Levi Tribe
Tribe of Levi
According to the Bible, the Tribe of Levi is one of the tribes of Israel, traditionally descended from Levi, son of Jacob. The descendants of Aaron, who was the first kohen gadol (high priest) of Israel, were designated as the priestly class, the Kohanim.
Tribe of Levi cont...,
The Tribe of Levi served particular religious duties for the Israelites and had political responsibilities as well. In return, the landed tribes were expected to give tithes to the Kohanim, the priests working in the Temple in Jerusalem, particularly the tithe known as the Maaser Rishon. The Levites who were not Kohanim played music in the Temple or served as guards. When Joshua led the Israelites into the land of Canaan the Levites were the only Israelite tribe that received cities but were not allowed to be landowners, because "the Lord God of Israel is their inheritance, as he said to them" (Book of Joshua, Joshua 13:33). Some Biblical traditions point to the alien aspects of the Levites and their role as military troops. In this context the etymology linking the term Levi with the Mycenaean Greek term la-wo (the people / armed people) was proposed.
Levi is born
Gen 29:34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.
Slew Hamor and Shechem
(Gen 34:25) And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.
(Gen 34:26) And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out.
(Gen 34:27) The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
Son of Leah
Gen 35:23 The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
Sons of Levi into Egypt
Gen 46:11 And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Instruments of Cruelty
Gen 49:5 Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.
Moses descends through Levi
Exo 2:1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.
Families of Levi
(Exo 6:16) And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years.
(Exo 6:17) The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.
(Exo 6:18) And the sons of Kohath; Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel: and the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred thirty and three years.
(Exo 6:19) And the sons of Merari; Mahali and Mushi: these are the families of Levi according to their generations.
The Golden Calf
(Exo 32:26) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.
(Exo 32:27) And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.
(Exo 32:28) And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.
Levites exempt
(Num 1:47) But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.
(Num 1:48) For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying,
(Num 1:49) Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:
(Num 1:50) But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.
Duties of the Levites
Num 3:6 Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.
Levites numbered
(Num 3:15) Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.
(Num 3:16) And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.
(Num 3:17) And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.
(Num 3:18) And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei.
(Num 3:19) And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
(Num 3:20) And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.
(Num 3:21) Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.
Duties of Kohathites
(Num 4:2) Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,
(Num 4:3) From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.
(Num 4:4) This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things:
Rod of Levi
Num 17:3 And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.
Rod of Aaron blooms
(Num 17:8) And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.
(Num 17:9) And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.
(Num 17:10) And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.
(Num 17:11) And Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he.
(Num 17:12) And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.
(Num 17:13) Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?
Aarons Rod
Refers to any of the walking sticks carried by Moses's brother, Aaron, in the Torah. The Bible tells how, along with Moses's rod, Aaron's rod was endowed with miraculous power during the Plagues of Egypt that preceded the Exodus. There are two occasions where the Bible tells of the rod's power.
Levi's offspring Priests
(Num 18:1) And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.
(Num 18:2) And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.
No Inheritance
(Num 18:21) And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
(Num 18:22) Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.
(Num 18:23) But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.
(Num 18:24) But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
Bear the Ark
(Deu 10:8) At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.
(Deu 10:9) Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him.
Chosen
(Deu 18:1) The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance.
(Deu 18:2) Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.
(Deu 18:3) And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.
(Deu 18:4) The firstfruit also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.
(Deu 18:5) For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever.
Atonement
Deu 21:5 And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried:
Curses of Mount Ebal
(Deu 27:9) And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God.
(Deu 27:10) Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.
(Deu 27:11) And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,
(Deu 27:12) These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin:
Reading of The Law
(Deu 31:9) And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel.
(Deu 31:10) And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,
(Deu 31:11) When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
(Deu 31:12) Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:
(Deu 31:13) And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.
Final Blessing on Israel
(Deu 33:7) And this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou an help to him from his enemies.
(Deu 33:8) And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;
(Deu 33:9) Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.
(Deu 33:10) They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.
(Deu 33:11) Bless, LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.
Made by Fire
Jos 13:14 Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.
God Is their Inheritance
Jos 13:33 But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.
Land alotted to Tribe of Levi
(Jos 21:1) Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;
(Jos 21:2) And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.
(Jos 21:3) And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.
Cities to Kohathites
(Jos 21:4) And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.
(Jos 21:5) And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.
Joined David
(1Ch 12:26) Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.
(1Ch 12:27) And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;
(1Ch 12:28) And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and two captains.
Not counted in Davids census
(1Ch 21:6) But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
(1Ch 21:7) And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.
David organizes the Levites
(1Ch 23:1) So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
(1Ch 23:2) And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.
(1Ch 23:3) Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.
(1Ch 23:4) Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges:
(1Ch 23:5) Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.
(1Ch 23:6) And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Gershonites
(1Ch 23:7) Of the Gershonites were, Laadan, and Shimei.
(1Ch 23:8) The sons of Laadan; the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.
(1Ch 23:9) The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan.
(1Ch 23:10) And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.
(1Ch 23:11) And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father's house.
Kohath
1Ch 23:12 The sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.
Merari
(1Ch 23:21) The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli; Eleazar, and Kish.
(1Ch 23:22) And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them.
(1Ch 23:23) The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
Remaining Levites
(1Ch 23:14) Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.
(1Ch 23:15) The sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer.
(1Ch 23:16) Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.
(1Ch 23:17) And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.
(1Ch 23:18) Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.
(1Ch 23:19) Of the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
(1Ch 23:20) Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah the first, and Jesiah the second.
(1Ch 23:21) The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli; Eleazar, and Kish.
(1Ch 23:22) And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them.
(1Ch 23:23) The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.
(1Ch 23:24) These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward.
Ezra sends for Levites
(Ezr 8:15) And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.
(Ezr 8:16) Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.
(Ezr 8:17) And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.
(Ezr 8:18) And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
(Ezr 8:19) And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
(Ezr 8:20) Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.
Obligations of Covenant
(Neh 10:28) And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;
(Neh 10:29) They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;
(Neh 10:30) And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:
(Neh 10:31) And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.
(Neh 10:32) Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;
(Neh 10:33) For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.
(Neh 10:34) And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law:
(Neh 10:35) And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:
(Neh 10:36) Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God:
(Neh 10:37) And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.
(Neh 10:38) And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.
(Neh 10:39) For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.
Psalms
(Psa 135:19) Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:
(Psa 135:20) Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.
(Psa 135:21) Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
Chambers for Priests
(Eze 40:44) And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.
(Eze 40:45) And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house.
(Eze 40:46) And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.
(Eze 40:47) So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house.
Gates of the City
Eze 48:31 And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi.
Him whom they have pierced
(Zec 12:10) And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
(Zec 12:11) In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
(Zec 12:12) And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;
(Zec 12:13) The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;
(Zec 12:14) All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.
Lord rebukes Priests
Mal 2:4 And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
Corrupted the covenant
(Mal 2:8) But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
(Mal 2:9) Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.
Purify sons of Levi
(Mal 3:2) But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
(Mal 3:3) And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
Take tithes
Heb 7:5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
Levi who received also paid
Heb 7:9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
144,000 Sealed
Rev 7:7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.