Commentary on Harmony of the Law Volume 1 Complete John Calvin
JOHN CALVIN
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.
5. Ipsum enim elegit Jehova Deus tuus e cunctis tribubus ruts, ut stet administrandum nomini Jehovae, ipse et filii ejus omnibus diebus.
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;
6. Quum autem venerit Levita ex allqua portarum tuarum, ex omni Israele, ubi ipse peregrinabitur, et venerit toto desiderio animae suae ad locum quem elegerit Jehova:
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.
7. Ministrabit nomini Jehovae Dei sui, dent omnes fratres ejus Levitin qui stant illic coram Jehova.
8. They shall have like portions to eat, besides that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.
8. Partera similem parti altorum comedent, praeter venditiones ejus ad partes.
1. The priests, the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi. This chapter contains three principal heads; for first, God shews that there was no reason why the Israelites should be aggrieved at paying tithes to the Levites, and at remitting the first-fruits and other oblations to the priests, since this tribe was deprived of their inheritance. Secondly, He obviates all quarrels, and prevents unlawful gains and pilferings, by assigning their just share to the priests and Levites. Thirdly, He defines how the oblations should be parted among them, and what part of the victims the priests were to take. As to the first clause, since God was as it were the lot of their inheritance, they justly claimed to themselves the right which he had transferred to them. If it were disagreeable to the people that their revenue should be tithed, God came as it were between, and declaring that it was His property in His right as King, appointed the Levites to be His stewards and collectors for receiving it. There was then no ground for any one to raise a dispute, unless he chose professedly to rob God. But this declaration often occurs; since it was of great importance that the people should be assured that God accounted as received by Himself what He had assigned to the Levites; not. only lest any portion should be withheld from them, but also that every one should willingly pay the lawful dues of God's ministers; and again, lest any should wickedly murmur because the first-fruits and some portion of the sacrifices