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
And Eleazar the son of Aaron, took to him from the daughters of Putiel, for a wife; and she will bare to him Phinehas: these the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their tribes.
And thou, bring thou Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from the midst of the sons of Israel, for him to be a priest to me, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, sons of Aaron.
And Moses will stand in the gate of the camp, and will say, Who for Jehovah? to me. And all the sons of Levi will assemble together to him.
And the cities of the Levites, the houses of the cities of their possession, redemption shall be always to the Levites.
And the Levites for the tribe of their fathers were not reviewed in the midst of them.
And in the removing of the dwelling the Levites shall take it down, and in pitching the dwelling, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger coming near shall die.
And the,Levites were not reviewed in the midst of the sons of Israel; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
And Jehovah will speak to Moses, saying, And I, behold, I took the Levites from the midst of the sons of Israel, instead of all the first-born cleaving the womb from the sons of Israel: and the Levites were to me. read more. For to me all the first-born: in the day I struck all the first-born in the land of Egypt, I consecrated to me every first-born in Israel, from man to cattle: to me they shall be: I am Jehovah.
The families of the sons of Kohath shall encamp by the thigh of the tent to the south.
And the chief of the house of the father to the families of Merari, Zuriel, son of Abihail: by the thigh of the dwelling shall they encamp to the north.
And they encamping before the dwelling eastward before the tent of appointment, from the sunrising, Moses and Aaron and his sons, watching the watches of the holy place, for the watches of the sons of Israel; and the stranger coming near shall die.
From the son of thirty years and above, and to the son of fifty years, all coming in to war to do the works of the tent of appointment
From the son of thirty years and above, even to the son of fifty years, thou shalt review them; all going, to war the warfare, to serve the service in the tent of appointment
From the son of thirty years and above, and even to the son of fifty years, thou shalt review them all going forth to war, to serve the service of the tent of appointment
From the son of thirty years and above, even to the son of fifty years, all going forth to war, for the service in the tent of appointment,
From the son of thirty years, even to the son of fifty years, all going forth to war, for the service in the tent of appointment;
From the son of thirty years and above, and even to the son of fifty years, all going forth to serve the works of the service, and the works of lifting up in the tent of appointment;
And I will give the Levites, being given to Aaron and to his sons, from the midst of the sons of Israel, to work the works of the sons of Israel in the tent of appointment, and to expiate for the sons of Israel: and there shall not be a blow among the sons of Israel, in the sons of Israel coming to the holy place.
And also thy brethren, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou near with thee, and they shall be joined to thee, and they shall serve thee: and thou and thy sons with thee, before the tent of testimony. And they watched thy watches, and the watches of all the tent: but to the vessels of the holy place, and to the altar they shall not come near, and they shall not die, also they, also ye. read more. And they were joined to thee, and they watched the watches of the tent of appointment for all the service of the tent: and the stranger shall not come near to you And ye watched the watches of the holy place, and the watches of the altar; and anger shall no more be upon the sons of Israel. And I, behold, I took your brethren the Levites from the midst of the sons of Israel: to you being given a gift to Jehovah to serve the services of the tent of appointment
And Jehovah will say to Aaron, In their land thou shalt not inherit, and a portion shall not be to thee in the midst of them. I am thy portion and thine inheritance in the midst of the sons of Israel.
And the sons of Israel shall no more come near the tent of appointment, to bear sin and to die. And it is the Levite serving the service of the tent of appointment, and they shall bear their iniquity a law forever to your generations, and in the midst of the sons of Israel they shall not inherit an inheritance. read more. For the tenth of the sons of Israel which they shall lift up to Jehovah, an offering I gave to the Levites to inherit: for this I said to them, In the midst of the sons of Israel they shall not inherit an inheritance.
And they being reviewed will be three and twenty thousand, every male from the son of a month and above: for they were not reviewed in the midst of the sons of Israel, for an inheritance was not given to them in the midst of the sons of Israel.
And they being reviewed will be three and twenty thousand, every male from the son of a month and above: for they were not reviewed in the midst of the sons of Israel, for an inheritance was not given to them in the midst of the sons of Israel.
Command the sons of Israel, and they gave to the Levites from the inhentance of their possession, cities to dwell in; and areas to the cities round about them shall ye give to the Levites
Command the sons of Israel, and they gave to the Levites from the inhentance of their possession, cities to dwell in; and areas to the cities round about them shall ye give to the Levites And the cities were to them to dwell in; and their areas shall be for their cattle, and for their horses, and for all their beasts. read more. And the areas of the cities which ye shall give to the Levites from the wall of the city and without, a thousand cubits round about And ye measured from without the city the east side two thousand cubits, and the south side two thousand by the cubit, and the side of the sea two thousand by the cubit, and the north side two thousand by the cubit; and the city in the midst: this shall be to them the areas of the cities.
For this, there was not to Levi a portion and an inheritance with his brethren; Jehovah, he is his inheritance, as Jehovah thy God spake to him.
There shall not be to the priests the Levites, all the tribe of Levi, part and inheritance with Israel: the sacrifices of Jehovah and his inheritance they shall eat And an inheritance shall not be to him in the midst of his brethren: Jehovah, he is his inheritance, as he spake to him.
And the sons of Israel will give to the Levites out of their inheritance at the mouth of Jehovah these cities and their areas.
All the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the sons of Israel, forty and eight cities and their areas
And they will bring up the ark of Jehovah, and the tent of appointment, and all the holy vessels which were in the tent, and the priests and the Levites will bring them up.