Deuteronomy 18:1

“The priests, the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel, etc.] That is, in the land of Canaan, in the division of it among the tribes: they shall eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and his inheritance; the meat offerings, (see <030202>Leviticus 2:2,3 6:17,18), and whatsoever of the sin offerings and peace offerings which were the Lord’s; so Ben Melech says, the flesh of the offerings which belonged to the priests was called fire offerings, after part of it was consumed by fire. All these, with other things, (<041808>Numbers 18:8,9), were given, as the Targum of Jonathan expresses it, for their inheritance, in lieu of their having none in…”

“THE LORD IS THE PRIESTS' AND THE LEVITES' INHERITANCE. (Deu 18:1-8) The priests the Levites . . . shall eat the offerings--As the tribe of Levi had no inheritance allotted them like the other tribes but were wholly consecrated to the priestly office, their maintenance was to arise from tithes, first-fruits, and certain portions of the oblations presented on the altar, which God having by express appointment reserved to Himself made over, after being offered, to His ministers.”

“Better, “there shall not be to the priests, the Levites, yea the whole tribe of Levi, any inheritance, etc.” And his inheritance - i. e., God’s inheritance, that which in making a grant to His people of the promised land with its earthly blessings He had reserved for Himself; more particularly the sacrifices and the holy gifts, such as tithes and first-fruits. These were God’s portion of the substance of Israel; and as the Levites were His portion of the persons of Israel, it was fitting that the Levites should be sustained from these. On the principle here laid down, compare 1 Corinthians 9:13-14. return to 'Top of Page'”

“His inheritance - The Lord's portion or inheritance, which God had reserved to himself, as tithes and first fruits, and other oblations distinct from those which were made by fire. Deuteronomy 18:3”

“18:1 The term Levitical priests described the entire tribe of Levi. Technically, however, only Aaron’s descendants were priests. The non-priestly Levites were their assistants (see 12:12).”

“shall have: Deu 10:9, Deu 12:19; Num 18:20, Num 26:62; Jos 13:33, Jos 18:7; Pe1 5:2-4 they shall: Num 18:8, Num 18:9; Jos 13:14; Co1 9:13, Co1 9:14 Deuteronomy 18:2”

“In addition to the judicial order and the future king, it was necessary that the position of the priests and Levites, whose duties and rights had been regulated by previous laws, should at least be mentioned briefly and finally established ( Deu 18:1-8), and also that the prophetic order should be fully accredited by the side of the other state authorities, and its operations regulated by a definite law ( Deu 18:9-22). Deu 18:1-2 The Rights of the Priests and Levites. - With reference to these, Moses repeats verbatim from Num 18:20, Num 18:23-24, the essential part of the rule laid down in Num 18: "The priests the Levites, the whole tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with…”