Tafsiran Ulangan 10:9: Rashi, Ramban, Ibn Ezra & Siftei Chakhamim

על כן לא היה ללוי חלק WHEREFORE LEVI HATH NO PORTION — because they have been singled out for the service of the altar (v. 8), and therefore were not free to plough and sow.

WHEREFORE LEVI HATH NO PORTION. The purport thereof is²³⁴In view of the fact that Ramban explained the preceding verse as referring only to the priests, the question arises: why does the verse before us explain that the Levites have no portion in the Land, when only the priests were discussed in this section? Ramban answers, “The purport thereof is etc.” that because they all [i.e., the Levites] minister to and assist the priests in their [Divine] Service, since every part of the Sanctuary pertained to the offerings, [therefore, the whole tribe of Levi was not free to devote itself to the cultivation and development of the Land; therefore they received no portion therein]. And so He said [to Aaron], And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou near with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee.²³⁵Numbers 18:2.

God is their allotment along the lines of “God is the portion of my inheritance, and of my cup” [Psalms 16: 5] — meaning, service of God through the study of His ways.

ה' הוא נחלתו THE LORD IS HIS INHERITANCE — he receives his daily fare ready for him from the King’s house (from the Temple; the dues from the sacrifices, etc.).