Reference: Levite
Easton
a descendant of the tribe of Levi (Ex 6:25; Le 25:32; Nu 35:2; Jos 21:3,41). This name is, however, generally used as the title of that portion of the tribe which was set apart for the subordinate offices of the sanctuary service (1Ki 8:4; Ezr 2:70), as assistants to the priests.
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 (Nu 3:11-13). 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 Nu 4:3,23,30,39,43,47.
They were not included among the armies of Israel (Nu 1:47; 2:33; 26:62), but were reckoned by themselves. They were the special guardians of the tabernacle (Nu 1:51; 18:22-24). The Gershonites pitched their tents on the west of the tabernacle (Nu 3:23), the Kohathites on the south (Nu 3:29), the Merarites on the north (Nu 3:35), and the priests on the east (Nu 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 (Nu 8:19; 18:2-6).
As being wholly consecrated to the service of the Lord, they had no territorial possessions. Jehovah was their inheritance (Nu 18:20; 26:62; De 10:9; 18:1-2), 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 (Nu 35:2-5). Nine of these cities were in Judah, three in Naphtali, and four in each of the other tribes (Jos 21). Six of the Levitical cities were set apart as "cities of refuge" (q.v.). Thus the Levites were scattered among the tribes to keep alive among them the knowledge and service of God. (See Priest.)
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Aaron's son Eleazar married one of the daughters of Putiel and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the Levite families by their clans.
"Have your brother Aaron, with his sons, come to you from the Israelites to serve Me as priest-Aaron, his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
And Moses stood at the camp's entrance and said, "Whoever is for the Lord, [come] to me." And all the Levites gathered around him.
"Concerning the Levitical cities, the Levites always have the right to redeem houses in the cities they possess.
But the Levites were not registered with them by their ancestral tribe.
Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever it is to stop at a campsite, the Levites are to set it up. Any unauthorized person who comes near [it] must be put to death.
But the Levites were not registered among the Israelites, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
The Lord spoke to Moses: "See, I have taken the Levites from the Israelites in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb. The Levites belong to Me, read more. because every firstborn belongs to Me. At the time I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated every firstborn in Israel to Myself, both man and animal; they are Mine; I am the Lord."
The Gershonite clans camped behind the tabernacle on the west side,
The clans of the Kohathites camped on the south side of the tabernacle,
The leader of the family of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they camped on the north side of the tabernacle.
Moses, Aaron, and his sons, who performed the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites, camped in front of the tabernacle on the east, in front of the tent of meeting toward the sunrise. Any unauthorized person who came near [it] was to be put to death.
men from 30 years old to 50 years old-everyone who is qualified to do work at the tent of meeting.
Register men from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who is qualified to perform service, to do work at the tent of meeting.
Register men from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who is qualified to do the work of the tent of meeting.
men from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who was qualified for work at the tent of meeting.
those from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who was qualified for work at the tent of meeting.
from 30 years old to 50 years old, everyone who was qualified to do the work of serving at the tent of meeting and transporting [it].
From the Israelites, I have given the Levites exclusively to Aaron and his sons to perform the work for the Israelites at the tent of meeting and to make atonement on their behalf, so that no plague will come against the Israelites when they approach the sanctuary."
But also bring your brothers with you from the tribe of Levi, your ancestral tribe, so they may join you and serve with you and your sons in front of the tent of the testimony. They are to perform duties for you and for the whole tent. They must not come near the sanctuary equipment or the altar; otherwise, both they and you will die. read more. They are to join you and guard the tent of meeting, doing all the work at the tent, but no unauthorized person may come near you. "You are to guard the sanctuary and the altar so that wrath may not fall on the Israelites again. Look, I have selected your fellow Levites from the Israelites as a gift for you, assigned by the Lord to work at the tent of meeting.
The Lord told Aaron, "You will not have an inheritance in their land; there will be no portion among them for you. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.
The Israelites must never again come near the tent of meeting, or they will incur guilt and die. The Levites will do the work of the tent of meeting, and they will bear the [consequences] of their sin. The Levites will not receive an inheritance among the Israelites; this is a perpetual statute throughout your generations. read more. For I have given them the tenth that the Israelites present to the Lord as a contribution for [their] inheritance. That is why I told them that they would not receive an inheritance among the Israelites."
Those registered were 23,000, every male one month old or more; they were not registered among the [other] Israelites, because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.
Those registered were 23,000, every male one month old or more; they were not registered among the [other] Israelites, because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.
"Command the Israelites to give cities out of their hereditary property for the Levites to live in and pastureland around the cities.
"Command the Israelites to give cities out of their hereditary property for the Levites to live in and pastureland around the cities. The cities will be for them to live in, and their pasturelands will be for their herds, flocks, and all their [other] animals. read more. The pasturelands of the cities you are to give the Levites [will extend] from the city wall 500 yards on every side. Measure 1,000 yards outside the city for the east side, 1,000 yards for the south side, 1,000 yards for the west side, and 1,000 yards for the north side, with the city in the center. This will belong to them as pasturelands for the cities.
For this reason, Levi does not have a portion or inheritance like his brothers; the Lord is his inheritance, as the Lord your God told him.
"The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, will have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They will eat the Lord's fire offerings; that is their inheritance. Although Levi has no inheritance among his brothers, the Lord is his inheritance, as He promised him.
So the Israelites, by the Lord's command, gave the Levites these cities with their pasturelands from their inheritance.
Within the Israelite possession there were 48 cities in all with their pasturelands for the Levites.
The priests and the Levites brought the ark of the Lord, the tent of meeting, and the holy utensils that were in the tent.
The priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, and some of the people settled in their towns, and [the rest of] Israel [settled] in their towns.