Selection of the Priests and Levites/2

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Selection of the Priests and Levites

Exegetical Approaches

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Before the Exodus

The tribe of Levi was singled out to be Levites and Priests already in Egypt, and were perhaps chosen even as early as the Patriarchal Period.

Why was the Levite tribe chosen?
  • Actions in Shechem – According to many of these sources4 it was Yaakov who sanctified the tribe of Levi for Hashem.  Jubilees maintains that this was a reward for Levi's avenging of Dinah's honor in Shekhem.5
  • Moshe's Family – Shemot Rabbah and R"Y Kimchi, in contrast, suggest that the appointment occurred first in Egypt, with Shemot Rabbah implying that it was the elevated character of Moshe's specific family that merited the positions.6  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. Shemot Rabbah5:16About Shemot Rabbah adds that the tribe had special status in Egypt, not sharing in the bondage of the rest of the nation.7
"בָּעֵת הַהִוא הִבְדִּיל י"י אֶת שֵׁבֶט הַלֵּוִי" – This verse seems to suggest that the tribe was first chosen after the Sin of the Golden Calf8.  These sources would suggest that though Levi had been singled out much earlier, it was first with construction of the Mishkan, after the sin, that service was official, with a permanent, regulated  character.
The "כֹּהֲנִים" of Shemot 19 – This position could suggest that the word Kohanim here refers to the same people as it does in the rest of Tanakh:  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, or the representatives of the nation).9
Sacrifices before the Mishkan – These sources might maintain the "נַעֲרֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" who bring offerings at Sinai in Shemot 24  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.10
Levites and the Golden Calf – According to this position, it is possible that it was only the Levites who heeded Moshe's call and stood against the idolatry of the Calf specifically because they had already been designated to serve God.11
Status of Firstborns – This approach might maintain that the first-borns never held any Levite or priestly status.  They were sanctified in Egypt because they had been saved from the Plague of  First-borns,12 but this was not accompanied by any cultic role.13
Switching of Levites and Firtsborns – If the firstborns never played a cultic role, it is not clear what it means that the Levites were chosen to serve in their stead.  These sources might explain that the redemption
Korach's Rebellion

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

After the Priests

In the Aftermath of the Sin of the Golden Calf