Deuteronomy Chapter 18

Offerings for Priests and Levites

                  ¹ “The Levitical priests won’t inherit territory. They’ll eat the LORD’s offerings by fire and his portion. ² He is their inheritance like he promised.

              ³“This is what the people owe the priests. When they offer a sacrifice—ox or sheep—they’ll give the priest the shoulder, two cheeks, and stomach. ⁴They’ll give him the first part of the harvest of their grain, new wine, and olive oil, as well as the first shearing of their sheep. ⁵ Out of all the tribes, the LORD has permanently chosen Levi and his descendants to stand and serve in his name.

⁶ “If a Levite living in a town in Israel solemnly wants to come to where the LORD designates, ⁷ then he’ll serve there in the LORD’s name like his fellow Levites. ⁸ He’ll eat equal portions as well as what he receives from selling his fathers’ property.     

Deut 18:1-8

Disgusting Practices Prohibited

                           ⁹“When you go to a land, don’t do the disgusting things its people do. ¹⁰ No one will burn a son or daughter as an offering, use fortunetelling, practice witchcraft, interpret omens, use sorcery, ¹¹ cast spells, call up the dead, be a medium or spiritualist. ¹² The LORD detests whoever does those things. It’s because of such detestable things that he’s going to drive those people out. ¹³ Be blameless toward him.

Prophets True and False

¹⁴ “Those nations listen to witches and fortunetellers, but the LORD your God doesn’t allow that. ¹⁵ He’ll raise up a prophet like me from among you; listen to him. ¹⁶ That corresponds to what you asked the LORD in assembly at Horeb/Sinai, ‘Don’t let us hear his voice again or see this great fire anymore. We’re afraid we’ll die.’ ¹⁷ The LORD told me, ‘They’ve spoken well. ¹⁸ I’ll raise up a prophet from among their fellow citizens like you. I’ll give him my message, and he’ll tell them everything I’ve told him. ¹⁹ I’ll hold responsible whoever ignores what he says in my name. ²⁰ But any prophet will die that tries to speak in my name when I haven’t authorized it. The same thing applies to anybody that speaks in the name of other gods. ²¹ You may wonder how you can tell what I haven’t said. ²² When a prophet speaks in my name and it doesn’t happen, I didn’t say it. The prophet has spoken without my authority. Don’t pay any attention to him.’                             

Deut 18:9-22