And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. I am thy part and thine inheritance - The principal part of what was offered to God was the portion of the priests, therefore they had no inheritance of land in Israel; independently of that they had a very ample provision for their support. The rabbins say twenty-four gifts were given to the priests, and they are all expressed in the law. Eight of those gifts the priests ate nowhere but in the sanctuary: these eight are the following: -
1. The flesh of the Sin-Offering, whether of beasts or fowls, Leviticus 6:25, Leviticus 6:26.
2. The flesh of the Trespass-Offering, Leviticus 7:1, Leviticus 7:6.
3. The Peace-Offerings of the congregation, Leviticus 23:19, Leviticus 23:20.
4. The remainder of the Omer or Sheaf, Leviticus 23:10, etc.
5. The remnants of the Meat-Offerings of the Israelites, Leviticus 6:16.
6. The two Loaves, Leviticus 23:17.
7. The Shew-Bread, Leviticus 24:9.
8. The Log of oil offered by the leper, Leviticus 14:10, etc.
Five of those gifts they ate only in Jerusalem: -
1. The breast and shoulder of the Peace-Offerings, Leviticus 7:31, Leviticus 7:34.
2. The Heave-Offering of the sacrifice of confession, Leviticus 7:12-14.
3. The Heave-Offering of the Nazarite's ram, Leviticus 6:17-20.
4. The Firstling of the clean beast, Numbers 18:15; Deuteronomy 15:19, Deuteronomy 15:20.
5. The First-Fruits, Numbers 18:13.
Five gifts were not due unto them by the law, but in the land of Israel only: -
1. The heave-offering or First-Fruits, Numbers 18:12.
2. The heave-offering of the Tithe, Numbers 18:28.
3. The Cake, Numbers 15:20.
These three were holy.
4. The first-fruits of the Fleece, Deuteronomy 18:4.
5. The Field of Possession, Numbers 35.
These two were common.
Five gifts were due unto them both within and without the land: -
1. The gifts of the Beasts Slain, Deuteronomy 18:3.
2. The redemption of the First-Born Son, Numbers 18:15.
3. The Lamb for the firstling of an ass, Exodus 4:20; Numbers 18.
4. The restitution of that taken by violence from a stranger, Numbers 5:8.
5. All Devoted things, Numbers 18:14.
One gift was due unto them from the sanctuary: -
1. The skins of the burnt-offering, and all the skins of the other most holy things, Leviticus 7:8.
In all 24. See Ainsworth.
The gifts which the females of the priests' families had a part in were these: -
1. The heave-offering, or first-fruits.
2. The heave-offering of the tithe.
3. The cake.
4. The gifts of the beast, Deuteronomy 18:3.
5. The first of the fleece.
- See Mishna, Tract. Biccurim, and Ainsworth on the Pentateuch.
Besides all this the priests had the tribute money mentioned Numbers 31:28, Numbers 31:29.