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(3) 1 * The priests the Levites [Descendants of United with], all the tribe of Levi [United with], † shall have no portion nor inheritance with Israel [God prevails]. They shall eat the offerings of Adonai made by fire and his portion. 2 They shall have no inheritance among their brothers. Adonai is their inheritance, as he has spoken to them. 3 ‡ This shall be the priests’ mishpat ·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. 4 §
The first fruits of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, * and the first of the first fleece of your sheep, you shall give him. 5 For Adonai your God has chosen him out of all your tribes, to stand to minister in Adonai’s name, him and his sons forever. (4) 6 † If a Levite comes from any of your gates out of all Israel [God prevails], where he lives as a foreigner, and comes with all the desire of his soul to the place which Adonai shall choose; 7 then he shall minister in the name of Adonai his God, as all his brothers the Levites [Descendants of United with] do, who stand there before Adonai. 8 They shall have like portions to eat, in addition to that which comes from the sale of his family possessions. 9 When you have come into the land which Adonai your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the abominations of those nations. 10 ‡ There 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 practices sorcery, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, 11 § or a charmer, *or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a sorcerer, † or a necromancer. 12 For whoever does these things is detestable to Adonai. Because of these abominations, Adonai your God drives them out from before you. 13 You shall be perfect with Adonai your God. (5) 14 For these nations that you shall dispossess sh'ma ·hear obey· those who practice sorcery and to diviners; but as for you, Adonai your God has not allowed you so to do. 15 ‡
§Adonai your God will raise up to you a prophet from among you, of your brothers, like me. You shall sh'ma ·hear obey· him. * 16 This is according to all that you desired of Adonai your God in Horeb [Desert] in the day of the assembly, saying, “Let me not sh'ma ·hear obey· again Adonai my God’s voice, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I not die.”
17 †Adonai said to me, “They have well said that which they have spoken. 18 I 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 enjoin § him. 19 *† Whoever does not honor the words of the Prophet will give an account to God. The prophet's words are equal authority to God's words. It shall happen, that whoever will not sh'ma ·hear obey· my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. ‡ 20 § But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not enjoined him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other deities, that same prophet shall die.”
21 You may say in your heart, “How shall we know the word which Adonai has not spoken?” 22 When a prophet speaks in Adonai’s name, if the thing does not follow, nor happen, that is the thing which Adonai has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. * You shall not be afraid of him.
* 18:1 . Deut 18:1 (Deut 18:1-2) (#1.48): None of the tribe of Levi shall take any share of the spoils in the conquest of the Land of Israel † 18:1 . Deut 18:1-2 (Deut 18:1-8) (#1.49): T. None of the tribe of Levi shall take any portion in the Land of Israel / R. The tribe of Levi must not be given a portion of the land in Israel, rather they are given cities to dwell in ‡ 18:3 . Deut 18:3 (Deut 18:1-3) (#8.525): To give the shoulder, the two jowls, and the stomach of slaughtered animals to a Cohen ·Priest· § 18:4 . Deut 18:4 (Deut 18:1-5) (#8.526): T. To set apart a First Fruits offering for the Cohen ·Priest· from the fruit fruits of your grain, wine, oil, and the first fleecing of sheep / R. To set aside trumah gedolah ·great offering· as a tithe for the Cohen ·Priest· T. Note: These offerings encompasses the First Fruits #1 and #2 offerings * 18:4 . Deut 18:4 (Deut 18:1-5) (#8.527): To give the first fleecing of a sheep to the Cohen ·Priest· † 18:6 . Deut 18:6-8 (#2b.181): T. The Levites will minister in the name of Adonai / R. The Cohenim ·Priests· serve in the Sanctuary in their divisions; the divisions referred to were established by David (1 Chr ch 24) / R. The work shifts of the Cohenim ·Priests· must be equal during holidays / R. (The Rabbis add) On festivals, all the Cohenim ·Priests· divisions are to serve together ‡ 18:10 . Deut 18:10 (Deut 18:9-15) (#2a.86): T. Not to have one who reads omens ·signs interpreted as significance· or a sorcerer among the people / R. Not to go into a trance to foresee events / T. (Alternative) Not to practice astrology ·reading the stars as having influence on human affairs· § 18:11 . Deut 18:11 (Deut 18:9-15) (#2a.87): T. Not to practice the art of animal charming / R. Not to mutter incantations * 18:11 . Deut 18:11 (Deut 18:9-15) (#2a.88): T. Not to consult a familiar spirit; that is necromancy / R. Not to consult the ov ·medium with familiar spirits· † 18:11 . Deut 18:11 (Deut 18:9-15) (#2a.89): T. Not to consult the spirits of the dead or ghosts; this is called necromancy / R. Not to attempt to contact the dead ‡ 18:15 . Deut 18:15 (#1.50): T. “Adonai your God will raise up to you a prophet from the midst of you, among your brethren, like unto me (Moses); to him you shall listen” (v15) / R. To obey every prophet who speaks in the name of Adonai, as it is written “unto him you shall listen” / R. Listen to the prophet speaking in Adonai’s Name. R. The Rabbis clarify: the prophet is to be obeyed provided he neither adds to nor takes away from the Torah ·Teaching· § 18:15 . MP: Moses [Drawn out] prophecies God will raise up a prophet like himself among the people of Israel. (2 Sam 8:2, 8:14; Luke 4:23-24, 4:32 (context 4:16-32); 1 Cor 15:25) * 18:15 . Quoted in John 7:40; Acts 3:22, 7:37 † 18:17 (17-19) MP: God confirms His intention to raise up a Prophet like Moses, and put His words the mouth of His Prophet. (Matt 9:8 (context 9:1-8); John 7:40, 12:48-50; Acts 3:19-26, 7:37; 1 Pet 2:24) ‡ 18:18 . Quoted in Acts 3:22 § 18:18 . Quoted in John 12:49 * 18:19 . MP: Whoever does not honor the words of the Prophet will give an account to God. The prophet’s words are equal authority to God’s words. (Matt 8:4-7, 12:28, 12:30-32, 12:36-37 (context 12:22-37); John 8:23-29) † 18:19 . MP: The words of the Prophet have the authority of God himself. (Mark 5:23) ‡ 18:19 . Quoted in Acts 3:23 § 18:20 . Deut 18:20 (Deut 18:20-22) (#3.252): T. Not to prophecy presumptuously in the name of Adonai / R. Not to prophecy falsely in the name of Adonai * 18:22 . Deut 18:22, 13:6 (Deut 18:20-22, 13:1-5, 13:6-11, 13:12-18) [Heb Bible Deut 18:22, 13:5 (Deut 18:20-22, 13:2-6, 13:7-12, 13:13-19)] (#3.253): T. Not to be afraid of a false prophet / R. Not to refrain from killing a false prophet; derived from (Deut 13:5 [Heb Bible Deut 13:6]) being applied to (Deut 18:22)