrifices were appropriated for the subsistence of the priests. Another reason is also expressed, why the honor assigned to the priests should be paid without grudging; viz., because God had appointed them to be the ministers of His service; but “the laborer is worthy of his hire."

Calvin: Deu 18:3 - -- 3.And this shall be the priests’ due It is not only for the sake of the priests that God enumerates what He would have them receive, that they may ...
3.And this shall be the priests’ due It is not only for the sake of the priests that God enumerates what He would have them receive, that they may obtain what is their own without murmuring or dispute; but He also has regard to the people, lest the priests should basely and greedily take more than their due; which sacred history relates to have been done by the sons of Eli, (1Sa 2:23,) for they had advanced to such a degree of licentiousness, that, like robbers, they seized violently on whatever their lust desired. Lest therefore they should give way to this gross covetousness, God prescribes to them certain limits, to which they were to confine themselves, so that if they transgressed them, it was easy for any of the people to convict them of avarice.

Calvin: Deu 18:6 - -- 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 wh...
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; but that from whithersoever they should come to the sanctuary, they were to be accounted as ministers and take their proper place. By this law then, it was provided that none should be excluded on the ground of the intermission of their duties; and that the condition of those that dwelt elsewhere should not be worse than of those who lived at Jerusalem. For although they might reside in other cities, they did not altogether cease from their ministry, since they had other duties to perform besides that of sacrificing the victims. Yet those who entirely devoted themselves to the work of the sanctuary, were endowed by God with double honor; since it was by no means just that they should be defrauded of their maintenance, who bade adieu to domestic cares and labors, and occupied themselves totally in holy offices. That this distribution was not superfluous, will best appear from the narrative of Josephus, who relates that the 226 priests seized on the tithes by violence, and deprived the Levites of their subsistence by hostile measures.
TSK: Deu 18:1 - -- shall have : Deu 10:9, Deu 12:19; Num 18:20, Num 26:62; Jos 13:33, Jos 18:7; 1Pe 5:2-4
they shall : Num 18:8, Num 18:9; Jos 13:14; 1Co 9:13, 1Co 9:14

TSK: Deu 18:2 - -- the Lord : Gen 15:1; Psa 16:5, Psa 73:24-26, Psa 84:11, Psa 119:57; Isa 61:6; Lam 3:24; 1Pe 2:5, 1Pe 2:9; Rev 1:5, Rev 1:6

TSK: Deu 18:4 - -- firstfruit : Deu 26:9, Deu 26:10; Exo 22:29, Exo 23:19; Lev 23:10, Lev 23:17; Num 18:12-24; 2Ch 31:4-10; Neh 12:44-47
the fleece : Job 21:20
firstfruit : Deu 26:9, Deu 26:10; Exo 22:29, Exo 23:19; Lev 23:10, Lev 23:17; Num 18:12-24; 2Ch 31:4-10; Neh 12:44-47
the fleece : Job 21:20

TSK: Deu 18:5 - -- Deu 10:8, Deu 17:12; Exo 28:1-14; Num 3:10, Num 16:5, Num 16:9, Num 16:10, Num 17:5-9, Num 25:13

TSK: Deu 18:6 - -- come : Num 35:2, Num 35:3
and come with : Psa 26:8, Psa 27:4, Psa 63:1, Psa 63:2, Psa 84:5, Psa 84:10; 1Ti 3:1; 1Pe 5:2
unto the place : Deu 12:5, Deu...

TSK: Deu 18:8 - -- like portions : Lev 7:8, Lev 7:9, Lev 7:14; Neh 12:44, Neh 12:47; Luk 10:7; 1Co 9:7-14; 1Ti 5:17, 1Ti 5:18
that which cometh of the sale of his patrim...

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes: Deu 18:1 - -- Better, "there shall not be to the priests, the Levites, yea the whole tribe of Levi, any inheritance, etc." And his inheritance - i. e., God&...
Better, "there shall not be to the priests, the Levites, yea the whole tribe of Levi, any inheritance, etc."
And his inheritance - i. e., God’ s inheritance, that which in making a grant to His people of the promised land with its earthly blessings He had reserved for Himself; more particularly the sacrifices and the holy gifts, such as tithes and first-fruits. These were God’ s portion of the substance of Israel; and as the Levites were His portion of the persons of Israel, it was fitting that the Levites should be sustained from these. On the principle here laid down, compare 1Co 9:13-14.

