Tribe of Levi
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 first tithe. The Levites who were not Kohanim played music in the Temple or served as guards. Most scholars view the Torah as projecting the origins of the Levites into the past to explain their role as landless cultic functionaries.
Quotes about
[edit]- One could even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, actually paid tithes through Abraham, inasmuch as he was still in his father’s loins when Melchizedek met Abraham.
- Hebrews 7:9-10 NCB.
- Let Your Thummim and Your Urim be with Your holy one,
- Whom You tested at Massah,
- And with whom You contended at the waters of Meribah,
- Who says of his father and mother,
- ‘I have not seen them’;
- Nor did he acknowledge his brothers,
- Or know his own children;
- For they have observed Your word
- And kept Your covenant.
- They shall teach Jacob Your judgments,
- And Israel Your law.
- They shall put incense before You,
- And a whole burnt sacrifice on Your altar.
- Deuteronomy 33:8-10 NKJV.
- Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor take a census of them among the children of Israel; but you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the Testimony, over all its furnishings, and over all things that belong to it; they shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they shall attend to it and camp around the tabernacle.
- Numbers 1:49-50 NKJV.
- 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 to Him and to bless in His name, to this day. Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, just as the Lord your God promised him.)
- Deuteronomy 10:8-9 NKJV.
- And a man of the house of Levi went and took as wife a daughter of Levi. So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months.
- Exodus 2:1-2 NKJV.
