Difference between revisions of "Service of the Levites/0"
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<li><b>Transport</b> – <a href="Bemidbar1-50-53" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 1:50</a>, <a href="Bemidbar3-21-38" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 3:21-38</a> and <a href="Bemidbar4" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 4</a> 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.</li> | <li><b>Transport</b> – <a href="Bemidbar1-50-53" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 1:50</a>, <a href="Bemidbar3-21-38" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 3:21-38</a> and <a href="Bemidbar4" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 4</a> 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.</li> | ||
| − | <li><b>Assembly</b> – The Levites ( | + | <li><b>Assembly</b> – The Levites (perhaps Gershon and Merari specifically) were responsible for the dismantling and erecting of the Mishkan throughout the travels in the Wilderness (see <a href="Bemidbar1-50-53" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 1:51</a> and <a href="Bemidbar10-13-21" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 10:17-21</a>).</li> |
| − | <li><b>Service of the Mishkan/ Priests</b> - Bemidbar 1:50 speaks of the Levites serving the Tabernacle, while 3:6 and 18:1-3 speak of serving Aharon.<fn>Bemidbar 8:26 also uses the verb "שרת" but this verse is speaking of the older Levites serving with the | + | <li><b>Service of the Mishkan/ Priests</b> - Bemidbar 1:50 speaks of the Levites serving the Tabernacle, while 3:6 and 18:1-3 speak of them serving Aharon.<fn>Bemidbar 8:26 also uses the verb "שרת" but this verse is speaking of the older Levites serving (with) the other Levites in the Tabernacle, in contrast to "working" in the Tabernacle.</fn> What is included in this "service"?</li> |
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| − | <li>Guard duty - Rashi,</li> | + | <li>Guard duty – <multilink><a href="RashiBemidbar3-6" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiBemidbar3-6" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 3:6</a><a href="RashiBemidbar18-2" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 18:2</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYosefKaraBemidbar3-6" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Kara</a><a href="RYosefKaraBemidbar3-6" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 3:6</a><a href="R. Yosef Kara" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Kara</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBemidbar3-6" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorBemidbar3-6" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 3:6</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RalbagBemidbar3-6" data-aht="source">Ralbag</a><a href="RalbagBemidbar3-6" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 3:6</a><a href="RalbagBemidbar18-2-3" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 18:2-3</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershom</a></multilink>, 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".</li> |
| + | <li>Song - Malbim, following R. Yehuda in  understands this "service" to refer to song</li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
Version as of 01:43, 11 June 2019
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?
