Role of Priest and Levites 1
Avoid Abominations 9
A Prophet Like Moses 15
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| 1 ¶ The priests the Levites,
and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel:
they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance.
2 Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them. 3 And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw. .4 The firstfruit also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him. 5 For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever. 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; 7 Then he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, which stand there before the LORD. 8 They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony. |
1 - No part This plan had two important benefits. It freed the Levites from common work and trading to support themselves, and it laid the responsibility of the Lord's work on the people helping them sense their partnership with God. |
| .9
¶ When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee,
thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
.10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, .11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. 14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do. |
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- Avoid the abominations The ungodly practices were to be avoided.
This is clearly true today as well. We need to be friends with those around
us to influence them for Christ, but not to participate with them in what
God would not approve. Compare ez1317-end.
Entertainment is probably the biggest point here after the one mentioned in the text. I'd like to challenge you to consider how heaven looks at most sports asking what lessons it teaches. Teamwork is good but if it's to grind others down in order to lift ourselves up it is contrary to Jesus' advice to love our enemies mt0543. This doesn't mean that children should not play simple ball games. 10 - Pass through the fire A heathen practice of burning children to death as sacrifices. Divinations is thought to have been casting lots (selection by chance) in connection with the fire ceremony 2ch3306, ez2031. 10 - Observer of times Instead of "times" read "clouds." One who made predictions le1926, 2ki2106. 10 - Enchanter Literally a person who hisses. Compare words from the same root ge0301, mi0717, and 1ki2033 translated by the KJV as "observe." 11 - Or a charmer Should read "That is, a charmer" the same as a witch. |
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¶ The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst
of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. .18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. |
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- Prophet This unique prophecy about a prophet is seen to predict
the coming Messiah. (The term, Messiah, means "the anointed one" and is
seen in the NT as "Christ.")
18 - Put my words in his mouth See jn1410, jn1613. Jesus fulfilled this promise. He is well able to speak but as a human He spoke for the Father in heaven. |
| 19 And it shall come
to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak
in my name, I will require it of him.
.20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. 21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? 22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. |
20 - Presume to speak This is serious. je1414, je2316, ez1224, ez1301. |
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