Why were the Levites chosen to be G‑d’s special ministers?

Originally, the firstborn sons were to have been the priests of the Jewish nation, who would serve in the Tabernacle and in the Temple and be the spiritual leaders. When G‑d spared the Jewish firstborn during the Plague of the Firstborn in Egypt, He “acquired” them and designated them for this special role.

After the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, the Jewish people made and worshipped a golden calf. Click here to read the entire story. The only tribe that did not participate in this shameful act was the tribe of Levi. At this time, the firstborn lost their special status, and it was transferred to the Levites.

In the Torah’s description of the induction of the Levites as they began their new role (Numbers 8:16–18), G‑d tells Moses: “For they [the Levites] are wholly given over to Me from among the children of Israel; instead of those that open the womb all the firstborn of Israel I have taken them for Myself . . .”

May we soon merit seeing the building of the Third Temple, and the return of the Levites to their service.

All the best,
Rochel Chein for Chabad.org

By Rochel Chein

Mrs. Rochel Chein is a member of the chabad.org Ask the Rabbi team.

All names of persons and locations or other identifying features referenced in these questions have been omitted or changed to preserve the anonymity of the questioners.

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22 Comments

Solomon Aina Nigeria April 5, 2023

I believe God honours those who honour Him Reply

Aharon December 10, 2020

Great read this was. Can you provide the source which says that the tribe of Levi didn't worship the golden calf? I've been looking for that for quite some time. Reply

Anonymous December 13, 2020

in response to Aharon:

Baruch HaShem
Shalom Aleichem,

In Exodus 32:29 Moses tells the Levites they are set apart for the L-rd because "you were against your own sons and brothers..." Brothers or sons of Levites are probably also from the same tribe. Moses had only told the Levites to go kill their 'brothers, friends and neighbors." Exodus 32:27 [maybe here 'brothers' means other adult men?] The Levites went above and beyond in killing their own sons and blood brothers. If the killing is punishment for the golden calf affair, this makes me think some Levites participated in and were punished for it.

Since Exodus 32:25 says "all the Levites rallied..." to Moses when he called out for those who were with G-d, Levites killing their sons and brothers was not for failing to rally to Moses. Again, it makes me think the killing was for taking part in the golden calf incident and that some Levites took part in it.

Your question encourages me to go learn more about this.Hopefully a Rabbi will weigh in. Reply

Adam Tampa January 25, 2018

My heart aches for the restoration and building of G-d's abode in our sacred city. Thank you so much for your informative post. Reply

Gail Florida February 21, 2017

What is the common or ancestral name that identifies all Levites as descendants of Abraham? Reply

Hatjuggler November 21, 2014

The firstborn chosen as priests? Aaron and his sons were chosen as G-d's priests *before* the golden calf incident. In Ex 27:21 and Ex 28:1-5. Israel's firstborn were consecrated to God in Ex 13:1 before the Plague of the First Born, but they were never designated to serve as priests. It was always Aaron and his sons. Reply

marguerite Flushing, NY December 22, 2013

Mazel Tov Hey Kew Gardens, Flushing over here!! (I could go for some onion matzel (!?) right now...with a nice glass o' tea!!) :-D

I did DNA testing several years ago. Says i share markers with members of tribe of Levi. I have asked mom to be swabbed. She's not interested in doing so. I am searching to see whether there is a way to definitively confirm or deny whether i am Jewish or not. It sure makes all the sense in the world to me that i have Levite markers because i am a lawyer, can't seem to get rich, but work hard, win my cases, enjoy serving people, inspire people's confidence (except, my mother's and older half sister's for some reason). Seems that i am naturally serving the Levite function in the contemporary western world even before i learned of my Levite connection. My mother basically serves as Levite too. She was dad's office manager, keeping the books, accts, investments. She was not 'paid' per se, of course. Comments, suggestions welcomed!
shalom! Reply

Yochanan February 13, 2018

in response to marguerite:

Cohen-Modal Haplotype DNA test can tell if a person is a descended from Aharon. Though the test only tests for one lineage that is known to descend directly from Aharon-- it's not the only lineage that comes directly from Aharon. Further, descendancy from Ahron is based off of the patrineal-line. It isn't based off the matrilineal-line as one's Jewish status is decided. Reply

