Deuteronomy 18:5
For the LORD your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for all time.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights that the priests' service wasn't just a job; they were chosen by God out of all the tribes to "stand and minister," a role requiring their full attention and presence. Their ministry was to be carried out in God's very name, implying a direct commission and an awesome responsibility to represent Him to the people.
Moses is explaining God's provision for the Levites, the priestly tribe, who, unlike other tribes, received no land inheritance. He's clarifying that the people must generously support them through tithes and offerings because God has specifically chosen them for sacred service. This divine appointment ensures the Levites can dedicate themselves to ministering to God and the people, with this arrangement established for all time under the Law.
Why would an entire tribe be chosen for a special role, and what did that mean for their place among God's people?
God establishes a unique system for the Israelites' worship and service. Instead of land inheritance like the other tribes, the Levites are chosen to serve God directly. This isn't about the Levites being better, but about God's deliberate choice to set them apart. They become God's stewards, receiving portions of the people's offerings as their sustenance, symbolizing that their 'inheritance' is God Himself. This ensures they can focus fully on their ministry without being distracted by managing land and crops, while also assuring the people that what they give to the Levites is accepted by God as given to Him.
What does it truly mean to 'minister in the name of the LORD' and what authority does that carry?
To minister 'in the name of the LORD' means to act with God's authority and for His glory. The priests and Levites weren't just performing rituals; they were authorized representatives, mediating between God and the people. Their service was a tangible expression of God's presence and will among Israel. This involved standing before God, offering sacrifices, and pronouncing blessings – all actions carried out under divine commission. It underscores the sacredness and seriousness of their role, acting not on their own behalf, but as God's appointed agents.
What does the promise of 'for all time' mean for this chosen tribe and their service?
The declaration that the Levites and their sons are chosen 'for ever' speaks to the establishment of a permanent, divinely appointed order of priesthood and ministry within the Old Covenant. This wasn't a temporary arrangement but was intended to function throughout the age of the Mosaic Law. It signifies God's commitment to providing a way for His people to approach Him and for His presence to dwell among them. While the Levitical system found its ultimate fulfillment and conclusion in Jesus Christ, the principle of dedicated service and God's enduring provision for His people remains.
Understand the original words
bachar · Hebrew Verb
To select someone for a specific, holy purpose. This implies that the individual or group is no longer available for common use but belongs entirely to God.
sharath · Hebrew Verb
To serve in the presence of God or to perform official duties on behalf of another. In a priestly context, it means acting as an intermediary or caretaker in the holy service of the Lord.
This passage echoes the principle that those who serve in the temple, or in the Lord's work, should be supported by the temple or by the Lord's people, just as the Levitical priests were supported by the offerings.
Hebrews 7:11-12This passage discusses the inadequacy of the Levitical priesthood and points to a new priesthood after the order of Melchizedek, highlighting how the Old Testament system, including its chosen ministers, was a temporary arrangement fulfilled in Christ.
Exodus 28:1This verse directly parallels Deuteronomy 18:5 by stating that God chose Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites for the priestly service, establishing the lineage and purpose of the priestly ministry.
Numbers 3:5-9This passage further details the selection of the Levites for service in the tabernacle, emphasizing that their consecration and function were entirely at God's command, underscoring the idea of divine choice for ministry.
Malachi 2:4-7This prophetic passage speaks to the accountability of the priests who were chosen to minister in God's name, warning them of judgment if they failed to uphold their sacred calling and covenant.
calvinDeuteronomy 18:1-8: "The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance."
- The priests, the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi. This chapter contains three principal heads; for first, God shews that there was no reason why the Israelites should be aggrieved at paying tithes to the Levites, and at remitting the first-fruits and other oblations to the priests, since this t…
gillDeuteronomy 18:5: "For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever."
For the Lord thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes,.... That is, has chosen the tribe of Levi out of all the other tribes of Israel: to stand to minister in the name of the Lord; the priests to minister to the Lord by offering sacrifices, and the Levites to minister to the priests in assisting them in their service; and both their minis…
This verse highlights that the priests' service wasn't just a job; they were chosen by God out of all the tribes to "stand and minister," a role requiring their full attention and presence. Their ministry was to be carried out in God's very name, implying a direct commission and an awesome responsibility to represent Him to the people.
Moses is explaining God's provision for the Levites, the priestly tribe, who, unlike other tribes, received no land inheritance. He's clarifying that the people must generously support them through tithes and offerings because God has specifically chosen them for sacred service. This divine appointment ensures the Levites can dedicate themselves to ministering to God and the people, with this arrangement established for all time under the Law.
Moses is explaining God's provision for the Levites, the priestly tribe, who, unlike other tribes, received no land inheritance. He's clarifying that the people must generously support them through tithes and offerings because God has specifically chosen them for sacred service. This divine appointment ensures the Levites can dedicate themselves to ministering to God and the people, with this arrangement established for all time under the Law.
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"For the LORD your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for all time." — This verse highlights that the priests' service wasn't just a job; they were chosen by God out of all the tribes to "stand and minister," a role requiring their full attention and presence. Their m…
