Selection of the Priests and Levites/2

Selection of the Priests and Levites

Exegetical Approaches

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Patriarchal Period

The tribe of Levi was singled out to be Levites and Priests already in the time of the Patriarchs.

Sources:Jubilees30:17-2931:13-2732:1-15About Jubilees, Testaments of LeviTestaments of Levi 9:1-4,¹ Targum Pseudo-JonathanBereshit 32:25About Targum Pseudo-Jonathan,² TanchumaKorach 12About the Tanchuma,³ Shemot Rabbah3:175:16About Shemot Rabbah, R. Yosef KimchiShemuel I 2:27About R. David Kimchi,

Why was the Levite tribe chosen?

• Actions in Shechem – According to Jubilees, Levi's avenging of Dinah's honor in Shechem merited his future tribe to become Levites and Priests.⁴
• Moshe's Family – Shemot Rabbah in contrast, implies that it was the elevated character of Moshe's specific family that merited the positions.⁵  The midrash suggests that Moshe himself was originally destined for the priesthood, while Aharon was to be a Levite, but after Moshe's repeated refusals of Hashem's mission at the burning bush, Hashem punished him by switching the roles.

הֲנִגְלֹה נִגְלֵיתִי אֶל בֵּית אָבִיךָ...לִי לְכֹהֵן – According to R. Yosef Kimchi, this verse in Shemuel supports an early appointment, since it states that already in Egypt Hashem revealed Himself to the House of Levi and chose them to serve him as priests.

The "Kohanim" of Shemot 19 – This position could suggest that the usage of the word Kohanim here is identical to that in the rest of Tanakh, and refers to Aharon's sons who have already been appointed.   This might be supported by the similar cast of characters that are mentioned both in this verse (Moshe, Aharon, the Kohanim and nation) and in the somewhat parallel verse of Shemot 24:1 (Moshe, Aharon, Nadav and Avihu, and Elders.)⁶

Sacrifices before the Mishkan – According to this approach, the "נַעֲרֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" who bring offerings at Sinai in Shemot 24 might also refer to Aharon's sons.  It is not clear, however, why they would be referred to in this manner rather than by either their names or title.⁷   

Levites and the Golden Calf – According to this position, it is possible that the Levites were not chosen because they were the only ones to heed Moshe's call and stand for Hashem, but rather it was they who specifically stood for Hashem, because they had already been designated to serve God.

Firstborns

Before the Sin of the Golden Calf

The Priests were designated before the Sin of the Golden Calf, in preparation for the erection of the Mishkan.  This positions subdivides regarding when the Levites were chosen.

Together with the Priests

The Levites and Priests were chosen together.

Sources:R. Yosef Bekhor ShorShemot 19:22Shemot 32:26Shemot 32:29Bemidbar 3:13About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor,

After the Priests

The choosing of the Levites was distinct from the sanctification of the Priests and only occurred after the Sin of the Golden Calf.

Sources:RambanShemot 24:5Shemot 25:2Bemidbar 3:1Bemidbar 3:5Bemidbar 16:19Devarim 10:8About R. Moshe b. Nachman, AbarbanelShemot 19:22Shemot 28:1Shemot 32:29Shemot 35Bemidbar 3:11Devarim 10About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, Keli YekarShemot 28:1Bemidbar 3:13About R. Shelomo Ephraim Lunshitz

In the Aftermath of the Sin of the Golden Calf

After the nation sinned at the Golden Calf, the tribe of Levi was picked for both the priesthood and Levite positions.

Sources:R. Yehuda ibn BalaamBemidbar 3:11About R. Yehuda ibn Balaam, RashiBereshit 25:31Shemot 19:22Shemot 28:41Shemot 31:18Shemot 32:29Bemidbar 3:12Bemidbar 8:17Devarim 10:8Shemuel I 2:27About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, RashbamShemot 19:22Devarim 10:8About R. Shemuel b. Meir, Ibn EzraShemot Long Commentary 19:22Shemot Long Commentary 32:29Shemot Short Commentary 19:22Shemot Short Commentary 24:1Devarim 10:8About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, SefornoShemot 24:18Shemot 31:18Shemot 32:29Bemidbar 3:13Maamar Kavvanot HaTorah 6:13About R. Ovadyah Seforno,

¹ This source only speaks of the choosing of the priesthood.

² Targum Pseudo-Jonathan speaks of the choosing of the Tribe of Levi in general terms and does not specify if this refers to their meriting both the priesthood and Levite service or just one or the other.

³ Tanchuma also speaks of the choosing of the Tribe of Levi in general terms and does not specify if this refers to their meriting both the priesthood and Levite service or just one or the other.

⁴ Testament of LeviTestament of Levi, Targum Pseudo-JonathanBereshit 32:25About Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, and TanchumaKorach 12About the Tanchuma also present Yaakov as being the one to sanctify Levi but do not explain why he, as opposed to the other tribes, was chosen.

⁵ R. Yosef Kimchi's assertion that Hashem had appointed the Tribe of Levi while they were still in Egypt might be assuming the same.

⁶ Cf. the Hoil Moshe who identifies the commands of the two verses, suggesting that Nadav and Avihu of Shemot 24:1 is equivalent the kohanim of Shemot 19:24.

⁷ See RashiKetubot 115bAbout R. Shelomo Yitzchaki who suggests that the youth were fetched to bring the animals but they are not the subject of the pharse, "וַיַּעֲלוּ עֹלֹת".  Only Aharon's sons actually sacrificed.