Barnes: Deu 18:3 - -- 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 princi...
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 sacrificial meals held in connection with the peace-offerings.

Barnes: Deu 18:6-8 - -- These verses presuppose that part of the Levites only will be in residence and officiating at the place of the sanctuary, the others of course dwell...
These verses presuppose that part of the Levites only will be in residence and officiating at the place of the sanctuary, the others of course dwelling at their own homes in the Levitical cities, or "sojourning"elsewhere; compare the marginal references. But if any Levite out of love for the service of the sanctuary chose to resort to it when he might reside in his own home, he was to have his share in the maintenance which was provided for those ministering in the order of their course.
Beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony - The Levites had indeed "no part nor inheritance with Israel,"but they might individually possess property, and in fact often did so (compare 1Ki 2:26; Jer 32:7; Act 4:36). The Levite who desired to settle at the place of the sanctuary would probably sell his patrimony when quitting his former home. The text directs that he should, notwithstanding any such private resources, duly enjoy his share of the perquisites provided for the ministers at the sanctuary, and as he was "waiting at the altar"should be "partaker with the altar"1Co 9:13.
Poole: Deu 18:1 - -- The offerings of the Lord made by fire by which phrase we here manifestly see that he means not burnt-offerings, which were wholly consumed by fire,...
The offerings of the Lord made by fire by which phrase we here manifestly see that he means not burnt-offerings, which were wholly consumed by fire, and no part of them eaten by the priests; but other sacrifices, whereof part was offered to the Lord by fire, and part was allotted to the priests for their food. His inheritance i.e. the Lord’ s portion or inheritance, which God had reserved to himself, as tithes and first-fruits, and other oblations distinct from those which were made by fire; and so these two branches make up the whole of that which belonged to God, and was by him given to the Levites.

i.e. The Lord’ s part and right, as was now said.

Poole: Deu 18:3 - -- A sacrifice to wit, a sacrifice of thanksgiving, or a peace-offering, as appears from Lev 7:31,33 , which is ofttimes called simply a sacrifice, as E...
A sacrifice to wit, a sacrifice of thanksgiving, or a peace-offering, as appears from Lev 7:31,33 , which is ofttimes called simply a sacrifice, as Exo 18:12 Lev 17:5,8 Nu 15:3 Deu 12:27 .
The shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw
Quest. How doth this agree with other texts, in which the shoulder and the breast, and those parts only, are the priest’ s due, not the cheeks and maw?
Answ
1. Who shall tie God’ s hands? what if he now makes an addition, and enlargeth the priest’ s commons? Nothing more usual than for one scripture to supply what is lacking in another, and for a latter law of God to add to a former.
2. The breast may be here omitted, because it is comprehended under the shoulder, to which it is commonly joined, and with which it was waved before the Lord.
3. The Hebrew word here rendered maw or stomach , which was reckoned among dainties by the ancients, is not to my remembrance used elsewhere, and therefore it may have another signification, and some render it the breast, others take it for the uppermost part of the stomach, which lies under the breast.

Poole: Deu 18:5 - -- To minister in the name of the Lord i.e. either by authority and commission from him, or for his honour, worship, or service.
To minister in the name of the Lord i.e. either by authority and commission from him, or for his honour, worship, or service.

Poole: Deu 18:6 - -- Either for any private occasions, or to sojourn there for a season, or rather with full purpose to fix his abode, and to spend his whole time and st...
Either for any private occasions, or to sojourn there for a season, or rather with full purpose to fix his abode, and to spend his whole time and strength in the service of God, as appears by the sale of his patrimony , mentioned Deu 18:8 . It seems probable that the several priests were to come from their cities to the temple by turns before David’ s time, and it is certain they did so after it. But if any of them were not contented with this seldom attendance upon God in his tabernacle or temple, and desired more entirely and constantly to devote himself to God’ s service there, he was permitted so to do, because this was an eminent act of piety joined with self-denial to part with those great conveniencies which he could and did enjoy in the city of his possession, and to oblige himself to more constant and laborious work about the sacrifices, &c.

