Topical Bible: Priests: Might Purchase and Hold Other Lands in Possession

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In the biblical context, the role and responsibilities of priests were primarily centered around religious duties, including offering sacrifices, teaching the law, and maintaining the sanctity of the temple. However, the question of whether priests could own land or hold property is addressed in various passages, reflecting the broader socio-economic practices of ancient Israel.

Levitical Inheritance and Land Ownership

The tribe of Levi, from which the priests were drawn, was unique among the tribes of Israel in that they did not receive a territorial inheritance in the Promised Land. Instead, their inheritance was the Lord Himself, as stated in Deuteronomy 18:1-2 : "The Levitical priests—indeed the whole tribe of Levi—shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the offerings made by fire to the LORD, for that is their inheritance. Although they have no inheritance among their brothers, the LORD is their inheritance, as He promised them."

This special status meant that the Levites, including the priests, were supported by the tithes and offerings of the other tribes. Numbers 18:20-21 further clarifies this arrangement: "The LORD said to Aaron, 'You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites. Behold, I have given the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the work of the Tent of Meeting.'"

Cities and Pasturelands for the Levites

While the Levites did not receive a tribal territory, they were allocated specific cities and surrounding pasturelands within the territories of the other tribes. Joshua 21:1-3 describes this provision: "Then the heads of the families of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribal families of Israel at Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said to them, 'The LORD commanded through Moses that we be given cities to dwell in, along with pasturelands for our livestock.' So by the command of the LORD, the Israelites gave the Levites these cities and their pasturelands out of their own inheritance."

These cities served as dwelling places for the Levites and included pasturelands for their livestock, ensuring their sustenance and ability to perform their religious duties.

Priests and Personal Property

While the Levitical priests did not have a tribal inheritance, there is evidence that they could own personal property and engage in transactions. Jeremiah 32:6-9 provides an example of a priest, Jeremiah, purchasing a field: "Jeremiah said, 'The word of the LORD came to me, saying: Behold, Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is coming to you to say, "Buy for yourself my field in Anathoth, for you have the right of redemption to buy it." Then, as the LORD had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and urged me, "Please buy my field in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin, for you own the right of inheritance and redemption. Buy it for yourself." Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. So I bought the field in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels of silver.'"

This passage illustrates that priests could engage in property transactions, suggesting that while their primary inheritance was spiritual, they were not prohibited from owning land or other possessions.

Conclusion

The biblical narrative presents a nuanced view of land ownership by priests. While their primary inheritance was spiritual, and they were supported by the tithes and offerings of the people, they were not entirely excluded from owning property. The allocation of cities and pasturelands, along with examples of personal property transactions, indicates that priests could hold land in possession, reflecting their unique role within the covenant community of Israel.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 2:26
And to Abiathar the priest said the king, Get you to Anathoth, to your own fields; for you are worthy of death: but I will not at this time put you to death, because you bore the ark of the LORD God before David my father, and because you have been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 32:8,9
So Hanameel my uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said to me, Buy my field, I pray you, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is yours, and the redemption is yours; buy it for yourself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

In Jerusalem when Herod Reigned
... For the same sum you might purchase an ass, [545] an ... many Rabbinic Academies; and,
besides, you might also see ... When the silver trumpets of the Priests woke the ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter i in jerusalem when.htm

The Ancient Form of Government Utterly Corrupted by the Tyranny of ...
... I say not that all purchase for a certain sum; but ... then had some means by which they
might have rendered ... and ample, as to suffice for the gluttony of priests. ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 5 the ancient form.htm

Luther's Separation from Rome.
... shrank from no sacrifice by which he might attain to ... to the marvelous tales repeated
by priests and monks ... When Simon Magus offered to purchase of the apostles ...
/.../7 luthers separation from rome.htm

Luther's Separation from Rome
... shrank from no sacrifice by which he might attain to ... to the marvelous tales repeated
by priests and monks ... When Simon Magus offered to purchase of the apostles ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 7 luthers separation from.htm

Reconstruction.
... More important than the priests of various orders ... which Christians of both polities
might co??erate in ... adoption of the Constitution, the purchase of Louisiana ...
/.../bacon/a history of american christianity/chapter xiii reconstruction.htm

Thoughts Upon Worldly-Riches. Sect. Ii.
... it, giving him Power to ordain Elders or Priests, and to ... their Gold and Silver can
never purchase an Inheritance ... In treating of which I might shew the several ...
/.../private thoughts upon a christian life/thoughts upon worldly-riches sect ii.htm

Removal to Stamford-Hill, and Commencement of the Fifth ...
... We offered to purchase a cottage at Berkhamstead, but for ... more sensibly the awful
account the priests will have ... our dear young friends in England might give up ...
/.../chapter xvi removal to stamford-hill.htm

Chatter xviii. The Great Immigration.
... States had been made by honorable purchase or less ... honest but illogical minds was
what might have been ... the devoted labors of its priests, and notwithstanding ...
/.../a history of american christianity/chatter xviii the great immigration.htm

The Close of the Theban Empire --(Continued)
... blank, and were inserted after purchase in the ... workmanship, all of which we might
be tempted to ... officials, guardians of temples, and priests proudly executing ...
/.../chapter ithe close of the.htm

Concerning the Power of the Civil Magistrate in Matters Purely ...
... propagated by her banished priests, now banisheth the priests. ... in due time, though
through blood, purchase peace, as ... know it, and those who would might enter. ...
/.../proposition xiv concerning the power.htm