Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 18

Verse 1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Verse 2

is. Hebrew "He [is]".

Verse 3

priest's due = priest's custom. Compare 1 Samuel 2:13 , 1Sa 2:28 , 1 Samuel 2:29 . Leviticus 7:33 , Leviticus 7:34 .Numbers 18:8-14 .

offer = sacrifice. See App-43 .

Verse 4

wine. Hebrew. tirosh. App-27 .

Verse 6

a Levite: i.e. a Tribal Levite who devoted himself to the Aaronic service. Compare Leviticus 25:33 .

his mind = his soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 9

abominations. See App-42 .

Verse 10

or. Note the Figure of speech Paradiastole. App-6 .

Verse 11

familiar spirits. See note on Leviticus 19:31 .

necromancer = a seeker unto the dead; a medium.

Verse 12

the LORD (Hebrew. Jehovah. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Syriac, add "thy God".

Verse 13

perfect = devoted, or single-hearted.

Verse 15

will raise up. Note the transition, and the Structure above.

hearken. Compare Matthew 17:5 .Acts 3:22 , Acts 3:23 .

Verse 17

said. See note on Deuteronomy 2:9 . This was said before leaving Horeb, so that "the Prophet like unto Moses" was promised at Sinai!

Verse 18

I will raise. Compare John 6:14 .Acts 3:22 ; Acts 7:37 .

a Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:18 ), a Priest (Psalms 110:4 ), a King (Zechariah 6:13 ).

will put My words, &c. Compare John 12:48 , John 12:49 , and note John 3:34 ; John 7:16 ; John 8:28 , John 8:47 ; John 12:49 ; John 14:10 , John 14:24 ; John 17:8 .

Verse 19

I will require it. Compare John 12:48 , and Hebrews 4:12 , where "discerner" means "able to judge" (Greek. kritikos) . That "Word" is the "critic" (or judge), and will judge all other "critics".

Verse 21

How shall we know . . . ? Compare Jeremiah 28:9 .