Poole: Deu 18:8 - -- Like portions to wit, with their brethren who were in actual ministration; as they share with them in the work, so shall they also in the encourageme...
Like portions to wit, with their brethren who were in actual ministration; as they share with them in the work, so shall they also in the encouragements.
Beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony though he have an estate whereby he may subsist raised by the sale of his house in his city, and his cattle, and other movables, yet you shall not upon this ground either deny or diminish their part of your maintenance. The reason of this law was, partly because he that waited on the altar ought to live by the altar; and partly because it was fit he should keep his money, wherewith he might redeem what he sold, if afterwards he saw occasion for it. Heb. besides his sales by the fathers , i.e. of that which came to him by his fathers, or, according to his fathers , or, his father’ s house; and these words may be joined not with the word immediately foregoing, but with the former part of the verse, the next word coming in by a kind of parenthesis, in this manner and order,
Besides that which cometh by the sale of their goods, they shall have like portions to eat to what their brethren have, each of them eating according to his father’ s house, i.e. a Gershonite shall eat with his brethren the Gershonites who are then ministering, and a Merarite with the Merarites, &c., and so there shall be no disturbance nor change in the appointed courses by their accession to the number.
Haydock: Deu 18:1 - -- To say. These denote heretics, as the following point out apostates. (Worthington)
To say. These denote heretics, as the following point out apostates. (Worthington)

Haydock: Deu 18:1 - -- Oblations. Hebrew "they shall eat the holocausts of the Lord and his inheritances." The priests shall have the parts of the sacrifices for peace al...
Oblations. Hebrew "they shall eat the holocausts of the Lord and his inheritances." The priests shall have the parts of the sacrifices for peace allotted to them, &c., tithes shall be given to support the Levites. (Haydock) ---
These parts are what God claims from the people, as their Sovereign, (Calmet) and these he assigns to his ministers. Septuagint, "The fruits of the Lord are their inheritance, they shall eat them." (Haydock)

Haydock: Deu 18:3 - -- Due, ( judicium .) Moses only mentions a part, having explained the rest, Exodus xxix. 27., Leviticus vii. 32. ---
Breast, ( ventriculum. ) In th...
Due, ( judicium .) Moses only mentions a part, having explained the rest, Exodus xxix. 27., Leviticus vii. 32. ---
Breast, ( ventriculum. ) In the other places pectusculum occurs. Hebrew, "the shoulder, the two cheeks, and the maw, or caul," called in Latin omasum, being the last and fattest of the four ventricles, and highly esteemed by the ancients. The cheeks or chaps are specified no where else; so that some think Moses here supplies what he had left imperfect, assigning to the priests the cheeks and tongue. Jansenius supposes that this is only a part of the breast, which appears to have two cheeks when the shoulders are cut off. But Moses here probably speaks not of the peace-offerings, but of the beasts which were killed by the Israelites at home for their own uses, &c., (Clerc) as Philo explains it, (de præm.) and Josephus ([Antiquities?] iv. 4) only specifies the right shoulder and the breast, which were given to the priests on these occasions. (Calmet) ---
Septuagint, "the shoulder, the cheeks, and the last ventricle." The victims were not, therefore, of a sacred nature; as they were only sacrificed, inasmuch as the blood was to be offered to the Lord. (Haydock) See Genesis xliii. 16.

Haydock: Deu 18:4 - -- Corn, besides those which were offered to the Lord at the feast of Pentecost. Each landholder was bound to give between the 40th and the 60th part o...
Corn, besides those which were offered to the Lord at the feast of Pentecost. Each landholder was bound to give between the 40th and the 60th part of his produce. (St. Jerome) See Exodus xxii. 29.

