Numbers 18:20

“And the Lord spake unto Aaron, etc.] What is said, being what concerned the tribe of Levi, at the head of which Aaron was, even concerning the maintenance of the Levites: thou shalt have no inheritance in their land; in the land of Israel when they come to possess it, as the rest of the tribes had: neither shalt thou have any part among them; any part of the land when it is divided by lot, as it was in the times of Joshua, when taken from the Canaanites; no tract of land was peculiarly assigned to them as were to the other tribes, as fields, nor vineyards; they had cities appointed them, and they had houses and fields devoted to the Lord which fell to them, and others they had by gift or…”

“I am thy part and thine inheritance - Compare the marginal references. return to 'Top of Page'”

“In their land - In the land of the children of Israel. You shall not have a distinct portion of land, as the other tribes shall. The reason of this law, was, partly because God would have them wholly devoted to his service, and therefore free from worldly incumbrances; partly, because God had abundantly provided for them otherwise, by tithes and first - fruits and oblations; and partly that by this means being dispersed among the several tribes, they might have the better opportunity for teaching and watching over the people. I am thy part - I have appointed thee a liberal maintenance out of my oblations. Numbers 18:21”

“18:20-21 The priests and Levites did not have a tribal homeland but were scattered among Israel’s other tribes (cp. 35:1-8; Deut 12:12; Josh 21:1-42). • I am your share and your allotment: Instead of their own territory, Israel’s priests received the assurance that God himself would be their homeland, while the tribe of Levi received tithes in compensation for their sacred service.”

“Thou shalt have: The principal part of what was offered to God was the portion of the priests; who had no inheritance of land in Israel. The Rabbins say, 24 gifts were given to the priests; all of which are expressed in the law. Sacrificial Gifts Eaten only in the sanctuary 1. The flesh of the sin-offering Lev 6:25, Lev 6:26 2\. The flesh of the trespass-offering Lev 7:1, Lev 7:6 3\. The peace-offering of the congregation Lev 23:19, Lev 23:20 4\. The remainder of the sheaf Lev 23:10 5\. The remnants of the meat-offerings Lev 6:16 6\. The two loaves Lev 23:17 7\. The shew-bread Lev 24:9 8\. The log of oil offered by the leper Lev 14:10 Eaten only at Jerusalem 1. The breast and shoulder of the…”

“For this reason, Aaron was to received no inheritance in the land among the children of Israel. Aaron, as the head of the priests, represents the whole priesthood; and with regard to the possession, the whole tribe of Levi is placed, in Num 18:23, on an equality with the priests. The Levites were to receive no portion of the land as an inheritance in Canaan (cf. Num 26:62; Deu 12:12; Deu 14:27; Jos 14:3). Jehovah was the portion and inheritance, not only of Aaron and his sons, but of the whole tribe of Levi (cf. Deu 10:9; Deu 18:2; Jos 13:33); or, as it is expressed in Jos 18:7, "the priesthood of Jehovah was their inheritance," though not in the sense that Knobel supposes viz., "the…”