Before all your people I will do wonders(DU) never before done in any nation in all the world. 26So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, Whoever is for the Lord, come to me. And all the Levites rallied to him. Complying, Aaron collected the golden ornaments of the people and fashioned the gold into the shape of a calf or a small bull. Aaron then built an altar, and on the following day sacrifices were offered and the people feasted and danced and played. 29Then Moses said, You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day., 30The next day Moses said to the people, You have committed a great sin. Golden Calf Worship Today. The same is true of the work of the church today (2 Timothy 2:3; 2 Corinthians 10:4). ; M. Aberbach, in: JBL, 86 (1967), 12940; L. Smolar and M. Aberbach, in: HUCA, 39 (1968), 91116; S.E. One proposal for explaining the origins of Levites is that the Levites originated as a normal, lay tribe, but their inability to maintain a territorial foothold led to their dispersal throughout the other tribes, finding a living and social position through becoming cultic specialists.[2]. Exodus 32 relates that Moses then upbraided Aaron for having "brought great guilt" upon the people. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. However, the existence of the law and the many other passages that mention the need to redeem ones firstborn son from such a dedication (Exod 34:20, Num 3:11-13, 8:17-18) strongly imply that in early Israelite religion, the sons were, in fact, dedicated to the service of YHWH in this manner. So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. For whatever reason God chose them to bestow His wrath on the nation of Israel. Christianity Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for committed Christians, experts in Christianity and those interested in learning more. TheTorah.com is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.We rely on the support of readers like you. Israel: Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out 1123) and in accordance with his passion for the pursuit of peace (Avot 1:12; see *Aaron in the aggadah), felt it better to acquiesce than to permit the people to commit the unpardonable sin of slaying two leaders on the same day (Sanh. The story details how Samuels parents both members of a lay household in a nearby region come to dedicate their son to service at the sanctuary under the charge of its ruling priesthood. *Levites who had responded to Moses' call for volunteers. [1] However, not everyone is familiar with the origins of the Levites. But that's still not the end. (DA) Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. (BT) If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy(BU) you. Aaron feared that he would share the same fate (Lev. [1] Much of what follows is a summary of the more detailed discussion I offer in my forthcoming book, The Levites and the Boundaries of Israelite Identity (New York/Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017). Jacobs sons then deceived Shechem and Hamor by saying that they required the men of the city to be circumcised for Dinahs hand in marriage (Genesis 34:13-24). Why are distant planets illuminated like stars, but when approached closely (by a space telescope for example) its not illuminated? If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Not only is his family lineage very clearly identified at the outset as distinct from that of Eli (1 Sam 1:1), the narrative notes that Samuel maintained close association with his biological family (1 Sam 1:24; 2:18-19), and even returns to live in his hometown later in life (1 Sam 7:17; 9:14, 18; cf. Like the Levites, Yahweh Himself is our inheritance in this life and not the land of Canaan. 4He took what they handed him and made it into an idol(E) cast in the shape of a calf,(F) fashioning it with a tool. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day. NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. The sanctuary sites binding them together were places where resources could be redistributed, conflicts resolved, and covenants made. Though he was not punished at that exact time, Aaron would later die in the wilderness and never enter the Promised Land. 9As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud(BZ) would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke(CA) with Moses. How to make a HUE colour node with cycling colours. We rely on the support of readers like you. (DV) The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you. Although Israel does not appear to have used a primogeniture based inheritance system, firstborns were favored with a double portion of inheritance. Deuteronomy 33 is recognized as a relatively early text, composed before the Assyrian crisis of the late 8th century B.C.E. 89a). II. The extant text of Exodus 32 is according to certain Bible critics an expansion of a basic narrative into several strata by secondary additions; for another interpretation see Cassuto (Exodus, ad loc.). He is not their ancestor or their chieftain, but the leader of a group bound together by the desire to defend YHWHs name and his dominion over Israel. