Topical Bible: Levites: Profits From:

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Levites, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, hold a unique and significant role in biblical history and religious practice. Descendants of Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah, the Levites were set apart for special religious duties and were integral to the spiritual life of the Israelite community. Their responsibilities and privileges are detailed throughout the Old Testament, particularly in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Role and Responsibilities

The Levites were chosen by God to serve in the tabernacle and later in the temple, assisting the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, also a Levite. Their duties included maintaining the sanctuary, performing music, and teaching the law. Numbers 3:5-10 outlines their responsibilities: "The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the Tent of Meeting by attending to the service of the tabernacle.'"

Provision and Support

Unlike the other tribes of Israel, the Levites were not allocated a specific territory in the Promised Land. Instead, they were given cities scattered throughout the land (Numbers 35:1-8). Their sustenance came from the tithes and offerings of the people. Numbers 18:21 states, "Behold, I have given the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the work of the Tent of Meeting."

The Levites were also entitled to a portion of the sacrifices and offerings brought to the temple. Deuteronomy 18:1-2 explains, "The Levitical priests—indeed the whole tribe of Levi—shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the offerings made by fire to the LORD, for that is their inheritance."

Spiritual and Social Influence

The Levites played a crucial role in the spiritual education and moral guidance of the Israelites. They were responsible for teaching the law and ensuring that the people adhered to God's commandments. This educational role is emphasized in Deuteronomy 33:10: "They shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob and Your law to Israel."

Their influence extended beyond religious duties to social and judicial matters. As custodians of the law, they were often involved in legal decisions and the administration of justice.

Conclusion

The Levites were a vital component of Israel's religious and social structure. Their unique position as servants of the tabernacle and temple, educators of the law, and recipients of the community's tithes and offerings underscores their importance in maintaining the spiritual health and cohesion of the Israelite nation. Through their dedicated service, the Levites exemplified a life of devotion and reliance on God's provision, setting a standard for faithfulness and obedience.

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Numbers 26:62
And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, all males from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.
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Deuteronomy 10:9
Why Levi has no part nor inheritance with his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD your God promised him.
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Deuteronomy 12:12,18,19
And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; for as much as he has no part nor inheritance with you.
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Deuteronomy 14:27-29
And the Levite that is within your gates; you shall not forsake him; for he has no part nor inheritance with you.
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Deuteronomy 18:1-8
The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance.
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Joshua 13:14
Only to the tribes of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said to them.
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Joshua 14:3
For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but to the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.
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Joshua 18:7
But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.
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1 Chronicles 6:54-81
Now these are their dwelling places throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the lot.
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1 Chronicles 13:2
And David said to all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good to you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad to our brothers every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves to us:
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2 Chronicles 23:2
And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.
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Ezekiel 34:1-5
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
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Library

Whether Men are Bound to Pay Tithes of all Things?
... wherewith they were able to provide a sufficient livelihood for the Levites who
had no ... of God's ministers if they did not pay tithes on their trade profits. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether men are bound to 3.htm

July 20. "Forget Also Thine Own" (Ps. Xlv. 10).
... We, too, like the ancient Levites, must be "consecrated every one upon our son ... His
alone, pursued for Him, controlled by Him, and its profits wholly dedicated ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /july 20 forget also thine.htm

The Cleansing of the Temple - the Sign,' which is not a Sign.
... Indeed, if we compute the annual Temple-tribute at about 75,000l., the bankers'
profits may have amounted to from 8,000l ... 1796] The Priests and Levites in charge ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v the cleansing of.htm

part ii.
... required to pay a tithe of their yearly increase for the support of the Levites. ...
on a sliding scale, on the principle that the greater the profits, the greater ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clark/the faithful steward/part ii.htm

Paul's Departure and Crown;
... he had passed a sentence of death upon all earthly pleasures and profits beforehand,
that ... all; as when Abraham was to offer up Isaac, and the Levites to slay ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/pauls departure and crown.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... the dedicated things: also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for ...
man; and that is, when it is by itself, for then it profits nothing (Romans 2 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

Against Jovinianus.
... when the less is put upon a level with the greater, the lower profits by comparison ...
to go over the shoulders, which was the proper dress of the Levites and of ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/against jovinianus.htm

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to ...
... Its pleasures, profits, honours, delights, and sweetnesses are enticing, and he
that hankers after these is not departed nor departing from iniquity. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a holy life the beauty.htm

Church Fabrics and Services.
... Secker hopes the clergy of his diocese will keep their churchyards 'neat and decent,
taking the profits of the herbage in such manner as may rather add beauty ...
/.../the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter x church fabrics and.htm