Deuteronomy

Moses gives speeches about laws and the importance of following God before the Israelites enter the Promised Land.

Chapter 18

1 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 Levite priests and their tribe won't own land like the rest of Israel. They will eat special food offered to God through fire, as that is their inheritance.

2 Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.

*So, they won't receive land with their family: the LORD is their land, just like he told them.

3 And this shall be the priest’s due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.

*The priest will receive a portion from the people when they offer a sacrifice, like an ox or a sheep. They must give the priest the shoulder, both cheek pieces, and the mouth part.

4 The firstfruit also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.

*Give the first part of your crops, grape juice, and olive oil to him, as well as the first wool from your sheep.

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.

*The LORD has picked him from all your tribes to serve in His name. He and his sons will do this job forever.

6 And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the LORD shall choose;

*If a Levite from anywhere in Israel leaves the place they were staying and comes to the special place chosen by God with all their heart's desire, then...

7 Then he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, which stand there before the LORD.

*Then he will serve under the LORD's name, just like all his family members called Levites who are already serving there in front of the LORD.

8 They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.

*They will get equal shares of food, along with what they get from selling their inherited property.

9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

*When you enter the land that the Lord gives you, don't learn to do the wicked things of those other nations.

10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.

*In simpler terms, this verse says: Do not find anyone in your group who sacrifices their child by fire, uses divination, observes time patterns, practices magic, or is a witch.

11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

*Or someone who casts spells, or seeks guidance from ghost-like beings, or practices magic, or communicates with the dead.

12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

*Anyone who does these bad things is very displeasing to God. Because of these displeasing actions, God will remove those people from your path.

13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

*Be completely devoted to your loving God.

14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

*For the countries you will take control of, people listened to those who predicted future events and consulted with spiritual advisors. But, the Lord your God didn't want you to do that.

15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

*The Lord will choose a prophet to guide you, someone from your people, similar to me. Listen to this person's guidance.

16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.

*As you requested from the Lord at Mount Horeb during the gathering, when you said, "I don't want to hear the Lord's voice anymore, nor see this big fire, so I won't die."

17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.

*And God told me, "They were right when they said what they did."

18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

*I will choose a prophet from their people, similar to you, and put my words in their mouth. They will speak everything I tell them.

19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

*If someone doesn't listen to the words spoken in my name, I will hold them accountable.

20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

*But any prophet who claims to speak words I didn't tell them to say or speaks for other gods will die.

21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?

*If you think in your mind, "How can we know which words are not from the LORD?"

22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

*When a prophet speaks for God and it doesn't happen, it was the prophet who spoke falsely, not God. Don't be scared of them.

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