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No such idea occurred to Rashi. He says, <span class= "ital">“</span>all the tribe of Levi, not only those that are perfect (who can serve), but those who have a blemish (and cannot).” The distinction between priest and Levite has already been sufficiently noted on <a href="/deuteronomy/11-6.htm" title="And what he did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben: how the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the substance that was in their possession, in the middle of all Israel:">Deuteronomy 11:6</a>; <a href="/deuteronomy/17-9.htm" title="And you shall come to the priests the Levites, and to the judge that shall be in those days, and inquire; and they shall show you the sentence of judgment:">Deuteronomy 17:9</a>. The passage is evidently on the same lines with <a href="/context/numbers/18-18.htm" title="And the flesh of them shall be yours, as the wave breast and as the right shoulder are yours.">Numbers 18:18-21</a>, which see.<p>(3) <span class= "bld">The shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.</span>—This would be from the peace offering. The shoulder is assigned to them in <a href="/context/leviticus/7-32.htm" title="And the right shoulder shall you give to the priest for an heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings.">Leviticus 7:32-33</a> (comp. <a href="/numbers/18-18.htm" title="And the flesh of them shall be yours, as the wave breast and as the right shoulder are yours.">Numbers 18:18</a>). The “two cheeks and the maw” are not mentioned elsewhere, and the latter word is found in this place only. They are not a valuable part of the sacrifice. An absurd reason for the gift is assigned by Rashi. We know that in the time of Eli, the priests varied their requirements at pleasure, and in the face of the law (see <a href="/1_samuel/2-13.htm" title="And the priest's custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a meat hook of three teeth in his hand;">1Samuel 2:13</a>). The “priests’ <span class= "ital">due </span>“here, and “the priests’ <span class= "ital">custom</span>” there, are the same word in Hebrew, which we have elsewhere translated “requirement.”<p>(4) <span class= "bld">The flrstfruit also of thy corn.</span>—See <a href="/numbers/18-12.htm" title="All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the first fruits of them which they shall offer to the LORD, them have I given you.">Numbers 18:12</a>. The first of the wool is mentioned here only. The quantity in all these cases has been defined by the Rabbis, on grounds somewhat arbitrary.<p>(5) <span class= "bld">To stand to minister in the name of the Lord.</span>—This is the office of the priests. The Levites are said, “to stand before the congregation to minister unto them” (<a href="/numbers/16-9.htm" title="Seems it but a small thing to you, that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?">Numbers 16:9</a>). If the writer of Deuteronomy knew no distinction between priest and Levite, it is difficult to see how the Jews could have derived the distinctive privileges of the priests from these enactments.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/deuteronomy/18-6.htm">Deuteronomy 18:6</a></div><div class="verse">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;</div>(6-8) <span class= "bld">And if a Levite come.</span>—The Levites with the priests were to receive forty-eight cities in Israel, with the suburbs (<a href="/numbers/35-7.htm" title="So all the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall you give with their suburbs.">Numbers 35:7</a>). There was as yet no provision made by which all could serve in turn at the tabernacle. When David divided them all into courses, priests, Levites, singers (and porters?) alike, there was no longer any need for this provision. The institutions of David prove its antiquity. The only case in history that illustrates it is that of the child Samuel. His father, Elkanah, was a descendant of Korah. He dwelt in Mount Ephraim, and came up to Shiloh year by year. But Samuel was dedicated by his mother to perpetual service there, and as long as the tabernacle continued in Shiloh, the child Samuel “ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest”—not as a priest, but as a Levite in attendance upon the priests.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/deuteronomy/18-8.htm">Deuteronomy 18:8</a></div><div class="verse">They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.</div>(8) <span class= "bld">They shall have like portions to eat, beside that.</span>—The Levite thus dedicated was to have the same allowance from tithes as the rest who served at the tabernacle, beside the proceeds of the patrimony which he would have had in his own Levitical city.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/deuteronomy/18-9.htm">Deuteronomy 18:9</a></div><div class="verse">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.</div>(9-14) Certain forms of idolatry to be avoided, especially unlawful means of communication with the unseen world.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/deuteronomy/18-10.htm">Deuteronomy 18:10</a></div><div class="verse">There shall not be found among you <i>any one</i> that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, <i>or</i> that useth divination, <i>or</i> an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,</div>(10) <span class= "bld">To pass through the fire.</span>—See <a href="/leviticus/18-21.htm" title="And you shall not let any of your seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.">Leviticus 18:21</a>.<p><span class= "bld">Useth divination</span>—(<a href="/numbers/22-7.htm" title="And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.">Numbers 22:7</a>), possibly by sacrifices.<p><span class= "bld">Observer of times.</span>—This is the Rabbinical explanation of the word. In Hebrew the idea of “time” is not so clear. <span class= "ital">It </span>seems to mean practising <span class= "ital">hidden </span>arts. (See <a href="/leviticus/19-26.htm" title="You shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall you use enchantment, nor observe times.">Leviticus 19:26</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">Enchanter.</span>—Whisperer, or serpent charmer. (See <a href="/genesis/44-5.htm" title="Is not this it in which my lord drinks, and whereby indeed he divines? you have done evil in so doing.">Genesis 44:5</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">Witch.</span>—One who uses charms or spells (<a href="/exodus/7-11.htm" title="Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.">Exodus 7:11</a>).<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/deuteronomy/18-11.htm">Deuteronomy 18:11</a></div><div class="verse">Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.</div>(11) <span class= "bld">Charmer.</span>—Literally <span class= "ital">one who ties knots, </span>used here for the first time in Old Testament.<p><span class= "bld">Consulter with familiar spirits.