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Deuteronomy 18

World English Bible

WEB

1The priests and the Levites—all the tribe of Levi—shall have no portion nor inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the offerings of Yahweh made by fire and his portion. 2They shall have no inheritance among their brothers. Yahweh is their inheritance, as he has spoken to them. 3This shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep, that they shall give to the priest: the shoulder, the two cheeks, and the inner parts. 4You shall give him the first fruits of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep. 5For Yahweh your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to minister in Yahweh’s name, him and his sons forever. 6If a Levite comes from any of your gates out of all Israel where he lives, and comes with all the desire of his soul to the place which Yahweh shall choose, 7then he shall minister in the name of Yahweh his God, as all his brothers the Levites do, who stand there before Yahweh. 8They shall have like portions to eat, in addition to that which comes from the sale of his family possessions. 9When you have come into the land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the abominations of those nations. 10There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, 11or a charmer, or someone who consults with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12For whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh. Because of these abominations, Yahweh your God drives them out from before you. 13You shall be blameless with Yahweh your God. 14For these nations that you shall dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery and to diviners; but as for you, Yahweh your God has not allowed you so to do. 15Yahweh your God will raise up to you a prophet from among you, of your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him. 16This is according to all that you desired of Yahweh your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, “Let me not hear again Yahweh my God’s voice, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I not die.” 17Yahweh said to me, “They have well said that which they have spoken. 18I will raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, like you. I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him. 19It shall happen, that whoever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. 20But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.” 21You may say in your heart, “How shall we know the word which Yahweh has not spoken?” 22When a prophet speaks in Yahweh’s name, if the thing doesn’t follow, nor happen, that is the thing which Yahweh has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You shall not be afraid of him.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Deuteronomy Chapter 18 provides essential instructions regarding the roles of the priests and the prophets in Israel. The chapter begins by affirming the special status of the Levitical priests, who are set apart to serve God and the community. They are not to receive a land inheritance like the other tribes, as their portion is the offerings made to the Lord. This emphasizes the importance of their spiritual role and the need for the people to support them through their tithes and offerings (#LeviticalPriests, #Tithes). The chapter also highlights the significance of the priestly duties in maintaining the worship and sacrificial system, which is central to Israel's covenant relationship with God (#CovenantRelationship).

The latter part of the chapter addresses the issue of prophecy, warning the Israelites against the practices of divination and sorcery that were common among the nations around them. Instead, God promises to raise up a prophet like Moses from among the people, to whom they must listen. This prophecy points forward to the coming of Jesus Christ, who fulfills this role as the ultimate prophet and mediator between God and humanity (#ProphetLikeMoses, #JesusChrist). The chapter concludes with a stern warning against false prophets, emphasizing that true prophets will speak only what God commands, and their words will come to pass. This serves as a reminder for believers to discern the truth and remain faithful to God's revelation.

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Referenced by

  1. Leviticus 18:24-25v12Leviticus 18:24-25 warns that the land will become defiled by the abominations of its inhabitants, similar to Deuteronomy 18:12, which states that such practices are detestable to the Lord.
  2. Joshua 21:8v1Joshua 21:8 details the distribution of cities to the Levites, aligning with Deuteronomy 18:1-2, which states that the Levites have no inheritance among the Israelites because the LORD is their inheritance.
  3. 2 Kings 1:16v20Elijah's pronouncement of Ahaziah's death in 2 Kings 1:16 is a fulfillment of the warning in Deuteronomy 18:20 against false prophets and those who speak presumptuously in God's name.
  4. 2 Kings 21:2v92 Kings 21:2 describes Manasseh doing evil in the sight of the Lord by following the abominations of the nations. Deuteronomy 18:9-12 warns Israel against adopting the detestable practices of the nations they are to dispossess.
  5. 2 Chronicles 33:6v10Manasseh's practices of witchcraft and child sacrifice are condemned in Deuteronomy 18:10-12, highlighting his violation of God's commandments.
  6. Jeremiah 10:2v9Jeremiah 10:2 warns against following the ways of the nations, similar to Deuteronomy 18:9-14, which prohibits Israel from adopting the detestable practices of other nations, including divination and idolatry.
  7. Jeremiah 27:9-10v20Jeremiah 27:9-10 warns against listening to false prophets who contradict God's message, paralleling Deuteronomy 18:20-22 which provides criteria for discerning true prophets from false ones.
  8. Jeremiah 28:9v22Jeremiah 28:9 discusses the test of a true prophet, which aligns with Deuteronomy 18:22, where it is stated that if a prophet's prediction does not come to pass, it is not a message from the Lord.
  9. Jeremiah 28:17v20Jeremiah 28:17 records the death of Hananiah as a consequence of his false prophecy, which aligns with Deuteronomy 18:20, where it is stated that a prophet who presumes to speak a word in God's name that He has not commanded shall die.
  10. John 7:16v18In John 7:16, Jesus claims His teaching is from God, which connects to Deuteronomy 18:18, where God promises to raise a prophet who will speak His words, indicating Jesus as the fulfillment of this prophecy.
  11. Acts 3:22v15Acts 3:22 cites Moses' prophecy from Deuteronomy 18:15 about God raising up a prophet like him, which Peter identifies as fulfilled in Jesus, emphasizing Jesus as the ultimate prophet and mediator.
  12. Acts 7:37v15Stephen cites Moses' prophecy about God raising up a prophet like him, as found in Deuteronomy 18:15, pointing to Jesus as the fulfillment of this prophecy.
  13. Acts 19:19v10Acts 19:19 recounts the burning of magic books by new believers, demonstrating repentance from occult practices, which aligns with Deuteronomy 18:10-12 where such practices are condemned as detestable to the Lord.

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