Levites or Moors in the Bible was a major discussion topic in Bible Studies, April 13, 2018. While I was doing the research, I saw the name, “Shiloh,” a tabernacle. Growing up a teenager, I used to go to a Seventh Day Adventist Church by the name of Shiloh. I am getting confirmation I am on the right path.

Who are the Levites?

Levi was Jacob’s third son by Leah. That makes Levi the ancestral father of the Levites. ~Exodus 6:25. Yahuwah appointed the Levites as priests of the tabernacle. They inherited no land because Yahuwah had a purpose for them. The book of Leviticus discusses the Levites in great depth.

The short Background story of Levi

After the rape of Dinah, Levi’s sister,  he avenged her defilement by murdering Shekem, his father, Chamor, and the rest of the males associated with them. Simeon, Levi’s brother, took part in the massacre. ~Genesis 34:25-31-Holy Bible. ~Bere’shiyth 34:25-31-Cepher.

Jacob did not forget Levi and Simeon’s act of violence. He repeated the disapproval of their deed on his deathbed. As a result, he passed them over and gave blessings to the first-born (forfeited by Reuben) to Judah, his fourth son. ~Genesis 29:35. Reuben forfeited because he slept with Jacob’s concubine. ~Genesis 35:22.

Levi had three sons, Gershom, Kohath, and Merari, making the clan three tribal bloodlines. Levi was 137 years old when he passed away.

An in-depth role of the Levites

Yahuwah entrusted the Levites to watch over the tabernacle. They took a stand against the Israelites for their actions on Mount Sinai. The Israelites built a golden calf and worshipped it instead of Yahuwah during Moses’ absence. They became impatient and acted on their accord.

When Moses returned, he asked if anyone wanted to stand by his side to right the wrongs committed. The Levites volunteered and pledged allegiance to Yahuwah with great enthusiasm. ~Genesis 32:26.

So, Yahuwah chose the Levites as his noteworthy servants to do religious duties belonging to the first-born. The Levites slew all the men and their brothers who had sinned and went against Yahuwah. Genesis 32:27-29.

Specific duties of the Levites

The Levites had specific duties to perform, so they separated themselves into two classes. One group (descendants of Aaron) acted as priests or mediators between Yahuwah and men. ~Deuteronomy 33:9-10. Plus, they performed sacrifices and did other services in the sanctuary.

The other group transported the tabernacle into the wilderness, erected and took care. They helped the priests in other duties required of them as attendants to the temple.

During the reign of David, they reorganized the group. Instead of two classes, they had four. ~1 Chronicles chapters 24-26. See list below for the four classes:

1. Assistants to the priests with sanctuary work
2. Singers and musicians
3. Gatekeepers
4. Judges and writers

Where did the Levites Settle?

Yahuwah commanded Moses to choose cities in Canaan so the Levites could settle there.

Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasturelands around the towns. ~Numbers 35:2.

Then they will have towns to live in and pasturelands for the cattle they own and all their other animals. ~Numbers 35:3.

Part of their inheritance was to act as priests and helpers of priests in the tabernacle. They had the highest spiritual service. They taught the people The Most Highs laws and instructed them to worship Yahuwah. The Levites took turns doing their duties in Shiloh, the tabernacle.

Division of the land

Joshua gave the tribe of Levi 48 cities in Canaan. The priests had thirteen (13) cities in which to settle. The remaining 35 towns went to the other Levites. ~Joshua 21:1-43. The separation of the properties was a fulfillment of Yahuwah’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Israelites owned Canaan. ~Genesis 15:13-21.

After they divided up the land, the Levites had the responsibility of driving out the remaining Canaanites in the surrounding area. The Canaanites had committed atrocities against Yahuwah, so Yahuwah outlawed them.

But the forested hill country as well. Clear it and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.  ~Joshua 17:18

Here are the Tribes of Levi in the allotted area:

• Southern Canaan

The tribe of Judah and Simeon had a dry and open grazing land.

• Central Canaan

The tribe of Benjamin, Ephraim, Dan, and a half of Manasseh had small farms between the hills.

• Northern Canaan

The tribe of Asher, Issachar, Naphtali, and Zebulun had the sizable fertile valley and the sea.

Special inheritance to Caleb

Caleb, a Levite, received an extraordinary inheritance from Joshua. He gave a more in-depth report to Joshua about Canaan. Plus, Yahuwah had instructed Moses that Caleb could have ownership of the land.

See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land the LORD swore he would give to your fathers–to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob–and to their descendants after them. ~Deuteronomy 1:8

Caleb drove the giants out of Hebron. They went to live in cities along the seashore with other enemies of Israel. This part of the story mirrors what is taking place today. A fierce enemy of Israel called the Philistines lived by the Mediterranean coast. Today, they are fighting over land possession.

Levites in other areas

The Levites were spiritual and tasked to spread the laws of The Most Highs. They taught both the mental and physical aspect. ~Numbers 1:48-54. Today, you can find Levites in places like Haiti, Jamaica, West Indies, and the rest of the Caribbean.

The Haitians had voodoo priests or mediators just like the Levites in the land of Canaan. They helped others to seek the teachings of The Most Highs. The Haitians had sanctuaries throughout the area just like the priests in Canaan. ~Numbers 18:1, 21.

The Levites in Jamaica, West Indies, became the Maroons. They had Obeah man. The practice is like the Haitian’s Voodoo. The Levites or Maroons in Jamaica fought using guerrilla warfare like the Israelites. They used the same tools such as the “Abeng” made from a cow horn when they fought wars. ~Numbers 10:1-9.

Conclusion

The Levite’s purpose was to serve as priests and helpers of priests in the tabernacle. Part of their responsibilities was to drive out the lawless people of Canaan whom Yahuwah had banished for their evil ways. They taught the people the laws of The Most Highs. The Levites had to have a place to live, so Yahuwah instructed Moses to give land to them to settle and rear cattle.