What is a…
Levite

also known as: Tribe of Levi

Hebrew: לֵוִיִּי —transliteration: Leviyyi or Levi

The name “Levite” fundamentally refers to any descendant of the tribe of Levi (Exodus 6:25; Lev. 25:32; Num. 35:2; Josh. 21:3; 21:41). However, it is generally used as the title of that portion of the tribe which was set apart for the subordinate offices of the sanctuary service (1 Kings 8:4; Ezra 2:70), as assistants to the priests.

Moses and Aaron—Levites

Moses and Aaron are Levites, descendants of Levi, a son of Jacob/Israel and set apart.

When the Israelites left Egypt, the ancient manner of worship was still observed by them, the eldest son of each house inheriting the priest's office.

Not all Levites are priests (Kohen).

At Sinai the first change in this ancient practice was made. A hereditary priesthood in the family of Aaron was then instituted (Exodus 28:1). But it was not till that terrible scene in connection with the sin of idolatry with the golden calf that the tribe of Levi stood apart and began to occupy a distinct position (Exodus 32).

The religious responsibilities were then conferred to this tribe, which from then on was devoted to the service of the holy sanctuary (Num. 3:11-13).

They were selected for this purpose because of their zeal for the glory of God (Exodus 32:26), and because, as the tribe to which Moses and Aaron belonged, they would naturally stand by the lawgiver in his work.

The Levitical order

The Levitical order consisted of all the descendants of Levi’s three sons, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; whilst Aaron, Amram's son (Amram, son of Kohat), and his issue constituted the priestly order.

The age and qualifications for Levitical service are specified in Num. 4:3, 23, 30, 39, 43, 47.

They were not included among the armies of Israel (Num. 1:47; 2:33; 26:62), but were reckoned by themselves. They were the special guardians of the tabernacle (Num. 1:51; 18:22-24).

The Gershonites pitched their tents on the west of the tabernacle (Num. 3:23), the Kohathites on the south (3:29), the Merarites on the north (Num. 3:35), and the priests on the east (Num. 3:38).

It was their duty to move the tent and carry the parts of the sacred structure from place to place. They were given to Aaron and his sons the priests to wait upon them and do work for them at the sanctuary services (Num. 8:19; 18:2-6).

As being wholly consecrated to the service of the Lord, they had no territorial possessions. Jehovah was their inheritance (Num. 18:20; 26:62; Deuteronomy 10:9; 18:1-2), and for their support it was ordained that they should receive from the other tribes the tithes of the produce of the land.

Levite cities

48 cities also were assigned to the Levites, 13 of which were for the priests “to dwell in,” i.e., along with their other inhabitants. Along with their dwellings, they had “suburbs,” i.e., “commons,” for their herds and flocks, and also fields and vineyards (Numbers 35:2-5).

9 of these cities were in Judah, 3 in Naphtali, and 4 in each of the other tribes (Josh. 21).

6 of the Levitical cities were set apart as “cities of refuge”. One of these was the ancient city of Shechem.

Thus the Levites were scattered among the tribes to keep alive among them the knowledge and service of God.

