Sunday Sermonette: True and False Prophets

Like most of the chapters of this sermon of Moses, this one has multiple components. The first  repeats for what must be the fourth time (I haven ' t been keeping track) the assertion that Levites have " no inheritance " but are entitled to a portion of the sacrifice. The idea of their having no inheritance does not have the literal meaning it would in our society. They can indeed own real estate and there is even land set aside on the outskirts of the towns for their agricultural use. And as this very chapter says, they can own and sell ancestral property, although they can give it up and enter the service of the temple full time. What this means, as far as I can tell, is that there is no territory specifically set aside for their tribe.18 The Levitical priests —indeed, the whole tribe of Levi—are to have no allotment or inheritance with Israel. They shall live on the food offerings presented to theLord, for that is their inheritance.2 They shall have no inheritance among their fellow Israelites; theLord is their inheritance, as he promised them.3 This is the share due the priests from the people who sacrifice a bull or a sheep: the shoulder, the internal organs and the meat from the head.4 You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the first wool from the shearing of your sheep,5 for theLord your God has chosen them and their descendants out of all your tribes to stand and minister in theLord’s name al...
Source: Stayin' Alive - Category: American Health Source Type: blogs