How was God Himself the inheritance of the Levites?

Response

Deuteronomy 18:1–2 explains that the Levites had a distinct inheritance from God: “The Levitical priests—indeed, the whole tribe of Levi—are to have no allotment or inheritance with Israel. They shall live on the food offerings presented to the Lord, for that is their inheritance. They shall have no inheritance among their fellow Israelites; the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them.” While the other tribes of Israel were granted a land inheritance in Canaan, the Levites did not receive land. Instead, they were allocated specific cities within the territories of the other tribes.

The inheritance of the Levites was God Himself, as they were chosen to oversee the worship of the entire nation of Israel. They were tasked with managing the tabernacle, its tools, and supervising the sacrifices and offerings of the people.

The priests were sustained through their service. Deuteronomy 18:3–4 outlines the provisions of the Law: “This is the share due the priests from the people who sacrifice a bull or a sheep: the shoulder, the internal organs and the meat from the head. You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the first wool from the shearing of your sheep.”

A more detailed explanation of this concept is provided in Numbers 18. “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting. . . . They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites’” (verses 21, 23–24).

God was the exclusive inheritance of the Levites. He was the focal point of their service, the provider of their sustenance, and the essence of their c

Allotting. Their inheritance included cities, daily sustenance, and a perpetual calling, but it did not encompass the identical land inheritance bestowed upon the other tribes of Israel.