Deuteronomy 18:6

_AND IF A LEVITE COME FROM ANY OF THY GATES OUT OF ALL ISRAEL, WHERE HE SOJOURNED, AND COME WITH ALL THE DESIRE OF HIS MIND UNTO THE PLACE WHICH THE LORD SHALL CHOOSE;_ If a Levite come ... with all the desire of his mind. It appears that the Levites served in rotation from the earliest times; but, from their great numbers, it was only at distant 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 a 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 obv...

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, the...

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 better things to mind. Care is likewise taken that they want not the comforts and conveniences of this life. The people must provide for them. He that has the benefit of solemn religious assemblies, ought to give help for the comfortable support of those that minister in such assemblies....

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. Deuteronomy 18:8 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 1 Kings 2:26;...

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. DEUTERONOMY 18:1 After the ruling powers, the judges and the king, come the priests and the

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...

14. THE RIGHTS OF THE PRIESTS AND THE LEVITES, THE TRUE AND THE FALSE PROPHET CHAPTER 18 _ 1. The rights of the priests and Levites (Deuteronomy 18:1)_ 2. Forbidden things (Deuteronomy 18:9) kite hate is stirred up in his wicked heart, and he became full of wrath. An unseen being, he who is the murderer from the beginning, told him to make this occasion for destroying all the Jews in the Persian Empire. Esther 3:7. And now Haman waits on his unseen master, the devil. They cast the lot before Haman, from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. He wanted to find out the month which would be best suited for the execution of his wicke

The Levites (_i.e._ the disestablished local priests, see Deuteronomy 10:9 *) are on coming to Jerusalem to be accorded the status and emoluments of the priests of the central sanctuary. Contrast 2 Kings 23:9; perhaps the indiscriminate application of this law was found impracticable. Deuteronomy 18:8. beside. patrimony: read and render (with Steuernagel) except those who acted as heathen priests and practised necromancy. The change in the Heb. is insignificant; the MT is bad Heb. and gives no suitable sense....

A LEVITE: i.e.. Tribal Levite who devoted himself to the Aaronic service. Compare Leviticus 25:33. HIS MIND. his soul. Hebrew. _nephesh._ App-13....

_a Levite … from any of thy gates_ any of the tribe who had ministered at any of the rural sanctuaries now disestablished by the concentration of the cultus at Jerusalem. _Thy gates_, see Deuteronomy 12:12. _Out of all Israel_, emphatic addition to the usual phrase. _where he sojourneth_ Heb. _is a gçr_, a landless resident, without portion or inheritance. So in Judges 17:7; Judges 19:1. D knows nothing of the Levitical cities of P, Numbers 35:1-8; Joshua 21. _and come with all the desire of his soul_ The construction is unc