LEVITES

All the descendants of Levi may be comprised under this name, Ex 6:16,25 Jos 3:3, (see LEVI;) but chiefly those who were employed in the lower services in the temple, by which they were distinguished from the priests, who were of the race of Levi by Aaron, and were employed in higher offices, Nu 3:6-10 18:2-7. God chose the Levites for the service of his tabernacle and temple, instead of the firstborn of all Israel, to whom such duties naturally belonged, and who were already sacred to God in memory of the great deliverance in Egypt. Ex 13:1-22 Nu 3:12,13,39-51. In the wilderness, the Levites took charge of the tabernacle and its contents; and conveyed it from place to place, each of the three families having a separate portion, Nu 1:51 4:1-49 1Ch 15:2,27. After the building of the temple they took charge of the gates, of the sacred vessels, of the preparation of the showbread and other offerings, and of the singing and instrumental music, 1Ch 9:1-44 23:1-32 2Ch 29:1-36. They brought wood, water, etc., for the priests; aided them in preparing the sacrifices, and in collecting and disbursing the contributions of the people, 2Ch 30:16,17 35:1. They were also the temple guards, Ne 13:13,22; and the salutation and response in Ps 134:1-3 are thought by Bishop Lowth to have been their song in the night. But besides their services in the temple, they performed a very important part in teaching the people, 2Ch 30:22 Ne 8:7, among whom they were scattered, binding the tribes together, and promoting virtue and piety. They studied the law, and were the ordinary judges of the country, but subordinate to the priests, 2Ch 17:9 19:8-11. God provided for the subsistence of the Levites, by giving to them the tithe of corn, fruit, and cattle; but they paid to the priests the tenth of their tithes; and as the Levites possessed no estates in land, the tithes which the priests received from them were considered as the first fruits which they were to offer to the Lord, Nu 18:21-32. The payment of tithes to the Levites appears not to have been enforced, but depended on the goodwill of the people; hence the special charges laid on their brethren, not to forget them, De 2:12,18,19. God assigned for the habitation of the Levites forty-eight cities, with fields, pastures, and gardens, Nu 35:1-34. Of these, thirteen were given to the priests, all in the tribes near Jerusalem. Six of the Levitical cities were appointed as cities of refuge, Jos 20:1-21:45. While the Levites were actually employed in the temple, they were supported out of the provisions kept in store there, and out of the daily offerings. The same privilege was granted to volunteers, drawn to Jerusalem by the fervor of their love to God’s service, De 12:18,19 18:6-8. The consecration of Levites was without much ceremony. See Nu 8:5-22 2Ch 29:34. The Levites wore no peculiar dress to distinguish them from other Israelites, till the time of Agrippa. His innovation in this matter is mentioned by Josephus, who remarked that the ancient customs of the country were never forsaken with impunity. The Levites were divided into different classes: the Gershomites, Kohathites, and Merarites, Nu 3:17-20. They were still further divided into courses, like the priests, 1Ch 23:1-26:32. At first, they entered in full on their public duties at thirty years of age, Nu 4:3 8:25; but David fixed the age for commencing at twenty years; and at fifty they were exempt, 1Ch 23:24-27. The different courses of porters, singers, guards, etc., were on duty in succession, one week at a time, 1Ch 23:1-26:32 2Ch 23:4,8 31:17 Ezr 3:8-12. After the revolt of the ten tribes, a large portion of the Levites abandoned their cities in Israel, and dwelt in Judah, 2Ch 11:12-14 13:9-11. After the captivity, numbers of them returned from beyond the Euphrates to Judea, Ne 11:15-19 12:24-31. In the New Testament they are not often mentioned, Lu 10:32 Joh 1:19 Ac 4:36. The "scribes" and "doctors," however, are supposed to have belonged chiefly to this class.

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LEVITES. → (The descendants of Levi) → Set apart as ministers of religion Nu 1:47-54; 3:6-16; 16:9; 26:57-62; De 10:8; 1Ch 15:2 → Substituted in the place of the firstborn children Nu 3:12,41-45; 8:14,16-18; 18:6 → Religious zeal of Ex 32:26-28; De 33:9,10; Mal 2:4,5 → Consecration of Nu 8:6-21 → Sedition among, led by Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and On, on account of jealousy toward Moses and Aaron Nu 16; with 4:19,20 → Three divisions of, each having the name of one of its progenitors-Gershon, Kohath, and Merari Nu 3:17 → Gershonites and their duties Nu 3:18-26; 4:23-26; 10:17 → The ruling chief over the Gershonites was the second son of the ruling high priest Nu 4:28 → The Kohathites, consisting of the families of the Amramites, the Izeharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites Nu 3:27; 4:18-20 → Of the Amramites, Aaron and his family were set apart as priests Ex 28:1; 29:9; Nu 3:38; 17:1-4,8; 18:1 → The remaining families appointed to take charge of the ark of the covenant, table, lampstand, altars, and vessels of the sanctuary, the hangings, and all the service Nu 3:27-32; 4:2-15 → The chief over the Kohathites was the oldest son of the ruling high priest Nu 3:32; 1Ch 9:20 → The Merarites Nu 3:20,33-37; 4:31-33; 7:8; 10:17; 1Ch 6:19,29,30; 23:21-23 → The chief over the Merarites was the second son of the ruling high priest Nu 4:33 → Place of, in encampments and the march Nu 1:50-53; 2:17; 3:23-35 → Cities assigned to, in the land of Canaan Jos 21 → Lodged in the chambers of the temple 1Ch 9:27,33; Eze 40:44 → Resided also in villages outside of Jerusalem Ne 12:29 → Age of
* When inducted into office Nu 4:3,30,47; 8:23-26; 1Ch 23:3,24,27; Ezr 3:8
* When retired from office Nu 4:3,47