Haydock: Deu 18:5 - -- Stand. This was the usual posture of the priests ministering in the temple, as well as of people praying. ---
Minister. Samaritan and Septuagint ...
Stand. This was the usual posture of the priests ministering in the temple, as well as of people praying. ---
Minister. Samaritan and Septuagint add, "and to bless in," &c.

Haydock: Deu 18:6 - -- Levite. In the days of Moses, all the Levites probably assisted in the service of the tabernacle, when they thought proper. But, after they should b...
Levite. In the days of Moses, all the Levites probably assisted in the service of the tabernacle, when they thought proper. But, after they should be dispersed, he encourages them to come willingly. David afterwards divided the priests and the Levites into classes, which were obliged to serve in their turns, 1 Paralipomenon xxiii., &c. Though he derogated from the words of the law, he followed the spirit of the injunction, which was intended to promote the great glory and decency of religion; and even after this regulation, (Calmet) those who desired, like Samuel, (Menochius) to consecrate their labours to the Lord for life, or for a long time, were in all probability entitled to the privileges here granted. (Calmet)

Haydock: Deu 18:8 - -- Portion. Whence this was taken, whether from the tithes in general, or from the treasury of the temple, or from the revenue of the high priest, &c.,...
Portion. Whence this was taken, whether from the tithes in general, or from the treasury of the temple, or from the revenue of the high priest, &c., does not appear. (Calmet) ---
Fathers. The Levites might possess houses, suburbs, and cattle. (Menochius) ---
Hebrew, "besides that which ariseth from the sale of his patrimony." (Haydock)
Gill: Deu 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 divisi...
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 Lev 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 of it was consumed by fire. All these, with other things, Num 18:8, were given, as the Targum of Jonathan expresses it, for their inheritance, in lieu of their having none in the land of Canaan.

Gill: Deu 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...
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 Num 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 things in the sacrifices which the Lord claimed to himself, and these he gave unto them; so the same Targum interprets this of the twenty four gifts of the priesthood, enumerated Num 18:1.

Gill: Deu 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 ...
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 designs the upper part of the arm that joins to the neck and back, and the next the two cheeks with the tongue, as both Jarchi and Aben Ezra observe, and indeed the whole head is meant; the maw, which the Septuagint interpreters call

Gill: Deu 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 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 Exo 22:29,
and the first of the fleece of thy sheep shall thou give him: concerning which in the Misnah r it is said, the first of the fleece is used in the land and without the land, of which they give the weight of five shekels in Judea, which are ten shekels in Galilee; and they give white wool, and not defiled, enough to make of it a little garment. He that buys a fleece of the sheep of a Gentile, he is free from the first of the fleece; but if he buys it of his neighbour, if he leaves any of it, the seller is bound, if none the buyer is bound; if there are two sorts, russet and white, and he sells the russet but not the white, the males but not the females, everyone gives for himself. It may be observed in this account, that as much wool was to be given as would make a small garment; enough, says one of the commentators s, to make a little garment to minister in; and the least garment fit for a priest to minister in is a girdle. Jarchi's paraphrase of it is,"when thou shearest thy flock every year, give the first of it to the priest; it does not determine the quantity, but our Rabbins fix it to the sixtieth part;''with which agrees the observation of another writer t, that there is no quantity fixed for the first of the fleece from the law, but from the words of the Scribes it must not be less than the sixtieth part. There is no obligation to the first of the fleece until five sheep are shorn, and the fleece of everyone of the five must not be less than twelve shekels' weight; but if there is one fleece of them less than twelve shekels, though the five fleeces are more than sixty shekels, lo, this is free; so that, as Maimonides u says, the first of the fleece is not less than the weight of a shekel.

Gill: Deu 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 sta...
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 w; the priestly ministry was only performed standing x, whatever was done sitting was rejected y; see Heb 10:11,
him and his sons for ever; Levi and his posterity, or the posterity of the tribe of Levi, were chosen by the Lord to this service, to be employed in it as long as the ceremonial law continued, on which stood the Levitical priesthood; but both are now abolished by Christ, having their accomplishment in him, Heb 7:11.

