The Levites, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, were set apart for religious duties and service to the Lord. They were descendants of Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah. The Levites held a unique position among the tribes of Israel, as they were chosen to perform sacred duties and were not allotted a specific territory like the other tribes. Instead, they were given cities scattered throughout the land of Israel (Joshua 21:1-42).

The issue of intermarriage with Canaanites is a significant topic in the Old Testament, as God commanded the Israelites to remain separate from the surrounding nations to preserve their covenant relationship with Him. In Deuteronomy 7:3-4, the Israelites were explicitly instructed, "Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your children away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you."

While the Bible does not provide extensive details specifically about Levites intermarrying with Canaanites, the broader context of Israel's history reveals instances where the Israelites, including the priestly class, failed to adhere to this command. The book of Ezra highlights a period after the Babylonian exile when the Israelites, including priests and Levites, had taken foreign wives. Ezra 9:1-2 states, "The leaders came to me and said, 'The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices... They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them.'"

This intermarriage was seen as a serious transgression, as it threatened the purity of worship and the distinct identity of God's people. The Levites, being responsible for teaching the Law and leading worship, were expected to exemplify obedience to God's commands. Their involvement in intermarriage with Canaanites and other foreign nations was a breach of their covenantal responsibilities.

The consequences of such intermarriages were profound, often leading to idolatry and a departure from the worship of Yahweh. The influence of foreign wives could lead to the introduction of pagan practices, as seen in the case of King Solomon, whose foreign wives turned his heart after other gods (1 Kings 11:1-4).

In response to these violations, leaders like Ezra and Nehemiah took decisive action to address the issue. Ezra led a reform movement, calling the people to repentance and to separate themselves from their foreign wives (Ezra 10:10-11). Nehemiah also confronted the issue, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the sanctity of the priesthood and the community (Nehemiah 13:23-30).

The narrative of the Levites intermarrying with Canaanites serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of compromising one's faith and the importance of adhering to God's commands. It underscores the need for spiritual leaders to uphold the standards set by God and to lead by example in maintaining the purity and distinctiveness of the covenant community.Ezra 9:1,2
Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
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Ezra 10:23,24
Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
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The Israelites
... Canaanitish cities, and the Israelites intermarried with the ... the last effort of the
Canaanites against their ... The Levites also naturally attached themselves to ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

Babylonia and Assyria
... refused to listen to the Canaanites when they ... growing in power, and had intermarried
into the ... consisting mostly of priests and Levites, determined henceforward ...
/.../early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter vi babylonia and assyria.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9. <. ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of 2.htm

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