Bible Commentaries

Deuteronomy 18:1 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.

Ver. 1. And his inheritance,] i.e., Whatsoever by the law belonged to the Lord, as decimae Deo sacrae, &c.

Deuteronomy 18:4 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.

Ver. 4. The firstfruits also.] Pliny tells us, ^(a) that among the Romans also no man might taste of his own corn, wine, or other fruits, priusquam Sacerdotes primitias libassent, till the priests had offered the firstfruits, and made their use of them.

Deuteronomy 18:6 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;

Ver. 6. With all the desire of his mind.] To do God better service. A good heart holds the best he can do, but a little of that much that he could gladly give the Lord, and is still devising what to do more. [Psalms 116:12]

Deuteronomy 18:8 They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.

Ver. 8. Besides that.] He shall not maintain himself of his own private stock, but live of the holy things of the temple.

Deuteronomy 18:10 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,

Ver. 10. That maketh his son.] {See Trapp on "Leviticus 18:21"}

Deuteronomy 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

Ver. 11. Or a necromancer.] Bellarmine and other Papists play the necromancers, when they would prove a Purgatory from the apparitions of spirits, that tell of themselves or others there tormented.

Deuteronomy 18:13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

Ver. 13. Thou shalt be perfect.] {See Trapp on "Matthew 5:48"} In the original there is a bigger tau than ordinary in the word Tamim, rendered perfect, to show, say Hebricians, that we must keep the whole law of God from the first letter thereof to the last - tau is the last letter of the alphabet - and this we must do constantly to the very last, and with the whole man. But how can this be done otherwise than by running to Christ, and in an evangelical way? In sincerity and integrity we must hate such wicked persons, even as God also hateth them. [Psalms 139:21-24] {Hebrew Text Note}

Deuteronomy 18:14 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].

Ver. 14. Hath not suffered thee so to do.] He hath showed thee a more excellent way, and kept thee from these devoratory evils, as Tertullian calleth them; so ordering the matter, that "that evil one toucheth them not" with any deadly touch. [1 John 5:18] For either he suffers not his to be tempted above strength, [1 Corinthians 10:13] or else he withholds the occasion, when temptation hath prevailed to procure consent and purpose, &c.

Deuteronomy 18:15 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;

Ver. 15. Like unto me.] Both in the participation of nature and of office: a true man, and a true Mediator. Similes they are, but not pares: Christ being "worthy of more glory than Moses," and why, see Hebrews 3:3-6; Hebrews 7:22; Hebrews 9:15.

Deuteronomy 18:18 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.

Ver. 18. And he shall speak unto them.] Christ is that palmoni hammedabbar [Daniel 10:5-6] that excellent speaker that spake with authority, and so as never man spake, being "mighty in word and deed." See my "True Treasure," p. 1.

Deuteronomy 18:22 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.

Ver. 22. Thou shalt not be afraid.] Though he speak "great swelling words of vanity," [2 Peter 2:18] millstones and thunderbolts, as Hacket here did. ^(a)