Dictionary of Bible Themes Dictionary of Bible Themes » 7000 God's people » 7300 Institutions and culture of OT » 7390 Levites Assistants to the Aaronic priests, they exercised an auxiliary ministry, caring for the tabernacle. After the ark was brought to Jerusalem by David their role was re-ordered and extended. They were reconsecrated during the reforms of Josiah and Hezekiah and recommissioned by Ezra and Nehemiah when the Israelites returned from captivity. The Levites and the care of the tabernacle The Levites are to transport, erect and guard the tabernacle Numbers 1:48-53 See also Numbers 2:17; Deuteronomy 10:8 The Gershonite branch of the Levites are to care for the coverings and curtains of the tabernacle Numbers 3:25-26 See also Numbers 4:24-27 The Kohathite branch of the Levites are to care for the furnishings of the sanctuary Numbers 3:31 See also Numbers 4:4-20 The Merarite branch of the Levites are to care for the frames of the tabernacle Numbers 3:36-37 See also Numbers 4:29-33 The Levites are to have an auxiliary ministry Numbers 3:5-10 See also Numbers 8:19; Numbers 18:1-7 The Levites are set apart for their ministry Numbers 8:20-21 See also Numbers 8:5-15 The Levites' period of service was between the ages of 25 and 50 Numbers 8:23-26 See also Numbers 4:1-3 Some suggest that the reason for the discrepancy in ages between Numbers chapters 4 and 8 is that the Levites had to serve an apprenticeship for the first five years. Occasions after the settlement when the Levites transport the ark 1 Samuel 6:15; 2 Samuel 15:24; 1 Kings 8:3-5 pp 2 Chronicles 5:4-6; 1 Chronicles 15:1-16 David re-orders and extends the role of the Levites 1 Chronicles 23:2-6 See also 1 Chronicles 6:31-49; Corinthians 16:4-6; 1 C 24-32; 1 C 1-26:32 Hezekiah and Josiah rededicate the Levites 2 Chronicles 29:3-36; 2 C 1-6 Ezra and Nehemiah recommission the Levites after the return from exile Ezra 6:16-18 See also Nehemiah 12:22-26 Ezekiel prophesies a restored but restricted role for the Levites in the new temple See also
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