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Primitive Christianity Revived, Again

Joshua 21 and the maintenance of ministers

The One Year Bible blog links to the Matthew Henry commentary on today's reading from Joshua. The commentary, from Bible Gateway:
"The Levites waited till the other tribes were provided for, before they preferred their claim to Joshua. They build their claim upon a very good foundation; not their own merits or services, but the Divine precept. The maintenance of ministers is not a thing left merely to the will of the people, that they may let them starve if they please; they which preach the gospel should live by the gospel, and should live comfortably." (Jos 21:9-42).

I wonder what Friends today think of that commentary.

Is the passage opened to us in some other way?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Carl on 4th mo. 21, 2009 at 3:42pm

Henry's commentary seems like a non-sequitur to me. The Levites were given land along with everyone else so it doesn't seem they were being "supported" any more than anyone else. In addition land doesn't automatically feed you or provide an income -- its hard work to make it produce! At least, they had pasture which meant flocks to tend. There may be other passages that suggest the Levites were supported in other ways, but these alone don't seem convincing for the point Henry is attempting to make.

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