List of the Levitical cities

in alphabetical order
  1. Abdon in Asher for the Gershonites
  2. Ain in Judah
  3. Almon in Benjamin
  4. Anathoth in Benjamin
  5. Ayalon Valley (Ajalon, Aijalon , Aij'alon, Ayyalon)
  6. Beeshterah (aka Be Eshterah, Ashtaroth) in Manasseh
  7. Beth-Shemesh in Judah
  8. Bethoron (Beth-Horon) in Ephraim
  9. Bezer in Reuben
  10. Daberath in Issachar
  11. Debir in Judah
  12. Dimnah in Zebulun
  13. Eltekeh in Dan
  14. En Gannim (aka Anem) in Issachar
  15. Eshtemoa in Judah
  16. Gath Rimmon in Dan
  17. Gath Rimmon in Manasseh
  18. Geba in Benjamin
  19. Gezer
  20. Gibbethon in Dan
  21. Gibeon in Benjamin
  22. Golan in Manasseh
  23. Hammoth Dor in Naphtali
  24. Helkath in Asher
  25. Heshbon (aka Hisban) in Gad
  26. Holon in Judah
  27. Jahaz in Reuben
  28. Jarmuth in Issachar
  29. Jattir in Judah
  30. Jazer in Gad (Num. 32:1; 32:3; Josh. 13:25)
  31. Jokneam in Zebulun
  32. Juttah in Judah
  33. Kartah in Zebulun
  34. Kartan in Naphtali
  35. Kedemoth in Reuben
  36. Kedesh in Upper Galilee, in Naphtali
  37. Kibzaim in Ephraim
  38. Kishion in Issachar
  39. Kirjath Arba (aka Hebron) in Judah
  40. Libnah in Judah
  41. Mahanaim in Gad
  42. Mephaath in Reuben
  43. Mishal in Asher
  44. Nahalal (Nahalal) in Zebulun
  45. Ramoth-Gilead in Gad
  46. Rehob in Asher
  47. Shechem in Ephraim
  48. Taanach (Tanach, Ta'anakh, Ti'inik, or Ti’innik) in Manasseh
  49. Jokneam (aka Jokneam Illit, Yokneam Illit, and Yokneam

Levitical cities divided between Levite families

13 cities for the Aaronites (descendants of Aaron)
13 cities for the Gershonites
10 cities for the Kohathites (Kohath)
12 cities for the Merarites (Merari)

13 Aaronite Levitical cities

  1. Almon in Benjamin
  2. Anathoth in Benjamin
  3. Geba in Benjamin
  4. Gibeon in Benjamin
  5. Ain in Judah
  6. Beth Shemesh in Judah
  7. Debir in Judah
  8. Eshtemoa in Judah
  9. Holon in Judah
  10. Jattir in Judah
  11. Juttah in Judah
  12. Kirjath Arba (aka Hebron) in Judah, but fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh
  13. Libnah in Judah

13 Gershonite Levitical cities

  1. Abdon in Asher
  2. Helkath in Asher
  3. Mishal in Asher
  4. Rehob in Asher
  5. Daberath in Issachar
  6. En Gannim (aka Anem) in Issachar
  7. Jarmuth in Issachar
  8. Kishion in Issachar
  9. Beeshterah (aka Be Eshterah, Ashtaroth) in Manasseh
  10. Golan in Manasseh
  11. Hammoth Dor in Naphtali
  12. Kartan in Naphtali
  13. Kedesh in Upper Galilee in Naphtali

10 Kohathite Levitical cities

  1. Aijalon (Ajalon) in Dan
  2. Eltekeh in Dan
  3. Gath Rimmon in Dan
  4. Gibbethon in Dan
  5. Beth Horon in Ephraim
  6. Gezer in Ephraim
  7. Kibzaim in Ephraim
  8. Shechem in Ephraim
  9. Gath Rimmon in Manasseh
  11. Tanach (Taanach) in Manasseh

12 Merarite Levitical cities

  1. Ramoth-Gilead in Gad
  2. Jazer in Gad
  3. Mahanaim in Gad
  4. Heshbon in Gad
  5. Bezer in Reuben
  6. Jahaz in Reuben
  7. Kedemoth in Reuben
  8. Mephaath in Reuben
  9. Dimnah in Zebulun
  10. Jokneam in Zebulun
  11. Kartah in Zebulun
  12. Nahalal (Nahallal) in Zebulun

Levite Cities of Refuge

See: What are the Levite Cities of Refuge?

Prophecy in the book of Revelation

Revelation 7:4–8 mentions that people from the 12 tribes of Israel will be sealed by an angel of God. Levites will be a part of the 144-thousand Israelite evangelists for Christ during The Great Tribulation.

And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:

of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;
of tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.

More information

Article Version: July 2, 2024