The Bible — World English Bible
Deuteronomy 18
In brief
Moses sets out the portion of the Levites, who have no land because Yahweh is their inheritance. He forbids Israel to imitate the practices of the neighboring nations. In their place, God promises to raise up a prophet like Moses, whom the people must listen to. One test shows who is not speaking for God: his word does not come true. The New Testament sees Jesus as the promised prophet.
The chapter in 4 parts
1The priests and the Levites—all the tribe of Levi—shall have no portion nor inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the offerings of Yahweh made by fire and his portion.
2They shall have no inheritance among their brothers. Yahweh is their inheritance, as he has spoken to them.
3This shall be the priests’ due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep, that they shall give to the priest: the shoulder, the two cheeks, and the inner parts.
4You shall give him the first fruits of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep.
5For Yahweh your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to minister in Yahweh’s name, him and his sons forever.
6If a Levite comes from any of your gates out of all Israel where he lives, and comes with all the desire of his soul to the place which Yahweh shall choose,
7then he shall minister in the name of Yahweh his God, as all his brothers the Levites do, who stand there before Yahweh.
8They shall have like portions to eat, in addition to that which comes from the sale of his family possessions.
9When you have come into the land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the abominations of those nations.
10There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,
11or a charmer, or someone who consults with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12For whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh. Because of these abominations, Yahweh your God drives them out from before you.
13You shall be blameless with Yahweh your God.
14For these nations that you shall dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery and to diviners; but as for you, Yahweh your God has not allowed you so to do.
15Yahweh your God will raise up to you a prophet from among you, of your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him.
16This is according to all that you desired of Yahweh your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, “Let me not hear again Yahweh my God’s voice, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I not die.”
17Yahweh said to me, “They have well said that which they have spoken.
18I will raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, like you. I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him.
19It shall happen, that whoever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
20But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.”
21You may say in your heart, “How shall we know the word which Yahweh has not spoken?”
22When a prophet speaks in Yahweh’s name, if the thing doesn’t follow, nor happen, that is the thing which Yahweh has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You shall not be afraid of him.
Key verses
They shall have no inheritance among their brothers. Yahweh is their inheritance, as he has spoken to them.
The Levites have no share of land: Yahweh himself is their inheritance. The text sets out the idea that the greatest wealth of a servant of God is God.
Yahweh your God will raise up to you a prophet from among you, of your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him.
Moses announces that God will raise up from among the people a prophet like him, and that they must listen to him. Christians recognize Jesus here, and several New Testament passages point back to it.
I will raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, like you. I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him.
God puts his words in the mouth of this prophet, who will speak all that God commands him. This is the mark of a true prophetic word: it comes from God, not from the prophet.
When a prophet speaks in Yahweh’s name, if the thing doesn’t follow, nor happen, that is the thing which Yahweh has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You shall not be afraid of him.
A practical test: when what a prophet says does not happen, God has not spoken, and there is no need to fear him. The test is simple, but it takes discernment.
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What the sermons say
Frequently asked questions about Deuteronomy 18
Who is the prophet announced in Deuteronomy 18:15?
Moses announces that God will raise up a prophet like him. Judaism has seen in this a succession of prophets, but the New Testament applies it to Jesus, notably in John 6 and in Acts. Christian traditions agree in seeing Christ here, while recognizing that the text first speaks to the Israelites of that time.
How do you recognize a false prophet according to Deuteronomy 18?
The chapter gives two criteria: he speaks in the name of other gods, or what he says in the name of Yahweh does not come true. In that case God has not spoken and there is no need to fear him. The New Testament adds other markers, such as faithfulness to Christ and to the Word.
Why did the Levites have no land?
Because God was their inheritance. Set apart for the service of the sanctuary, they lived on the offerings and firstfruits of the people. This arrangement kept them from being taken up with the land and let them devote themselves to God and to teaching.
Articles quoting Deuteronomy 18
World English Bible translation — public domain.