or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, Or a man that is broken-footed, or broken-handed. Or crook-backt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken: No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God. He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy: Only he shall not go in unto the vall, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them. And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel. Num. iv, 47. From thirty years old and upward, even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation. Num. vill, 24-26. This is it that belongeth unto the Levites; From twenty and five years old and ward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: And from the age of filty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve.no more; But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge. them, were seven thousand and Take the sum of the sons of Ko- 1 Chron. xxiii, 24-27. These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward. For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever: And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the ta bernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof. For, by the last words of David, the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above. THREE CLASSES. GERSHON, KOHATH, AND MERARI. Num. iii, 21-24, 27, 28, 33, 34. Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites. Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation; Even those that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty. These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number, according to the commandment of the LORD. And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, From thirty years old and upward, even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation; Even those that were numbered of them, after their fa milies, were three thousand and two hundred. These be those lies of the sons of Merari, whom that were numbered of the famiMoses and Aaron numbered, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses. All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron, and the chief of Israel, numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers. INFERIOR TO THE PRIESTS. Num. iii, 6, 7, 9. Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation, before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle. And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron, and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel. Num. viii, 22. And after that service in the tabernacle of the went the Levites in to do their before his sons: as the LORD had congregation before Aaron, and the Levites, so did they unto commanded Moses concerning them. Num. xviii, 2, 6. And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee but thon and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness. And I, behold, I have taken your bre thren the Levites from among the children of Israel; to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. 1 Chron. xxili, 29, 31, 32. Because tuary, and the charge of the altar: | and Shemiramoth, and Jehlel, and their office was to wait on the that there be no wrath any more Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and sons of Aarou, for the service of upon the children of Israel. Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and the house of the LORD, in the Neither must the children of Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and courts, and in the chambers, and Israel henceforth come nigh the Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the porters. in the purifying of all holy things, tabernacle of the congregation, and the work of the service of the lest they bear sin, and die. But house of God; And to offer all the Levites shall do the service of burnt-sacrifices unto the LORD in the tabernacle of the congregathe sabbaths, in the new-moons, tion, and they shall bear their and on the set feasts, by number, iniquity. It shall be a statute for according to the order command-ever throughout your generations, ed unto them, continually before that among the children of Israel the LORD; And that they should they have no inheritance. keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD. DUTIES. GENERAL CHARGE OF SACRED 1 Chron. vi, 48. Their brethren also the Levites were appointed tabernacle of the house of God. unto all manner of service of the 1 Chron. ix, 26--32. For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. And they lodged round about the house of Num. 1, 50, 51, 53. But thou shalt God, because the charge was upon appoint the Levites over the taber-them, and the opening thereof nacle of testimony, and over all every morning pertained to them. the vessels thereof, and over all And certain of them had the things that belong to it: they shall charge of the ministering vessels, bear the tabernacle, and all the that they should bring them in vessels thereof; and they shall and out by tale. And Mattithiah, shall one of the Levites, who was the minister unto it, and encamp round about the taber- first-born of Shallum the Korabite, nacle. And when the tabernacle had the set office over the things setteth forward; the Levites shall that were made in the pans. And take it down; and when the other of their brethren, of the sons tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be Do wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony. Num. iii, 8. And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. Num. viii, 19. And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel; that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary. Num. xviii, 3-5, 22, 23. And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vesBels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they nor ye also die. And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the taber nacle and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you, And ye shall keep the charge of the sano of the Kohathites, were over the Sabbath. 1 Chron. xv, 11-18. And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. So the priests and the Levites sanctifled themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders, with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded, according to the word of the LORD. And David spake to the chief of the Levites, to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries, and harps, and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushalah: And with them their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, 1 Chron. xvi, 37, 38. So he left there. before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required: And Obed-edom, with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obed-edom also the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, to be porters. 1 Chron. xxili, 4, 25, 26. Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD, and six thousand were officers and judges: For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever: And also unto the Levites they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof. 8 Chron. Xxx, 22. And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace-offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers. 2 Chron. xxxiv, 13. Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that Wrought the work in any manner of service and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters. 2 Chron. xxxv, 4, 5. And pre pare yourselves by the houses after your of your fathers, courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son. And stand in the holy place, according to the divisions of the fathers of your brethren the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites. Jozabad, of the chief of the Le- SPECIAL CHARGE OF THE GERSHON. Num. til, 25, 26. And the charge of the sons of Gershon, in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it, for all the service thereof. Num. iv, 24-28. This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens. And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering of the badgers' skins that is above upon it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and their cords, and but they shall not touch any holy 1 Chron. xxiii, 5, 30. Moreover, four thousand were porters, and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise there with. And to stand every morn ing to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even. 2 Chron. xxiii, 18. Also Jehola da appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed' in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David. hathites from among the Levites: all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them: BO shall they serve. At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the Bons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them charge all their burdens. This is the service of the families of the sonsof Gershon in the tabernacleof the congregation: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. KOHATH. Num. ii, 29-31. The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward. And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary, wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service there21. Num. iv, 4. This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath, in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things. MERARI. Num. ill, 35-37. And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abiliail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward. And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the Bockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth there to, And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords. Num. iv, 15, 18-20, 81-33. And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to Bet forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it THEIR CONNECTION WITH THE Deut. x, 8. At that time the 1 Chron. vl, 31, 32. And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest. And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem; and then they waited on their office according to their order. 