Tribe of Levi
From BibleWiki
| Tribes of Israel |
|---|
| Reuben |
| Simeon |
| Levi |
| Judah |
| Dan |
| Naphtali |
| Gad |
| Asher |
| Issachar |
| Zebulun |
| Joseph: |
| Manasseh |
| Ephraim |
| Benjamin |
Preistly Tribe
Tribe of Moses and Aaron. Also the tribe of Korach. The Tribe of Levi attended on the kohanim (priests) in the Temple. Now-a-days the Levites are entitled to be called up to the second reading of the Torah in Jewish Synagouges. On Festivals (and in Israel, on the Sabbath, and in the Jersualame, every day) the Levites wash the kohanim's hands before they bless the people Israel as they are commanded to do in the Torah (Numbers 6:22-27)
When the Israelites left Egypt, the ancient manner of worship
was still observed by them, the eldest son of each house
inheriting the priest's office. At Sinai the first change in
this ancient practice was made. A hereditary priesthood in the
family of Aaron was then instituted (Ex 28:1). But it was not
till that terrible scene in connection with the sin of the
golden calf that the tribe of Levi stood apart and began to
occupy a distinct position (Ex. 32). The religious primogeniture
was then conferred on this tribe, which henceforth was devoted
to the service of the sanctuary (Num 3:11ff). They were
selected for this purpose because of their zeal for the glory of
God (Ex 32:26), and because, as the tribe to which Moses and
Aaron belonged, they would naturally stand by the lawgiver in
his work.
The Levitical order consisted of all the descendants of Levi's three sons, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; whilst Aaron, Amram's son (Amram, son of Kohat), and his issue constituted the priestly order.
The age and qualification for Levitical service are specified in Num. 4:3, 23, 30, 39, 43, 47.
They were not included among the armies of Israel (Num 1:47; Num 2:33; Num 26:62), but were reckoned by themselves. They were the special guardians of the tabernacle (Num 1:51; Num 18:22ff). The Gershonites pitched their tents on the west of the tabernacle (Num 3:23), the Kohathites on the south (Num 3:29), the Merarites on the north (Num 3:35), and the priests on the east (Num 3:38). It was their duty to move the tent and carry the parts of the sacred structure from place to place. They were given to Aaron and his sons the priests to wait upon them and do work for them at the sanctuary services (Num 8:19; Num 18:2ff).
As being wholly consecrated to the service of the Lord, they had no territorial possessions. YHWH was their inheritance (Num 18:20; Num 26:62; Deut 10:9; Deut 18:1f), and for their support it was ordained that they should receive from the other tribes the tithes of the produce of the land. Forty-eight cities also were assigned to them, thirteen of which were for the priests "to dwell in", i.e., along with their other inhabitants. Along with their dwellings they had "suburbs", i.e., "commons", for their herds and flocks, and also fields and vineyards (Num 35:2ff). Nine of these cities were in Judah, three in Naphtali, and four in each of the other tribes (Josh. 21). Six of the Levitical cities were set apart as "Cities of Refuge". Thus the Levites were scattered among the tribes to keep alive among them the knowledge and service of God. (See Priest)
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