1 Corinthians 9:13

τὰ ἐκ τοῦ ἱεροῦ אBDFG Vulg. Rec. omits τά with ACE Peshito. The MSS. of the Vetus Lat. differ.

παρεδρεύοντες אABCDEFG. Rec. προσεδρεύοντες.

13. οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι οἱ τὰ ἱερα ἐργαζόμενοι. Fifth argument. The Jewish priests are maintained by the sacrifices of the worshippers. See Leviticus 6:17; Numbers 5:8-10, and especially Numbers 18:8-20. So also Deuteronomy 10:9; Deuteronomy 18:1. This was an argument of which in dealing with Jews it would not have been well to lose sight. Whether an Apostle or not St Paul was at least occupied with sacred things, and so had a claim to live, or rather eat (the literal translation), by means of the work he was doing.

παρεδρεύοντες. Literally sit beside, i.e. are continually engaged in attending to the altar. Compare our word assiduous.

συμμερίζονται. The sacrifices, the burnt offering excepted, were portioned out according to rule. Part was consumed on the altar; part was given to the priest; part, in some cases, was eaten by the worshipper. See passages cited in the last note but one.