Deuteronomy 18:3 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

A sacrifice, to wit, a sacrifice of thanksgiving, or a peace-offering, as appears from Leviticus 7:31,33, which is ofttimes called simply a sacrifice, as Exodus 18:12 Leviticus 17:5,8 Num 15:3 Deuteronomy 12:27. The shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw. Quest. How doth this agree with other texts, in which the shoulder and the breast, and those parts only, are the priest's due, not the cheeks and maw? Answ.

1. Who shall tie God's hands? what if he now makes an addition, and enlargeth the priest's commons? Nothing more usual than for one scripture to supply what is lacking in another, and for a latter law of God to add to a former.

2. The breast may be here omitted, because it is comprehended under the shoulder, to which it is commonly joined, and with which it was waved before the Lord.

3. The Hebrew word here rendered maw or stomach, which was reckoned among dainties by the ancients, is not to my remembrance used elsewhere, and therefore it may have another signification, and some render it the breast, others take it for the uppermost part of the stomach, which lies under the breast.

Deuteronomy 18:3

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.