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. Something went wrong while submitting the form. 19When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf(AL) and the dancing,(AM) his anger burned(AN) and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces(AO) at the foot of the mountain. The Levites had a violent history. This admittedly speculative suggestion has some attractive elements, nevertheless, when looking at the literary sources in conversation with archaeology, anthropology, linguistics, and social-scientific evidence, I believe a different option for the origins of the Levites recommends itself. Rom 9:15 and 16 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. They do not, however, offer a reason for this change. Ginsberg, in JBL, 80 (1961), 345) is motivated by a desire to discredit the practice which he instituted. Daniel Hoffman adds the following insight from Numbers 8: This applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall come to do duty [ ] in the service of the tent of meeting. and the flight of refugees (including the Levites) into the southern kingdom of Judah. As early as the immediate post-crucifixion era, Stephen, the first Christian martyr, sharply denounced the Jews (but not Aaron who was held in veneration by the Church) for having made the golden calf, which became the fountain-head of Jewish crimes throughout their history, culminating in the crucifixion of Jesus (Acts 7:4152). (BP) But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked(BQ) people and I might destroy(BR) you on the way., 4When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn(BS) and no one put on any ornaments. The Bible avoids discussing home rituals other than the PesachJeremiahs negative description of the worship of the Queen of Heaven (7:18) being the exception that proves the rulethough archaeological and comparative evidence shows that it existed. I Kings 12:27); and thus they developed from symbols of the Lord to fetishes in their own right (cf. 19The first offspring(EN) of every womb belongs to me, including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock. They minister to their brothers in the tent of meeting by keeping guard, but they shall do no service (Numbers 8:24-26). , Ex. But God put the violent nature of the Levites to good use. Why does John 1 say "the Word was with God" and not "scripture was with God"? Christ or rather the belief in Christ divides households, tears relationships apart, and leads to persecution. (DP) Although this is a stiff-necked(DQ) people, forgive our wickedness and our sin,(DR) and take us as your inheritance.(DS), 10Then the Lord said: I am making a covenant(DT) with you. In great anger Moses smashed the Tablets, melted down the image of the calf, pulverized the precious metal, and scattered the powdered gold over the available source of water, thus making the people drink it (verse 20); and there is doubtless a causal nexus between this and the plague that is reported in verse 35 (see Ordeal of *Jealousy ). [14] A king might wield power, even cultic power, but he could not willy-nilly bestow priestly status upon his children in this later period. 88b). When reading the Torah as a single narrative of Israels distant origins, the Levites appear alongside the other Israelite tribes who leave Egypt and wander in the wilderness with Moses before their return to the Promised Land of Canaan. As landless sojourners, this group found their place working as cultic professionals throughout the territories of the Israelite tribes. An important clue to the origin of the Levites is reflected in the meaning of the word Levite (Hebrew lewi), which comes from the Hebrew root --, meaning connect or attach; lewi literally means one who is connected/attached.[5] But connected or attached to what? The narrative of the golden calf cannot be understood without relating it to the erection of two golden calves in the temples of *Beth-El and *Dan by *Jeroboam I of Israel (I Kings 12:26ff.). 21He said to Aaron, What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?, 22Do not be angry,(AS) my lord, Aaron answered. You know how prone these people are to evil. It thus seems likely that the Israelites would have done what many societies do, namely dedicating at least one son to the priesthood., This practice would have taken off during times of uncertainty and economic turmoil. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. The best example of an Israelite from a non-priestly and non-Levitical family becoming a cultic functionary under the tutelage of a priest is the prophet Samuel in 1 Samuel 13. While the Levites did not receive land as an inheritance in Canaan, this was also used for good. The people of Israel gave cities and pasturelands out of their inheritance for the Levites to dwell (Joshua 21:3), which between the three Levite clans (Kohathites, Gershonites, Merarites) came out to 48 cities (Joshua 21:41-42). Nevertheless, 1 Samuel 1-3 does not attempt to present Samuel as having an actual priestly (or Levitical) lineage himself. Patrick Gray; New York/Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015), 62-82. It sounds like those 3,000 people who were killed by the Levites were the ones who were actively worshiping the golden calf, but the consequences of that idolatry did not only affect the idolaters alone. Aaron gathered up their golden earrings, melted down the gold, and made a calf (i.e., a young bull) out of it. (AJ), 17When Joshua(AK) heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, There is the sound of war in the camp., It is not the sound of victory,it is not the sound of defeat;it is the sound of singing that I hear.. Obbrick) that Jeroboam's calves corresponded to the *cherubim of Solomon's Temple, i.e., they were regarded as seats or pedestals upon which the Lord was thought to stand invisible to human eyes. