Deuteronomy18
New Living Translation
1“Remember that the Levitical priests—that is, the whole of the tribe of Levi—will receive no allotment of land among the other tribes in Israel. Instead, the priests and Levites will eat from the special gifts given to the Lord, for that is their share.
2They will have no land of their own among the Israelites. The Lord himself is their special possession, just as he promised them.
3“These are the parts the priests may claim as their share from the cattle, sheep, and goats that the people bring as offerings: the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach.
4You must also give to the priests the first share of the grain, the new wine, the olive oil, and the wool at shearing time.
5For the Lord your God chose the tribe of Levi out of all your tribes to minister in the Lord’s name forever.
6“Suppose a Levite chooses to move from his town in Israel, wherever he is living, to the place the Lord chooses for worship.
7He may minister there in the name of the Lord his God, just like all his fellow Levites who are serving the Lord there.
8He may eat his share of the sacrifices and offerings, even if he also receives support from his family.
9“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there.
10For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft,
11or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead.
12Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you.
13But you must be blameless before the Lord your God.
14The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you to do such things.”
15Moses continued, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.
16For this is what you yourselves requested of the Lord your God when you were assembled at Mount Sinai. You said, ‘Don’t let us hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore or see this blazing fire, for we will die.’
17“Then the Lord said to me, ‘What they have said is right.
18I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him.
19I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf.
20But any prophet who falsely claims to speak in my name or who speaks in the name of another god must die.’
21“But you may wonder, ‘How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the Lord?’
22If the prophet speaks in the Lord’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Deuteronomy 18.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: A provision respecting Levites. (1–8). The abominations of the Canaanites to be avoided. (9–14). Christ the great Prophet. (15–22).
vv1-8
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.
vv9-14
Was it possible that a people so blessed with Divine institutions, should ever be in any danger of making those their teachers whom God had made their captives? They were in danger; therefore, after many like cautions, they are charged not to do after the abominations of the nations of Canaan. All reckoning of lucky or unlucky days, all charms for diseases, all amulets or spells to prevent evil, fortune-telling, etc. are here forbidden. These are so wicked as to be a chief cause of the rooting out of the Canaanites. It is amazing to think that there should be any pretenders of this kind in such a land, and day of light, as we live in. They are mere impostors who blind and cheat their followers.
vv15-22
It is here promised concerning Christ, that there should come a Prophet, great above all the prophets; by whom God would make known himself and his will to the children of men, more fully and clearly than he had ever done before. He is the Light of the world, Joh 8:12. He is the World by whom God speaks to us, Joh 1:1; Heb 1:2. In his birth he should be one of their nation. In his resurrection he should be raised up at Jerusalem, and from thence his doctrine should go forth to all the world. Thus God, having raised up his Son Christ Jesus, sent him to bless us. He should be like unto Moses, only above him. This prophet is come, even JESUS; and is “He that should come,” and we are to look for no other. The view of God which he gives, will not terrify or overwhelm, but encourages us. He speaks with fatherly affection and Divine authority united. Whoever refuses to listen to Jesus Christ, shall find it is at his peril; the same that is the Prophet is to be his Judge, Joh 12:48. Woe then to those who refuse to hearken to His voice, to accept His salvation, or yield obedience to His sway! But happy they who trust in Him, and obey Him. He will lead them in the paths of safety and peace, until He brings them to the land of perfect light, purity, and happiness. Here is a caution against false prophets. It highly concerns us to have a right touchstone wherewith to try the word we hear, that we may know what that word is which the Lord has not spoken. Whatever is against the plain sense of the written word, or which gives countenance or encouragement to sin, we may be sure is not that which the Lord has spoken.
Key Words
לֵוִיִּי: a Levite or descendant of Levi
כֹּהֵן: literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
שֵׁבֶט: a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
לֵוִי: Levi, a son of Jacob
לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
חֵלֶק: properly, smoothness (of the tongue); also an allotment
נַחֲלָה: properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אָכַל: to eat (literally or figuratively)
Cross References
Deuteronomy 18Peter explicitly cites Deut 18:15 as fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Stephen quotes this verse to prove Moses pointed forward to Jesus.
Supported by JFB
Establishes the foundational law that Levi has no inheritance because God is their inheritance.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Details the priest's sacrificial portions (breast and shoulder) referenced in the text.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Philip identifies Jesus as the one written about by Moses in the Law.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jesus warns that rejecting His words brings the judgment Moses foretold.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Paul applies the temple-service maintenance principle to New Testament gospel ministers.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the prohibitions of child-sacrifice and occult abominations of Canaan.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Saul seeks a woman with a familiar spirit, violating this direct command.
Supported by John Calvin
Declares that no prophet rose in Israel like Moses, pointing to Messiah.
Supported by JFB
The historical request at Horeb/Sinai to have Moses speak instead of God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God's response to Israel's fear at Horeb, confirming they spoke well.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Joshua records the practical execution of Levi receiving no land inheritance.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Gives the legal procedure for identifying and punishing a false prophet.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jeremiah applies the test of fulfillment to Hananiah's false peace prophecy.
Supported by Matthew Henry