1 'The levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi will be without share or heritage of their own in Israel; they will live on the foods offered to Yahweh and on his heritage.
2 Levi will have no heritage of his own among his brothers; Yahweh will be his heritage, as he has promised him.
3 'This is what is due to the priests from the people, from those who offer an ox or a sheep in sacrifice: the priest must be given the shoulder, the cheeks and the stomach.
4 You must give him the first-fruits of your wheat, of your new wine and of your oil, as well as the first-fruits of your sheep-shearing.
5 For Yahweh your God has chosen him from all your tribes to stand before Yahweh your God, to do the duties of the sacred ministry, and to bless in Yahweh's name -- him and his sons for all time.
6 'If a Levite living in one of your towns anywhere in Israel decides to move to the place chosen by Yahweh,
7 he shall minister there in the name of Yahweh his God like all his fellow Levites who stand ministering there in the presence of Yahweh,
8 eating equal shares with them -- what he has from the sale of his patrimony notwithstanding.
9 'When you have entered the country given you by Yahweh your God, you must not learn to imitate the detestable practices of the nations there already.
10 There must never be anyone among you who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire of sacrifice, who practises divination, who is soothsayer, augur or sorcerer,
11 weaver of spells, consulter of ghosts or mediums, or necromancer.
12 For anyone who does these things is detestable to Yahweh your God; it is because of these detestable practices that Yahweh your God is driving out these nations before you.
13 'You must be faultless in your relationship with Yahweh your God.
14 For these nations whom you are going to dispossess have listened to soothsayers and mediums, but Yahweh your God does not permit you to do this. From among yourselves, from among your own brothers,
15 Yahweh your God will raise up a prophet like me; you will listen to him.
16 This is exactly what you asked Yahweh your God to do -- at Horeb, on the day of the Assembly, when you said, "Never let me hear the voice of Yahweh my God or see this great fire again, or I shall die."
17 Then Yahweh said to me,
18 "What they have said is well said. From their own brothers I shall raise up a prophet like yourself;
19 I shall put my words into his mouth and he will tell them everything I command him. Anyone who refuses to listen to my words, spoken by him in my name, will have to render an account to me.
20 But the prophet who presumes to say something in my name which I have not commanded him to say, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die."
21 'You may be privately wondering, "How are we to tell that a prophecy does not come from Yahweh?"
22 When a prophet speaks in the name of Yahweh and the thing does not happen and the word is not fulfilled, then it has not been said by Yahweh. The prophet has spoken presumptuously. You have nothing to fear from him.'
Versículos relacionados com Deuteronomy, 18:
Deuteronomy 18 talks about the position of the Levites and Prophets in the community of Israel, as well as the prohibition of the practice of divination, witchcraft and other forms of magic. The chapter emphasizes that the people must follow only the guidelines that God provides through prophets and should not resort to other forms of consultation to obtain information. Below are five verses related to the topics addressed in Deuteronomy 18:
Numbers 18:20: "The Lord said to Aaron, You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any part between them. I am your part and your inheritance among the Israelites." This verse highlights the position of the Levites in the community of Israel and how they are responsible for taking care of the sanctuary and the offerings.
Jeremiah 23:16: "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, They do not listen to the words of the prophets who speak among you. They deceive them. They speak of visions of their own minds, not the mouth of the Lord." This verse reinforces the idea that Israelites should rely only on the words of the prophets who speak in the name of God, not others who are not inspired by him.
Leviticus 19:31: "Do not turn to the mediums or to those who consult spirits, nor seek them to get unclean through them. I am the Lord, your God." This verse emphasizes the prohibition of the practice of divination and other forms of magic mentioned in Deuteronomy 18.
1 Kings 22:22: "The Lord said unto him," How kind of? He said, I will go out and be a spirit of lies in the mouth of all his prophets. The Lord said: You will deceive you and you will be successful. Get out and do that." This verse shows how false prophets can deceive the people of Israel if they do not follow God's orientations.
Isaiah 8:19: "When they say to you, Consult the mediums and those who consult spirits, who murmur and whisper, do not resort to such things. Should not people consult their God for the dead in favor of the living?" This verse reinforces the importance of following only God's guidelines and not resorting to other forms of consultation to obtain information.
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