Topical Bible: The Law of Moses: Priests and Levites to Teach

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In the Law of Moses, the roles of the priests and Levites were integral to the spiritual and communal life of Israel. These roles were divinely appointed, with specific duties and responsibilities, including the crucial task of teaching the people the statutes and commandments of God.

Priestly Role in Teaching

The priests, descendants of Aaron, were entrusted with the sacred duty of offering sacrifices and maintaining the sanctity of the Tabernacle and later the Temple. However, their responsibilities extended beyond ritualistic functions to include the teaching of God's Law. In Leviticus 10:11, the Lord commands Aaron and his sons, "You must teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given them through Moses" . This directive underscores the priestly obligation to instruct the people in the divine laws, ensuring that the community lived in accordance with God's will.

The priests served as mediators between God and the people, not only through sacrifices but also by imparting knowledge and understanding of the Law. This educational role was essential for maintaining the covenant relationship between God and Israel, as ignorance of the Law could lead to disobedience and divine judgment.

Levites as Teachers

The Levites, a broader group within the tribe of Levi, were also charged with teaching responsibilities. While not all Levites were priests, they played a supportive role in the religious life of Israel. Deuteronomy 33:10 highlights their teaching function: "They shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob and Your law to Israel" . The Levites assisted the priests and were dispersed throughout the land to ensure that the knowledge of God's Law was accessible to all Israelites.

The Levites' role in teaching was particularly important during times of national reform and revival. For instance, during the reign of King Jehoshaphat, the Levites were sent throughout Judah to teach the Law, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 17:9: "They taught throughout Judah, having with them the Book of the Law of the LORD, and they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people" . This initiative was crucial in turning the hearts of the people back to God and reinforcing the covenantal relationship.

The Importance of Teaching in the Law of Moses

The emphasis on teaching within the Law of Moses reflects the importance of knowledge and understanding in the life of God's people. The priests and Levites were not only custodians of the Law but also its interpreters and educators. Their teaching ensured that the Israelites knew how to live in a manner pleasing to God, fostering a community grounded in righteousness and justice.

The teaching role of the priests and Levites also served to preserve the identity and distinctiveness of Israel as God's chosen people. By faithfully transmitting the Law, they helped to maintain the cultural and spiritual heritage of the nation, ensuring that each generation understood its covenantal obligations and the blessings of obedience.

In summary, the Law of Moses established the priests and Levites as essential teachers of God's commandments, a role that was vital for the spiritual health and continuity of the Israelite community. Through their instruction, the people were equipped to live in accordance with God's will, upholding the covenant and experiencing the blessings of a life aligned with divine truth.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 33:8-10
And of Levi he said, Let your Thummim and your Urim be with your holy one, whom you did prove at Massah, and with whom you did strive at the waters of Meribah;
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Nehemiah 8:7
Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
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Malachi 2:7
For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
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Library

Was Moses "A Literary Fiction"?
... the critics, who informs us that this was "written in the law of Moses the man of ...
Pentateuch, for he writes in chapter vi.18: "They set the priests in their ...
/.../iii was moses a literary.htm

The Earlier Hebrew Histories.
... kings of Judah, Jehoshaphat, to have certain princes, priests, and Levites ... is the
first intimation, after the death of Moses, that the law delivered by ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter iv the earlier hebrew.htm

Formation and History of the Hebrew Canon.
... book out of that which is before the priests the Levites ... in the words "this book
of the law," Deut.31 ... in all essential respects, from the pen of Moses have been ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xv formation and history.htm

Ezra, the Priest and Scribe
... and became "a ready scribe in the law of Moses." Verse 6 ... not do the law of thy God,
and the law of the ... all the people of Israel and of the priests and Levites ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 50 ezra the priest.htm

Altar and Temple
... to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of ...
vestments; and the narrator emphasises the fact that the priests were 'in ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/altar and temple.htm

Deuteronomy
... was written by Moses"eg, "when Moses had made ... clearly rests upon the older law, but
deliberately ... sharp and important distinction between priests and Levites ...
/.../mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/deuteronomy.htm

In the Temple at the Feast of Tabernacles.
... of a specific command making exception to the general law. ... was the prophet spoken
of by Moses (Deuteronomy 18 ... therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxxviii in the temple at.htm

Prayer and the House of God
... were alive to the situation, and, on one occasion, the priests, Levites and people ...
unto Ezra the scribe, to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the ...
/.../bounds/the necessity of prayer/xiv prayer and the house.htm

Letter Liii. To Paulinus.
... The apostle Paul learned the Law of Moses and the ... of Saul Samuel shews the abolition
of the old law. ... to their native land, we read of priests and Levites, of ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter liii to paulinus.htm

John's First Testimony to Jesus.
... he denounced their wickedness and incurred their hatred] from Jerusalem priests
and Levites ... any other ordinance than those provided for by the law of Moses? ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xx johns first testimony to.htm