</span>—Literally, <span class= "ital">one who consulteth ôb </span>(see <a href="/leviticus/19-31.htm" title="Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.">Leviticus 19:31</a>).<p><span class= "bld">A Wizard.</span>—One who <span class= "ital">knows </span>or pretends to k<span class= "ital">now </span>the secrets of the unseen world. (See <a href="/leviticus/19-31.htm" title="Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.">Leviticus 19:31</a>.)<p><span class= "bld">Necromancer.</span>—One who inquires of the dead. Four of the above practices are ascribed to king Manasseh in <a href="/2_chronicles/33-6.htm" title="And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he worked much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.">2Chronicles 33:6</a>. It is hardly possible that all of them were mere imposture and deceit.<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/deuteronomy/18-13.htm">Deuteronomy 18:13</a></div><div class="verse">Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.</div>(13) <span class= "bld">Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.</span>—Rashi’s note on this is worth preserving: “Thou shalt walk with Him in sincerity, and wait for Him. And thou shalt not pry into the future. But whatsoever cometh upon thee, take it with simplicity, and then thou shalt <span class= "ital">be with Him, </span>and be His portion.”<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/deuteronomy/18-14.htm">Deuteronomy 18:14</a></div><div class="verse">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 <i>to do</i>.</div>(14) <span class= "bld">The Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.</span>—More literally, <span class= "ital">As for thee, not so hath Jehovah thy God given unto thee. A prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me, will Jehovah thy God raise up unto thee. Him shall ye hear. </span>The contrast between the miserable resources of idolatrous nations in their anxiety, and the light and comfort promised to Israel and to us, in the One Mediator, is very marked here. Even Israel was better off than the heathen. As Rashi says upon the words “not so,” &c., “He hath not left thee to hearken to observers of times and enchanters; for behold He hath given Shechinah to rest upon the prophets, and Urim and Thummim.”<p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/deuteronomy/18-15.htm">Deuteronomy 18:15</a></div><div class="verse">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;</div><a href="/context/deuteronomy/18-15.htm" title="The LORD your God will raise up to you a Prophet from the middle of you, of your brothers, like to me; to him you shall listen;">Deuteronomy 18:15-20</a>. <span class= "bld">THE ONE MEDIATOR.</span><p>The connection between these verses and the preceding is well illustrated by Isaiah’s question (<a href="/deuteronomy/8-19.htm" title="And it shall be, if you do at all forget the LORD your God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.">Deuteronomy 8:19</a>): “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?” Or, as the angels turned the phrase on Easter morning, “Why seek ye Him that liveth among the dead?”<p>(15) <span class= "bld">The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet.</span>—Namely, Him of whom St. Peter spoke in <a href="/context/acts/3-22.htm" title="For Moses truly said to the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you of your brothers, like to me; him shall you hear in all things whatever he shall say to you.">Acts 3:22-26</a>. “Unto you first God, having raised up His son Jesus, sent Him to bless you.” It must not be forgotten that the prophetic office is still continued to our risen Lord. He still “speaketh from heaven.” But He “descended first into the lower parts of the earth.” He has “the keys of hell and of death;” and knows all their secrets. They who can draw near to Him have no need to look downward, to consult dead relatives, or seek knowledge from spirits whose character, even if <span class= "ital">they </span>are accessible, is beyond our discernment. The Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Advocate on earth, and the Prophet, our Advocate that speaketh from heaven, are enough for all human need. What we cannot learn from them, or from the light they give us, it is better not to know.<p>(16) <span class= "bld">According to all that thou desiredst . . . in Horeb.</span>—It should never be forgotten that the Prophet like to Moses was promised on “the day of the assembly.” The Holy Spirit, who is Christ in us, was promised on the day of the delivery of the “letter that killeth.” (See also on <a href="/deuteronomy/5-28.htm" title="And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when you spoke to me; and the LORD said to me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken to you: they have well said all that they have spoken.">Deuteronomy 5:28</a>.)<p>(18) <span class= "bld">He shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.</span>—“The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself” (our Lord, in <a href="/john/14-10.htm" title="Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak to you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works.">John 14:10</a>). “He shall not speak of Himself. He shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you” (the Holy Spirit, <a href="/context/john/16-13.htm" title="However, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.">John 16:13-14</a>).<p>(19) <span class= "bld">Whosoever will not hearken . . . I will require it of him.</span>—“For if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven: <span class= "ital">whose voice then shook the earth.” </span>(<a href="/hebrews/12-25.htm" title="See that you refuse not him that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven:">Hebrews 12:25</a>.)<p>(20) <span class= "bld">That prophet shall die.</span>—Rashi illustrates this by the case of Hananiah (Jeremiah 28) who prophesied that Jeconiah, and all that went with him to Babylon, should return within <span class= "ital">two years. </span>He was sentenced by Jeremiah to die that year; and he died accordingly, within <span class= "ital">two months.</span><p> <div class="versenum"><a href="/deuteronomy/18-22.htm">Deuteronomy 18:22</a></div><div class="verse">When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that <i>is</i> the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, <i>but</i> the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.</div>(22) <span class= "bld">If the thing follow not, nor come to pass.—</span>This is one form of our Lord’s test for all prophets, “<span class= "ital">By their fruits </span>(<span class= "ital">i.e., </span>the ‘results,’ of their teaching, not its first impressions) <span class= "ital">ye shall know them.”</span><p><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers<br /><br />Text Courtesy of <a href="//biblesupport.com" target="_top">BibleSupport.com</a>. 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