Deuteronomy Chapter 18 — The Levites and the True Prophet
This chapter outlines the support for the Levite priests, forbids pagan occult practices, and introduces the promise of a future prophet from God.
1The priests and the Levites—all the tribe of Levi—shall have no portion nor inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire and his portion.
2They shall have no inheritance among their brothers. The LORD 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 the LORD your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to minister in the LORD’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 the LORD shall choose,
7then he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his brothers the Levites do, who stand there before the LORD.
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 the LORD 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 the LORD. Because of these abominations, the LORD your God drives them out from before you.
13You shall be blameless with the LORD your God.
14For these nations that you shall dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery and to diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you so to do.
15The LORD 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 the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, “Let me not hear again the LORD my God’s voice, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I not die.”
17The LORD 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 the LORD has not spoken?”
22When a prophet speaks in the LORD’s name, if the thing doesn’t follow, nor happen, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You shall not be afraid of him.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Deuteronomy 18:13
“You shall be blameless with the LORD your God.”
This verse summarizes the standard of spiritual integrity and devotion expected of Israel in contrast to pagan nations.
Deuteronomy 18:15
“The LORD your God will raise up to you a prophet from among you, of your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him.”
This is a central promise regarding the continuation of God's communication with His people after the time of Moses.
Deuteronomy 18:22
“When a prophet speaks in the LORD’s name, if the thing doesn’t follow, nor happen, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken.”
It provides a clear, objective criterion for the Israelites to distinguish true prophecy from false or presumptuous claims.
Chapter Summary
Deuteronomy 18 defines the roles and provisions for the tribe of Levi, who have no land inheritance because the Lord is their portion. They are to receive specific parts of sacrifices and the first fruits of the harvest to sustain their ministry. The text then shifts to a strict prohibition against the spiritual practices of the surrounding nations, such as divination, sorcery, and child sacrifice, labeling these as abominations. Instead of these forbidden practices, God promises to raise up a prophet like Moses from among the Israelites. This prophet will speak God's words with authority and serve as the legitimate channel of divine communication. The chapter concludes with a practical test for identifying false prophets: if a person speaks in the Lord's name but the event does not happen, they have spoken presumptuously and do not need to be feared or followed by the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlike the other tribes of Israel, the Levites received no land inheritance. Their inheritance was the Lord Himself, and they were supported by the offerings, sacrifices, and first fruits provided by the rest of the people.
The chapter forbids various occult practices, including divination, fortune-telling, sorcery, witchcraft, and consulting the dead. These are described as abominations that led to the displacement of the previous nations in the land.
A false prophet is identified as one who speaks in the name of other gods or speaks presumptuously in the Lord's name. A key test is whether their predictions actually come to pass; if the word does not happen, the prophet was not sent by God.
Study Note
The prohibition of occult practices in verses 10-11 uses a diverse range of Hebrew terms to cover nearly every form of spiritual seeking outside of God's revealed word.
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