→ Functions of
* Had charge of the tabernacle in the encampments and on the march Nu 1:50-53; 3:6-9,21-37; 4:1-15,17-49; 8:19; 18:3-6
* Had charge of the temple 1Ch 9:27-29; 23:2-32; Ezr 8:24-34

→ Carried the ark of the covenant De 10:8; 1Ch 15:2,26,27 → Ministered in the presence of the ark of the covenant 1Ch 16:4 → Custodians and administrators of the tithes and other offerings 1Ch 9:26-29; 26:28; 29:8; 2Ch 24:5,11; 31:11-19; 34:9; Ezr 8:29,30,33; Ne 12:44 → Prepared the shewbread 1Ch 23:28,29 → Assisted the priests in preparing the sacrifice 2Ch 29:12-36; 35:1-18 → Killed the Passover lambs for the people of the captivity Ezr 6:20,21 → Teachers of the law De 33:10; 2Ch 17:8,9; 30:22; 35:3; Ne 8:7-13; Mal 2:6,7 → Were judges De 17:9; 1Ch 23:4; 26:29; 2Ch 19:8-11; Ne 11:16 → See JUDGES → (Were scribes of the sacred books) → See SCRIBES → Pronounced the blessings of the law in the responsive service at Mount Gerizim De 27:12; Jos 8:33 → Were porters of the doors → See PORTERS → Were overseers in building and the repairs of the temple 1Ch 23:2-4; Ezr 3:8,9 → Were musicians of the temple service → See MUSIC → Supervised weights and measures as standards of doing business 1Ch 23:29 → The list of those who returned from captivity Ezr 2:40-63; 7:7; 8:16-20; Ne 7:43-73; 12 → Sealed the covenant with Nehemiah Ne 10:9-28 → Profits from
* In lieu of landed inheritance, forty-eight cities with suburbs were assigned to them Nu 35:2-8; with 18:24
* And Nu 26:62; De 10:9; 12:12,18,19; 14:27-29; 18:1-8; Jos 13:14; 14:3; 18:7; 1Ch 6:54-81; 13:2; 2Ch 23:2; Eze 34:1-5

→ Assigned to, by families Jos 21:4-40 → Suburbs of their cities were inalienable for debt Le 25:32-34 → Tithes and other offerings Nu 18:24,26-32; De 18:1-8; 26:11-13; Jos 13:14; Ne 10:38,39; 12:44,47 → First fruits Ne 12:44,47 → The plunder of war, including captives Nu 31:30,42-47 → See TITHES → Tithes withheld from Ne 13:10-13; Mal 3:10 → Pensioned 2Ch 31:16-18 → Owned lands De 18:8; with 1Ki 2:26 → Land allotted to, by Ezekiel Eze 48:13,14 → Enrollment of, at Mount Sinai Nu 1:47-49; 2:33; 3:14-39; 4:2,3; 26:57-62; 1Ch 23:3-5 → Degraded from the Levitical office by Jeroboam 2Ch 11:13-17; 13:9-11 → Loyal to the ruler 2Ki 11:7-11; 2Ch 23:7 → Intermarried with Canaanites Ezr 9:1,2; 10:23,24 → Exempt from enrollment for military duty Nu 1:47-54; with 1Ch 12:26 → Subordinate to the sons of Aaron Nu 3:9; 8:19; 18:6 → Prophecies concerning Jer 33:18; Eze 44:10-14; Mal 3:3 → Of their repentance of the crucifixion of the Messiah Zec 12:10-13 → John's vision concerning Re 7:7

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descendants of Levi, had charge of the Tabernacle, etc. Ex 32:26; Nu 1:50; 3:6; 3:39; 8:18; 8:24; 18:3; 26:57; 35:2 De 12:19; 14:27; 1Ch 23:27; 2Ch 11:13; 23:2; 29:34; Lu 10:32 -- Emoluments of. SEE Priests, LEADERS