3,822. Leviim Don't Receive a Share in the Land

Hilchos Shemittah v’Yoveil 13:10

The whole tribe of Levi was warned not to receive an inheritance in the land of Canaan, nor to share in the spoils from conquering those cities, as per Deuteronomy 10:9: “The kohein and the Levi – the whole tribe of Levi – shall not have a share and an inheritance in Israel.” “A share” means a portion of the spoils and “an inheritance” means a portion of the land. Similarly, Numbers 18:20 tells us that “In their land you (i.e., the Levites) will not inherit, and you will not have a share among them,” referring to the spoils. If a Levi or a kohein takes a share of the spoils, he is given the punishment of lashes. If he takes an inheritance in Israel, it is confiscated.

Hilchos Shemittah v’Yoveil 13:11

The Rambam opines that the preceding halacha only applies to land that was part of the covenant with Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, which their descendants inherited and divided. However, if other land is conquered by a king of Israel, the kohanim and Leviim would have the same claim to it as any other Jew.