CHAPTER XVIII _The priests and Levites to have no inheritance_, 1, 2. _What is the priest's due_, 3-5. _Of the Levites that come from any of the other cities_, 6-8. _The Israelites must not copy the abominations of the former_ _inhabitants_, 9. _None to cause his son or daughter to pass throug... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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 ot... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 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, 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 under... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 18:4. _THE FIRST-FRUIT_ ALSO _OF THY CORN, OF THY WINE, AND OF_ _THINE OIL, C._] All these _firstfruits_ and _firstlings_ were the Lord's portion, and these he gave to the priests.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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, and of Jeremiah, Jeremiah 32:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 18:10. _TO PASS THROUGH THE FIRE_] Probably in the way of consecration to Molech, or some other deity. It is not likely that their being _burnt to death_ is here intended. Leviticus 18:21. _DIVINATION_] קסם קסמים _kosem kesamim_, one who endeavours to find out futurity by _augurie... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 18:11. _A CHARMER_] חבר חבר _chober chaber_, one who uses _spells_; a peculiar _conjunction_, as the term implies, of _words_, or things, tying knots, c., for the purposes of divination. This was a custom among the heathen, as we learn from the following verses: - Necte TRIBUS NOD... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 18:15. _THE LORD THY GOD WILL RAISE UP UNTO THEE A PROPHET_] Instead of _diviners, observers of times_, c., God here promises to give them an _infallible guide_, who should tell them all things that make for their peace, so that his declarations should completely answer the end of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Deuteronomy 18:22. _IF THE THING FOLLOW NOT_] It is worthy of remark that the prophets in general predicted those things which were _shortly_ to come to pass, that the people might have the fullest proof of their Divine mission, and of the existence of God's providence in the administration of... [ Continue Reading ]