1 Chron. ix, 33, 34. And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free; for they were employed in that work day and night. These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations: these dwelt at Jerusalem. 1 Chron. xvi, 4, 41. And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel. And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever. 2 Chron. xxxi, 2. And Hezekiah courses of the priests, and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt-offerings, and for peaceofferings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD. 2 Chron. xxxiv, 12. And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshuliam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and others of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of musick. in their place, according to the 2 Ohron. xxxv, 15. And the singers, the sons of Asaph, were commandment the king's seer, and the porters of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun waited at every gate: they might not depart from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them. Neh. xil, 24. And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Shere biah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God ward over against ward. CHARGE OF THE TEMPLE GATES. 1 Chron. xxvi, 12, 13. Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the LORD. And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate. 1 Chron. xxvi, 14-19. And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah: then for Zechariah his son (a wise counsellor) they cast lọts, and his lot came out northward. To Obed-edom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim. To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shall cheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward. Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two. At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar. These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari. 2 Chron. xxxv, 15. . . . . . And the porters waited at every gate; they might not depart from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them. commandment them together to the river that freed from being bond-men, and 2 Chron. xxiil, 19. And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter in. Neh. xil, 25, 26. Mattanlah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters, keeping the ward, at the thresholds of the gates. in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest the scribe. WANDERING LEVITES. Deut. xviii, 6, 7. And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the LORD shall choose; Then he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, which stand there before the LORD. 8. NETHINIMS. Joshua ix, 14-27. And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. And it came to pass, at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them. And the Judges xvil, 7-13. And there was children of Israel journeyed, and a young man out of Beth-lehemcame unto their cities on the judah of the family of Judah, who third day. Now their cities were was a Levite, and he sojourned Gibeon," and Chephiral, and there. And the man departed out Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim. And of the city from Beth-lehem-judah the children of Israel smote them to sojourn where he could find a not, because the princes of the place: and he came to Mount Eph-congregation had sworn unto raim, to the house of Micah, as he them by the LORD God of Israel. Journeye. And Micah said unto And all the congregation murhim, Whence comest thou? And mured against the princes. But he said unto him, I am a Levite of all the princes said unto all the Beth-lehem-judah, and I go to 80- congregation, We have sworn journ where I may find a place. unto them by the LORD God of And Micah said unto him, Dwell Israel: now therefore we may not with me, and be unto me a father touch them. This we will do to and a priest, and I will give thee them; we will even let them live, ten shekels of silver by the year, lest wrath be upon us, because of and a suit of apparel, and thy vic- the oath which we sware unto tuals. So the Levite went in. And them. And the princes said unto the Levite was content to dwell them, Let them live; but let them with the man; and the young man be hewers of wood, and drawers was unto him as one of his sons. of water, unto all the congrega And Micah consecrated the Levite; tion; as the princes had promised and the young man became his them. And Joshua called for priest, and was in the house of them, and he spake unto them, Micah. Then said Micab,. Now saying, Wherefore have ye beknow I that the LORD will do me guiled us, saying, We are very far good, seeing I have a Levite to from you; when ye dwell among us? Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be my priest. Ezra vili, 15-19. And I gathered Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name. 4. OTHER SACRED PERSONS. JEWISH ELDERS. Exod. xxiv, 9, 13, 14. Then went up Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God. And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them. LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto Num. xi, 16, 24, 30. And the me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congre gation, that they may stand there with thee. And Moses went out, and told the people the words of of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel. Ruth iv, 2. And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. Lam. iv, 16. The anger of the LORD hath divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders. THE NAZARITES. Num. vi, 2--4. Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a Vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD; He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine-tree, from the kernels even to the husk. Judges xiii, 4-7, 12-14. Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine, nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing. For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name. But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death. And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass: how shall we order the child? and how shall we do unto him? And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware. She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe. Amos ii, 11, 12. And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD. But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets saying, Prophesy not. HIS PECULIAR RITUAL. Num. vi, 5-12. All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head; until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body. He shall not make him self unclean for his father, or for mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die; because the consecration of his God is upon his head. All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD. And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it. And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And the prfest shall offer the one for a sin-offering, and the make an atonement for him, for other for a burnt-offering, and that he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day. And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespassoffering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled. Judges xvi, 17, 19, 20. That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been & Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. And she made him sleep upon her knees: and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out, as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him. END OF HIS TERM. leavened bread: the priest shall offer also his meat-offering, and his drink - offering. And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace-offerings. And the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and one unleaven ed cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazarite, after the hair of his separation is shaven. And the priest shall wave them for a wave holy for the priest, with the wave offering before the LORD: this is breast and heave shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink wine. This is the law of the Nazarite who hath vowed, and of his offering unto the LORD for his separation, besides that that his hand shall get: according to the vow which he vowed, so he must do after the law of his separation. LEVITES AND THEIR of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his 1 Chron. xv, 5-10. Of the sons brethren an hundred and twenty. Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty. Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and thirty. Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred. Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore. Of the sons of Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve. COURSES OF PRIESTS. 1 Chron. xxiii, 6. And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. are the divisions of the sons of 1 Chron. xxiv, 1-31. Now these Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abilu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had and Ithamar executed the priest's no children; therefore Eleazar office. And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the offices in their service. And there sons of Ithamar, according to their were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided: among Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sous of Ithamar, according to the house of their fathers. Thus were thev the Bons of |