Levites

Biblical Account

Levi was the third son born to Jacob and Leah (Genesis 29:34). The descendants of the tribe of Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, are called Levites. Moses and Aaron also came from this tribe (Exodus 6:16-20). During the golden calf incident, the sons of Levi sided with Moses (Exodus 32:26-29).

According to Numbers, God took the Levites as His own in place of the firstborn of Israel (Numbers 3:11-13). The Levites were divided into three clans, the Gershonites, the Kohathites, and the Merarites, who shared the duties of carrying and guarding the tabernacle (Numbers 3–4). The sacrificial duties belonged to the priests, the descendants of Aaron, while the other Levites assisted the priests. The Levites received no allotment of land. Instead, they received the people's tithes and in turn offered a tenth of that tithe to the priests (Numbers 18:21-26). As places to live they received forty-eight cities, including six cities of refuge (Numbers 35:6-7; Joshua 21).

Background

1 Chronicles 23–26 records that David organized the Levites as temple servants, singers, gatekeepers, and in other roles. After the return from exile, the Levites caused the people to understand the law (Nehemiah 8:7-8). In Genesis 29:34, Leah said, "Now this time will my husband be joined unto me," and named the child Levi. The name is understood as a wordplay on a word that sounds similar to "to be joined."

Significance Across Scripture

In the New Testament, a Levite appears in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:32), and Barnabas is introduced as a Levite (Acts 4:36). Hebrews 7 states that perfection could not be attained through the Levitical priesthood and explains that the priesthood of Christ after the order of Melchizedek surpasses it (Hebrews 7:11). On the basis of 1 Peter 2:9 and other passages, Protestantism emphasizes the principle of the priesthood of all believers, according to which every believer may approach God.

Interpretation and Debates

• The distinction between priests and Levites: Numbers draws a clear distinction between priests and Levites. Deuteronomy, however, uses the expression "the priests the Levites," and Ezekiel 44:10-16 restricts the duties of the Levites. Some scholars view these differences as traces of an institution that developed over time. The traditional interpretation regards them as accounts of a single institution written from different perspectives.
• Tithes and pastors: Some hold that because the Levites lived on the tithe, it is biblical today to support pastors through tithes. Others hold that the Levitical system has been fulfilled in Christ and therefore cannot be applied directly. This question is discussed in more detail in the tithing debate.

In the Korean Church

On the basis of the Levite singers in 1 Chronicles, choirs and worship teams are sometimes called "Levites" or "the tribe of Levi," and worship ministry teams are sometimes given names that include "Levi." The set-apart life of the Levites is also frequently cited in sermons urging church officers to dedication.