H3881. Leviyyi

or Levi II. לֵוִי‎₂₉₁ adjective, of a people Levite; — לֵוִי‎, 40 t.; plural לֵוִיִּם‎250t.; suffix לְוִיֵּנוּ‎ Nehemiah 10:1; —

l. singular of individual, ל ׳אִישׁ‎ Judges 19:1 a certain Levite; predicate ל ׳וְהוּא‎ 17:1 and he was a Levite, so 17:9; with article ׳הַלּ‎ as substantive the Levite Exodus 4:11 (J), Judges 17:10-11, 12, 13 (as priest), Deuteronomy 18:6; 2 Chronicles 20:14; 31:12, 14; Ezra 10:15; הַלּ ׳הַנַּעַר‎ Judges 18:3, 15; הַלּ ׳הָאִישׁ‎ 20:4. Sg. usually

2 with article הַלֵּוִי‎ as substantive collective the Levites: Exodus 6:19; Numbers 3:20, 32; 26:57 (all P); 18:23 (P; charged with service of tabernacle); especially D, Deuteronomy 12:12, 18, 19; 14:27, 29; 16:1, 14; 26:10, 12, 13; also 1 Chronicles 24:6; Malachi 2:8 (as priestly tribe); הַלּ ׳שֵׁבָט‎ Deuteronomy 10:8 tribe of the Levites (set apart for service), compare Joshua 13:14, 33; 1 Chronicles 23:14; בְּנֵיהַֿלֵּוִי‎ 12:27 (van d. H v.12:26) sons of the Levites (i.e. of the tribe); so Nehemiah 10:40 (as tithe-collectors); הַלֵּוִי בֵּית‎ Psalm 135:20 house (family, tribe) of the Levites.

3 plural לְוִיִּם‎ chiefly Chronicles and P; — always with article ַהלְוִיִּם‎ except suffix לוִיֵּנוּ‎ Nehemiah 10:1; the article is omitted by ᵑ9 ᵐ5‎ and most in Isaiah 66:21; always = substantive Levites; — 1

a. earlier usage: — as bearing the ark 1 Samuel 6:15; 2 Samuel 15:24; Deuteronomy 31:25, so (with priests) 1 Kings 8:4 2 Chronicles 5:5 (HCT הַל ׳הכהנים‎; read probably ׳וְהַל‎ as in Kings, ᵑ9 ᵑ6 ᵐ5‎ compare Öttli VB); also 1Chronicles is 1 Chronicles 15:2, 26, 27; 23:26; 2 Chronicles 5:4 (for הכהנים‎ "" 1 Kings 8:3).

b. not distinguished from priests by D: הַל ׳הַכֹּהֲנִים‎ Deuteronomy 17:9, 18; 18:1; 24:8; 27:9; Joshua 3:3; 8:33 (both D; as bearing ark), also Jeremiah 33:18, 21 ׳(הַל ׳הַכ ׅ‎, Ezekiel 43:19; 44:15; compare Deuteronomy 18:7; 27:14; Jeremiah 33:22; ׳הַכ ׳הַל‎ likewise 2 Chronicles 23:18; 30:27 (but read probably ׳וְהַל‎ after ᵑ9 ᵑ6 ᵐ5‎, compare Öttli and below)

c. as tribal designation, Exodus 6:25; Numbers 3:39; 4:18, 46; Joshua 21:1 (all P), 1 Chronicles 9:33-34, 15:12; 2 Chronicles 35:5; Nehemiah 11:15-16, 12:24; with reference to share in land Leviticus 25:32 (twice in verse); 25:33 (twice in verse) (H), Numbers 1:47; 2:33; Joshua 14:3-4, 21:3-4, 8, 20, 27, 34, 38, 39 (all P), 18:7 (D), 1 Chronicles 6:49; compare also 2 Chronicles 11:14.

d. set apart for service in tabernacle, Exodus 38:21; Numbers 1:50-51, (twice in verse); 1:53 (twice in verse); 2:17; 7:5-6, 8:6 18t. Numbers 8 (all p), compare 1 Chronicles 6:33; 16:4; ministers to Aaron and his sons Numbers 3:9; 8:19; 18:6 (P); set apart for ׳י‎ (as redemption for first-born) 3:12 (twice in verse) + 7 t. Numbers 3 (P); with certain perquisites 18:24, 26, 30 9t. Numbers (P).

2 in Chronicles the tribal idea is in the background, and thought of Levites as official class is prominent:

a. distinguished from priests ׳הַכ ׳וְהַל‎ 1 Chronicles 9:14 (compare 9:10), 13:2; 15:4, 11, 14; 23:2; 24:6, 31 67t. Chronicles; also Isaiah 66:21 (according to Vrss., but dubious), Ezekiel 44:10; 45:5 (compare 45:4), 48:11-12, 13, 22.

b. as porters, 1 Chronicles 9:26; 26:17, compare 1Chron 34:9; as in charge of music, 15:16-17, 22; 2 Chronicles 5:12; 29:25, 30; 34:12; Nehemiah 12:27; yet distinguished from porters and singers, 7:1; 13:5, 10; distinguished also from נְתִינִים‎ 1 Chronicles 9:2; Ezra 8:20; Nehemiah 10:29; further (with various official functions) 1 Chronicles 9:31 29t. Chronicles; of groups of individuals, 2 Chronicles 17:8 (twice in verse); 29:12; 34:12; Ezra 2:40 = Nehemiah 7:43; Ezra 8:33; Nehemiah 3:17; 9:5; 10:10; 12:8, also 8:7 (omitted וְ‎; ᵑ9‎ BeRy Ryle).

c. בְּנֵיהַֿלְוִיִּם‎ 1 Chronicles 15:15 (bearing ark), 24:30 (tribal designation). — See, on Levites, especially Gf^{Geschichte. d. Stammes} Levi in Me^{Archiv i. 68 ff. 208 ff.} We^{Prol. Cap. iv} RS^{OTJC. 435 f., 2nd ed., 360 f.} Bau^{Priesterthum 50 f.}, 68 f., and often