The Priestly source and the Blessing of Moses, which critical scholars view as originating centuries later, portray the Levites firmly established as a tribe, and as the only tribe with the right to become priests.
Are Levites and priests the same?
“The Levites were the tribe of Israelites descended from Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. The priests of Israel were a group of qualified men from within the tribe of the Levites who had responsibility over aspects of tabernacle or temple worship.
Who is a priest according to the Bible?
A priest is required to act as a mediator. He is one who represents the Divine being to His subjects and in return from them to their God. He acts as an ambassador, a chosen vehicle through whom Yahweh God has chosen to serve the people and represent Him, on His behalf.
What is the difference between a priest a Levite and a Samaritan?
The priest is the Law, the Levite is the prophets, and the Samaritan is Christ.
Which tribe of Israel were the priests?
In the tribe of Levi, Aaron and his descendants were designated as priests to serve in the Temple. God declared the first-born of every Jewish family would be designated as a Kohen, or the priest who would serve as that family’s representative at the Holy Temple.
Why did God choose Levites?
Aaron and his descendants were chosen as “God’s priesthood”, and the Levites were chosen to serve them, to serve the Tabernacle and later the Temple, to serve the people (by assuring they would not enter where they shouldn’t), and for certain Temple service (such as playing the music and singing).
Who are the Levites in the Bible?
Levite, member of a group of clans of religious functionaries in ancient Israel who apparently were given a special religious status, conjecturally for slaughtering idolaters of the golden calf during the time of Moses (Ex. 32:25–29).