Service of the Levites/0
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Service of the Levites
Chosen for Service
When was the Tribe of Levi designated to assume their special responsibilities and why did they merit them?
Age of Service
While Bemidbar 4 sets 30-50 as the age of Levite service, Bemidbar 8 instead sets 25 as the lower age limit. How can this contradiction be understood?
Types of Work
What were the various functions of the Levites in the Mishkan and Mikdash?
- Transport – Bemidbar 1:50, Bemidbar 3:21-38 and Bemidbar 4 describe how it was the task of the Levites to carry the Tabernacle and its vessels. Kehat carried the various vessels, Gershon transported the curtains, and Merari was in charge of the boards.
- Assembly – The Levites (perhaps Gershon and Merari specifically) were responsible for the dismantling and erecting of the Mishkan throughout the travels in the Wilderness (see Bemidbar 1:51 and Bemidbar 10:17-21).
- Service of the Mishkan/ Priests - Bemidbar 1:50 speaks of the Levites serving the Tabernacle, while 3:6 and 18:1-3 speak of them serving Aharon.1 What is included in this "service"?
- Guard duty – Rashi, R. Yosef Kara, R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, Ralbag, all explain that this refers to assisting to guard the Tabernacle (and later Mikdash), lest a foreigner come close. This is supported by the context of each of the verses, as each is followed by a command "וְשָׁמְרוּ אֶת מִשְׁמַרְתּוֹ".
- Song - Malbim, following R. Yehuda in understands this "service" to refer to song
Supervisors
Was Elazar or Itamar assigned to supervise the Levites?