Gill: Deu 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 o...
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 offered, at which the Levites were assisting to the priests, and in various parts of the service of the sanctuary; and to which they are supposed to come with an hearty good will, with great eagerness of soul, and a vehement desire of being employed in the work of the Lord. Though Jarchi interprets it of a priest, that comes and offers his freewill offerings, or what he is obliged to, and even in a ward not his own; or, as otherwise expressed, of the priests that come to the feast, who offer in the ward, and serve in the offerings that come by virtue of the feast, as the additions of the feast, though it is not in their own ward; and indeed every priest was a Levite, though every Levite was not a priest; and the description of him after given, as standing ministering in the name of the Lord, best agrees with a priest.

Gill: Deu 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;''...
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 Lord, because they stood at the altar of the Lord, and offered the sacrifices of the people to him; and a country Levite or priest was to be admitted to do the same thing at Jerusalem, and in the temple there, as they did; and this shows that a priest is meant by the Levite.

Gill: Deu 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, t...
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 them in the land, yet they might buy houses and fields, and leave them to their children, and this may be called their patrimony; now it was not reasonable that they should wholly live upon this, or spend what their fathers left them; but, besides the income of that, were to have their part and portion with their brethren in the sacrifices of the sanctuary. But some interpret these words in a different way, as if they had respect to the gifts and oblations in the several wards in which the priests ministered, as they were ordered by their fathers, Eleazar, Ithamar, Samuel, David, and Solomon; so the Targums of Onkelos, Jonathan, and Jarchi. In the times of Eleazar and Ithamar, there were only eight wards or courses, which ministered in their turns, but in the days of David they were divided into twenty four; See Gill on Luk 1:8; now the ordering and fixing these in their turns is called a vendition or sale; and these country priests might partake of all sacrifices at the feast, excepting those which belonged to him whose course it was that week.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes: Deu 18:1 Of his inheritance. This is a figurative way of speaking of the produce of the land the Lord will give to his people. It is the Lord’s inheritan...

NET Notes: Deu 18:2 Heb “brothers,” but not referring to actual siblings. Cf. NASB “their countrymen”; NRSV “the other members of the commun...



NET Notes: Deu 18:5 Heb “the name of the Lord.” The pronoun has been used in the translation for stylistic reasons to avoid redundancy.

NET Notes: Deu 18:6 Or “sojourning.” The verb used here refers to living temporarily in a place, not settling down.

NET Notes: Deu 18:8 Presumably this would not refer to a land inheritance, since that was forbidden to the descendants of Levi (v. 1). More likely it referred to some fam...
Geneva Bible: Deu 18:1 The priests the Levites, [and] all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by...

Geneva Bible: Deu 18:3 And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether [it be] ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest...

Geneva Bible: Deu 18:6 And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and come with ( c ) all the desire of his mind unto the place which ...

Geneva Bible: Deu 18:8 They shall have like portions to eat, ( d ) beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.
( d ) Not forced to live from himself.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Deu 18:1-22
TSK Synopsis: Deu 18:1-22 - --1 The LORD is the priests and Levites' inheritance.3 The priests' due.6 The Levites' portion.9 The abominations of the nations are to be avoided.15 Ch...
MHCC -> Deu 18:1-8
MHCC: Deu 18:1-8 - --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 b...
Matthew Henry -> Deu 18:1-8
Matthew Henry: Deu 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 concern...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Deu 18:1-8
Keil-Delitzsch: Deu 18:1-8 - --
In addition to the judicial order and the future king, it was necessary that the position of the priests and Levites, whose duties and rights had be...
Constable: Deu 5:1--26:19 - --IV. MOSES' SECOND MAJOR ADDRESS: AN EXPOSITION OF THE LAW chs. 5--26
". . . Deuteronomy contains the most compre...

Constable: Deu 12:1--25:19 - --B. An exposition of selected covenant laws 12-25
Moses' homiletical exposition of the law of Israel that...

Constable: Deu 16:18--19:1 - --5. Laws arising from the fifth commandment 16:18-18:22
The fifth commandment is, "Honor your fat...
