You ſhall not have a diſtin& and ſeparate portion of land, as the other Tribes ſhall. The reaſon of this Law, was, partly becauſe God would have them wholly devoted to and employed in his ſer- vice, and therefore free from worldly encumbrances and buſineſſes ; partly, becauſe God had abundantly provided for them otherwiſe by tithes and firſt-fruits and oblations of all ſorts; partly becauſe God would have their worldly comfort and happinels depend ſingly upon him and his ſervice, and fo would oblige them ro uſe more zeal and diligence in the advancement of piety, even for their own intereit, which was either better or worſe as true religion flouriſhed or decayed. See Judges 17. 9, 10. and 19. 18. 2 Chron. 13. 9. and 30. 22. and 371. 4. partly that this might be a firm bond of hearzy love and affe&tion berween the people and their teachers the Levites, who as they p-rformed religious Services for the People, ſo they received their Subſiftence from them ; and partly that by this means. being diſperſed a:nong the ſeveral Trib-s, they might have the betrer opportunity for Teaching and Watching over the People, which was their Duty, Det. 33. 10. 2 Chron. 30. 22. Mal. 2.4, 5, 6, 7. s ( 7. e. ) I have appointed thee a liberal Maintenance out of my oblations. n
21 And behold, * I have given the children of Levi
2:Joik:13: 14, 33:
Exek: 44:
208z
* Lev: 273;
ſe - .- | allthe tenth: in Iſrael, for an inhericance. for their ſervice ; uantity is not'determined, bur left free to the giver, as an ex2rciſe : 5 . , 30; ; 2 his " ind charity, only they are enjoyned to give the firſt | Which they ſerve, even the ſervice of the tabernacle of of | and the beſt of rhem. : . , | the congregation. * Þ *Exod:22: 13 And whatſoever is firft ripe hin the land, * which _ # For the tithes were all given to the Levites, and out of their + 29: & 23. they ſhall bring unto the LORD, {hall be thine : every | tithes the tenth was givan to the Prieſts, here 7*rſe 26, &c. and
_ N
ba wa +
' one that is clean # in thine houſe (hall eat of it.
h (i.e. ) Not only the firſt-fruirs of the Oyl and Wine, and
* Wheat now mentioned, bur all ether firſt-fruics of all other grains, | and all frifit-rrees, &c.
i And none elſe, becauſe theſe were firſt offered to God, and by conſ:quent. given ro the Prieſts ; bur for thoſe which were dire&ly and immediately given to the Prieſts, the clean and unclean might car of them.
14 * Every thing devoted &in Iſrael, ſhall be thine.
Neh. 10.37, 38.
22 Neither muſt the children of Iſrael henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation «, leſt they bear fin, + and die.
t Heb,
u (i.e.) So nighas todo any a& proper to the Prieſts or Levites. 0 «ie.
23 But the Levites ſhall do the ſervice of the taber- nacle of the congregation, and they lball bear their