Marguerite February 21, 2018

in response to Yochanan :

Five years have passed since I posted that hastily written message. At that time I did not know of any cases of Jews seeking to prove Jewish identity using genetic test results. It still blows my mind to be able to go back and actually trace all the various places Jews famously settled throughout history. It's amazing. There is a scholar at Oxford representing a woman with just such a case. I must look up the case and see how he is making out. I pray he will have success. That would be more convenient - rather than going through the conversion process. It seems to me that if one can sho genetic markers for membership in 'the family of Jews' we should have at least as easy a time as a person who one day claims: "Hey! I just found out my mom and her mother are/were Jewesses" and every Jew welcomes him/her home! Reply

Anonymous USA November 16, 2013

The word G-d what's that all about? Reply

Debra Wood April 20, 2019

in response to Anonymous:

I would like to know too, why not put God Reply

Chabad.org Staff May 6, 2019

in response to Debra Wood:

There is a biblical prohibition against desecrating G-d's name, if we write G-d's name out fully and the page is printed and happens to fall on the ground and people step on it or similar occurrences, G-d's name would be desecrated, in order to avoid that we do not spell the Name out fully but spell it "G-d". Reply

Anonymous UK June 21, 2019

in response to Chabad.org Staff:

'Biblical Prohibition'? I'm intrigued. You mentioned the Bible without saying where the prohibition was. Surely, when YHWH revealed his name to Moses in Exodus 6, it was so he *could* use it, not so that he couldn't... wasn't it? Surely, using God's name correctly (Ex 20:7) is about using it flippantly or as a curse (OM-) or using it for evil in some way. Or have I misunderstood that? Reply

Chabad.org Staff June 25, 2019

in response to Anonymous:

Please see this link for further information and sources. Reply

Rochel Chein for chabad.org June 24, 2013

Aharon and the Golden Calf John, see Was Aaron Responsible for the Golden Calf? for a look at Aharon's role in the story. Reply

John Pallivathukal USA June 23, 2013

Mrs. Chein:

I disagree with your statement "The only tribe that did not participate in this shameful act was the tribe of Levi". As a matter of fact, Aaron, as a leader, took the leadership in misleading the people in worshiping the calf, further, he made the calf, he made them naked (Exodus: 32: 2, 4, and 25). Bible does not say if he did not participated in this shameful act. However, when the opportunity was given to repent and make it right, "Levi and his sons" took advantage of it (Exod. 32. 26-30). Wouldn't that be the reason why the Levites were chosen by G-d? Reply

Franklin Nigeria December 4, 2018

in response to John Pallivathukal :

Point of correction, Aaron never mislead the people of Israel but Aaron allowed their unsatiable appetite to got hold of him. They are the ones who demanded for some sort of physical god to worship not the other way round. Reply

Bob Simpson Melbourne, Australia June 30, 2011

The Levites Dear Rochel, my question is, "In the way of G-d over the world today, what would be the contemporary role of 'the Levites', and how would you see that manifested in the western world?" I don't understand how you have answered. In following through your response, I came across this, "... a new people, descendants of Moses, would take their places, to carry the torch of the Divine Law among the nations of the world." Prophetically, how would you see that manifesting in the western world? Reply

Anonymous Prescott, AR/US June 30, 2011

Levites I never noticed this before as many times as I have read it! Thank you. Reply

Bob Simpson, AMEP Associate Melbourne, Australia March 31, 2011

The Levites In the way of G-d over the world today, what would be the contemporary role of 'the Levites', and how would you see that manifested in the western world? Reply

philip amaria kew garden, n.y./usa December 27, 2008

matzel tov proud of my heritage Reply

Bob Simpson Melbourne, Australia June 26, 2019

in response to philip amaria:

Hello Philip,

'Matzel Tove!" In what way did you mean that? Like, 'good luck, if you think that could ever happen?' Or, may there be an alignment of starry constellations to make it happen? I'm not Jewish, but I think Jews and Gentiles need to work together to help manifest this in the western world.

Regards,

Bob Simpson Reply

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