Priests And Prophets (18:1-22)
Neal Pollard
It will help us if we remember that all priests were Levites, but not all Levites were priests (1). The Levites, as a tribe, would not have a land allotment (2), and their financial support would come from the other tribes (3). Chapter 18 is outlining the means by which the Levites would be paid for their service to God on their brethren’s behalf (4ff). Israel’s contributions would support their brethren to work full-time for the Lord and on their behalf, and Moses outlines the specifics of this (4-7; Num. 18:20-28). There were several other functions apart from offering animal sacrifices included in their duties.
The Levites’ support would be prorated based on any proceeds they got from the sell of family property (8). Some argue that the Levites could not own houses and land within the tribal territory of their brethren. Some see in these regulations that they could, though they could not as a tribe have territory in their name. These rules regard those who voluntarily served in the sanctuary and thus were in need of financial support.
Between these reiterations about the Levites and the prophets, Moses pauses to warn Israel once again not to imitate the idolatry of the natives of Canaan. Those inhabitants did “detestable” things (9, twice in 12), notably child sacrifice (10) and a variety of occult practices (10-11). These very practices are at the heart of why God is driving them out and destroying them (12-14), an object lesson that was all too often lost on Israel during their history in the land. God wants His people to be blameless before Him (13).
God turns His attention to the office of prophet (15-22). This is a Messianic prophecy, quoted by Peter in Acts 3:22 and by Stephen in Acts 7:37 and applied to Jesus. Add to this the repeated reference to Jesus as “the prophet” in the gospels (Mat. 21:11; Luke 24:19; John 1:21-25). This true prophet in verses 15-19, of which Jesus is archetypal and the antitype, was to be respected and heeded. Contrasted with the true prophet, however, was the presumptuous, false prophet (20-22). The lying prophet, whose predictions did not come to pass, was to be put to death. While a professed prophet could be intimidating, he was not to be feared. Instead, he was to evaluated.
This chapter highlights the responsibility to provide for those who gave their lives to serving God and His people, to live lives of faithfulness and spiritual purity, to anticipate the coming Prophet and to listen to all true prophets, and to reject those who professed to speak for God but who did not. Throughout the chapter, there is a call for individual and community accountability, being knowledgeable of God’s Word, and following it carefully. While the covenant has changed, those responsibilities remain!
The Preacher Pollard Blog 