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in 2003. I suggest that it means attached to local cult centers., Both archaeology and anthropology suggest that population groups in early Israel settled around regional shrines or sanctuaries housing powerful priestly clans (whose numinous, saintly power was, in turn, probably rooted in success in battle). [c](EA) 14Do not worship any other god,(EB) for the Lord, whose name(EC) is Jealous, is a jealous God.(ED). An excellent example of a Levite guarding Gods worship is found in Numbers 25:6-8, where Phinehas (grandson of Aaron) stopped Gods plague by spearing an Israelite man and a Midianite woman in the chamber (, qubbah). GOLDEN CALF (Heb. 33When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil(FN) over his face. 8:56; 10:5; 13:2). III. Please consider supporting TheTorah.com. Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, Whoever is on the from your pastor, priest, or other trustworthy counselor, CEO Update: Paving the road forward with AI and community at the center, Building a safer community: Announcing our new Code of Conduct, AI/ML Tool examples part 3 - Title-Drafting Assistant, We are graduating the updated button styling for vote arrows. The events in these chapters take place at Shiloh, the most important sanctuary in the Israelite highlands before the rise of kingship. 31But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community(FL) came back to him, and he spoke to them. There are significant parallels in the language used for Adams duty in the Garden and the Levites duty in the tabernacle. What exactly did they do with the Calf? Priests and Levites at the altar. that recasts the memory of Moses. New International Version (NIV). West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell, 2008); Francesca Stavrakopoulou and John Barton, eds.,Religious Diversity in Ancient Israel and Judah (London: T&T Clark, 2010). *Hur , who is regarded as the son of Miriam and Caleb, attempted to dissuade the people from the sin and was put to death by them. This fellow Moses brought us up out of Egypt. . In the Golden Calf episode, the Levites rally around Moses and purge the community of sin, which moves Moses to consecrate them as a priestly group (Exod 32:29). First, one could make a strong case that Aaron was punished for making the golden calf. Recently, Joel Baden has shown that these verses are not original to the Golden Calf story but most likely originated as part of an old version of the Massah-Meribah narrative in Exodus 17, a brief story of how the Israelites challenged the authority of Moses and YHWH during the wilderness wandering. Abram at the Battle of the Kings: When Was the Dead Sea the Valley of Siddim? We also have to consider that the Levites had been taken by God in place of the first born of Israel when he killed all the first born of Egypt, but spared the first born of Israel. Both cases of calf worship are condemned as a "great sin" ( ), an unusual expression found in only one other place in the Bible (Gen 20:9). They eventually swallowed up this older group of Mushite priests into theirs and turned them all, including Moses, into Levites.[19]. Ryken, Wilhoit, and Longman), p. 663. When the Jewish people made and worshipped a golden calf after the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, the only tribe that did not participate was Levi. In the exodus narrative the Levites (who were in power in Jerusalem & likely authored the golden calf story) were NOT taking part in the worship of the golden calf during the exodus. Here is, I. Is there a legal reason that organizations often refuse to comment on an issue citing "ongoing litigation"? Another group of texts, found in Numbers 3 and 8, views the choice of the Levites as transpiring later in the wilderness period, and states that the Levites were chosen to replace the firstborn, whom God had originally envisioned as cultic functionaries. [3] On Israelite religion as a primarily family-based phenomenon in the pre-state period, see Karel van der Toorn, Family Religion in Babylonia, Syria and Israel (Leiden: Brill, 1996) 183-205. You have said, I know you by name(CF) and you have found favor(CG) with me. 13If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways(CH) so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. What is this object inside my bathtub drain that is causing a blockage? I'll add more info in a minute once I find it. 29 Then Moses said, Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord, that He may bestow on you a Moses, however, interceded on behalf of the Israelites and persuaded the Lord to renounce His intended punishment. 12Moses said to the Lord, You have been telling me, Lead these people,(CE) but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Whoever sacrificed and burned incense died by the sword; whoever embraced and kissed the calf died by the plague; and whoever rejoiced in his heart died of dropsy (Yoma 66b). Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua(CD) son of Nun did not leave the tent. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. (AY) But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement(AZ) for your sin., 31So Moses went back to the Lord and said, Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! According to the biblical narrative, God chose the Levites to be cultic officials during the wilderness period. [20] The birth tale of Moses knows and draws from the Assyrian birth legend of Sargon, itself a product of the late 8th century B.C.E. This account masks a more complicated historical process. I would say the main thing to remember here when dealing with the Old Testament is that the wages for sin, no matter the sin according to God, was death. 