- Descended from Jacob's third son Ge 29:34; Heb 7:9,10
- Prophecies respecting Ge 49:5,7; De 33:8-11
- Originally consisted for three families or divisions Nu 3:17; 1Ch 6:16-48
- Not numbered with Israel Nu 1:47-49
- Numbered separately after the people from a month old Nu 3:14-16,39
- FAMILIES, AS NUMBERED
- Of Gershom Nu 3:18,21,22
- Of Kohath Nu 3:19,27,28
- Of Merari Nu 3:20,33,34
- Chosen by God for service of the sanctuary 1Ch 15:2; Nu 3:6
- Were consecrated Nu 8:6,14
- Taken instead of the first-born of Israel Nu 3:12,13,40-45; 8:16-18
- Zeal against idolatry a cause of their appointment Ex 32:26-28; De 33:9,10
- Entered on their service at twenty-five years of age Nu 8:24
- Numbered as ministers at thirty Nu 4:3,23-49
- Superannuated at fifty Nu 8:25
- When superannuated required to perform the less arduous duties Nu 8:26
- CEREMONIES AT CONSECRATION OF
- Cleansing and purifying Nu 8:7
- Making a sin-offering for Nu 8:8,12
- Elders of Israel laying their hands on them Nu 8:9,10
- Presenting them to God as an offering for the people Nu 8:11,15
- Setting before the priest and presenting them as their offering to God Nu 8:13
- Given to Aaron and sons Nu 3:9; 8:19
- Encamped round the tabernacle Nu 1:50,52,53; 3:23,29,35
- Marched in the centre of Israel Nu 2:17
- SERVICES OF
- Ministering to the Lord De 10:8
- Ministering to priests Nu 3:6,7; 18:2
- Ministering to the people 2Ch 35:3
- Keeping the charge of the sanctuary Nu 18:3; 1Ch 23:32
- Keeping sacred instruments and vessels Nu 3:8; 1Ch 9:28,29
- Keeping sacred oil, flour, &c 1Ch 9:29,30
- Keeping sacred treasures 1Ch 26:20
- Taking charge of the tithes, offerings, &c 2Ch 31:11-19; Ne 12:44
- Doing the service of tabernacle Nu 8:19,22
- Taking down, putting up, and carrying the tabernacle, &c Nu 1:50,51; 4:5-33
- Preparing the sacrifices for the priests 1Ch 23:31; 2Ch 35:11
- Preparing the show bread 1Ch 9:31,32; 23:29
- Purifying the holy things 1Ch 23:28
- Regulating weights and measures 1Ch 23:29
- Teaching the people 2Ch 17:8,9; 30:22; 35:3; Ne 8:7
- Blessing the people De 10:8
- Keeping the gates of the temple 1Ch 9:17-26; 23:5; 2Ch 35:15; Ne 12:25
- Conducting the sacred music 1Ch 23:5-30; 2Ch 5:12,13; Ne 12:24,27-43
- Singing praises before the army 2Ch 20:21,22
- Judging and deciding in controversies De 17:9; 1Ch 23:4; 2Ch 19:8
- Guarded king's person and house in times of danger 2Ki 11:5-9; 2Ch 23:5-7
- Had no inheritance in Israel De 10:9; Jos 13:33; 14:3
- The Jews to be kind and benevolent to De 12:12,18,19; 14:29; 16:11,14
- Eight and forty cities with extensive suburbs, appointed for Nu 35:2-8
- The tithes given to, for their support Nu 18:21,24; 2Ch 31:4,5; Ne 12:44,45; Heb 7:5
- Bound to give a tenth of their tithes to the priests Nu 18:26-32
- Had a part of their offerings De 18:1,2
- DAVID
- Numbered them first from thirty years old 1Ch 23:2-3
- Divided them into four classed 1Ch 23:4-6
- By his last words had them numbered from twenty years old 1Ch 23:24,27
- Made them serve from twenty on account of the lightness of their duties 1Ch 23:26,28-32
- Subdivided into 24 courses 1Ch 23:6; 25:8-31
- Made them attend in courses 2Ch 8:14; 31:17
- Served in courses after captivity Ezr 6:18
- Had chiefs or officers over them Nu 3:24,30,35; 1Ch 15:4-10; 2Ch 35:9; Ezr 8:29
- Were all under control of the high priest's deputy Nu 3:32; 1Ch 9:20
- While in attendance lodged around the temple 1Ch 9:27
- Punished with death for encroaching on the priestly office Nu 18:3
- Punishment of Korah and others of, for offering incense Nu 16:1-35
The New Topical Text Book
Levites, the
The New Topical Text Book, R. A. Torrey (1897). Public domain, from the CrossWire SWORD module.