The Portions of the Levites

181 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 the Lord, for that is their inheritance. 2 They shall have no inheritance among their fellow Israelites; the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them.

Other Translations of Deuteronomy 18:1-2

King James Version

The Portions of the Levites

181 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. 2 Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the Lord is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.

English Standard Version

The Portions of the Levites

181 "The Levitical priests, all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the Lord's food offeringsOr the offerings by fire to the Lord as theirHebrew his inheritance. 2 They shall have no inheritance among their brothers; the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them.

The Message

The Portions of the Levites

181 The Levitical priests - that's the entire tribe of Levi - don't get any land-inheritance with the rest of Israel. They get the Fire-Gift-Offerings of God - they will live on that inheritance. 2 But they don't get land-inheritance like the rest of their kinsmen. God is their inheritance.

New King James Version

The Portions of the Levites

181 "The priests, the Levites--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 portion. 2 Therefore they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the Lord is their inheritance, as He said to them.

New Living Translation

The Portions of the Levites

181 "Remember that the Levitical priests-that is, the whole of the tribe of Levi-will receive no allotment of land among the other tribes in Israel. Instead, the priests and Levites will eat from the special gifts given to the Lord, for that is their share. 2 They will have no land of their own among the Israelites. The Lord himself is their special possession, just as he promised them.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:1-2

Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:1-8

(Read Deuteronomy 18:1-8)

Care is taken that the priests entangle not themselves with the affairs of this life, nor enrich themselves with the wealth of this world; they have better things to mind. Care is likewise taken that they want not the comforts and conveniences of this life. The people must provide for them. He that has the benefit of solemn religious assemblies, ought to give help for the comfortable support of those that minister in such assemblies.