“They shall eat
The grain offering,
The sin offering,
The guilt offering.
Every devoted thing
In Israel
Shall be theirs.
The first of all
The first fruits
Of all kinds
Shall belong
To the priests.
Every offering
Of all kinds,
From all your offerings,
Shall belong
To the priests.
You shall also give
To the priests
The first of your dough.
Thus,
A blessing may rest
On your house.
The priests shall not eat
Of anything,
Whether bird
Or animal,
That died of itself
Or was torn by animals.”
The Zadok Levitical priests had strict dietary habits that were very favorable to them. They were to eat all the various offerings that the people of Israel presented, the grain offerings, the sin offerings, the guilt offerings, or any devoted thing in Israel. They would also get the first fruits of all kinds, including the cooked dough. All these food items belonged to the priests. Giving them to the priests meant that your house would have a blessing. However, these priests were not allowed to eat any bird or animal that had died by itself or was mangled by another animal.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 