32:4; I Kings 12:28), the golden image made by Aaron at the behest of the Israelites and venerated near Mount Sinai (Ex. [6] See the discussion in my article The Fightin Mushites, VT 62 (2012) 489-494. [17] Samuels characterization in Moses-like terms points to the degree to which a dedicant left in the charge of a Mushite priestly family could adopt and intertwine himself within the ancestral traditions that continued to bestow holiness and power. 13Remember(AB) your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self:(AC) I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars(AD) in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land(AE) I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever. 14Then the Lord relented(AF) and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened. 7Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the tent of meeting.(BW) Anyone inquiring(BX) of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. Moses then stood in the gate of the camp and said, Who is on Yahwehs side? A careful reading of Moses command shows that the Levites here cannot be a tribe. So we see that the same violent nature that lost the Levites land also gained them the priesthood. Some Bible commentators have said God chose the tribe of Levi to be His priests because they were obedient to God after the infamous "golden calf" incident at the foot of Mt. Can you provide the source which says that the tribe of Levi didn't worship the golden calf? (BA) They have made themselves gods of gold. Ki Tissa, 19). 32). God Doesnt Come Down to Earth Lower than Ten, Study the Torah with Academic Scholarship, By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use, https://thetorah.com/article/who-were-the-levites. Does the NRKJV use the Hebrew tetragrammaton? Oops! Declare the calf to be the Israelite god. IN THE BIBLE: O. Eissfeldt, in: ZAW, 17 (194041), 199ff. In many cultures around the world, eldest sons inherit the property and position of the fatherthis is called patrilineal primogenitureand the other sons must find other ways of sustaining themselves. The similar use of language suggests that the Garden of Eden was a temple of God and that Adam had a priestly role. Levites (LV`S from LV`, Levi, name of the ancestral patriarch, generally interpreted "joined" or "attached to"see Gen., xxix, 34, also Num., xviii, 2, 4, Hebrew text),the subordinate ministers appointed in the Mosaic Law for the service of the Tabernacle and of the Temple.Levi was the third son borne to Jacob by Lia, and full brother of Ruben, Simeon, and Juda. So Moses called for the Levites to slaughter their fellow IsraelitesThus says Yahweh God of Israel, Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor. And the Levites killed about 3,000 men (Exodus 32:27-28). While Moses was receiving the law on Mount Sinai, the Israelites rebelled and made a Golden Calf (Exodus 32:1-6). (N) 8They have been quick to turn away(O) from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol(P) cast in the shape of a calf. Is it possible. But we don't know what has happened to him.". Scholars are divided on the question of the chronological relationship of the two accounts. Satan added to the state of helplessness of the people by showing them a vision of Moses' bier which convinced them that he had died. The men thereupon donated their own jewelry (PdRE 45). This episode recalls the violence of their ancestor Levi (Genesis 34:25-31). God turned Jacobs apparent curse for the Levites good. Exodus 19:6) and so join Him in reigning and guarding Gods glory and honor. (CZ) 2Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai. These other modes of behavior stand in for the legacy of violence, ritualizing them into more sustainable types of priestly conduct that reinforce the mythology standing behind them. Some examples would be Shechem and Shiloh in the north and Kiriath Yearim in Judah, all which are presented in the biblical tradition as inter-group sites. Prof. Mark Leuchter is Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible and Ancient Judaism in the Department of Religion at Temple University. Two attempts of an if with an "and" are failing: if [ ] -a [ ] , if [[ && ]] Why? And they [the Levites] shall guard [] all the furnishings of the tent of meeting and guard [] the sons of Israel as they serve [] the tabernacle (Numbers 3:8) (my translation). 33Then the Lord said to Moses, Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath(BL) to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, I will give it to your descendants.(BM) 2I will send an angel(BN) before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. In this way, we see Gods redemption of the line of Levi. It is the verb tsaba, where we get the name Yahweh Sabaoth (the Lord of Hosts). R. 10:5). It only takes a minute to sign up. Can't get TagSetDelayed to match LHS when the latter has a Hold attribute set. 17:4; 18:14, 1531; cf. According to another version, the Egyptian magicians made the calf move as if it were alive (Song R. 1:9, no. In this story, Moses instructs the Levites to go from gate to gate throughout the community to purge those who have transgressed against YHWH (Exod 32:27). The traditional view is that the Jeroboam incident is dependent on the Exodus story (see Cassuto, loc. This provided an opportunity for Simeon and Levi to slaughter all the males, while all the brothers then plundered the city (Genesis 34:25-29). The error of the people consisted in including in their calculation the day of the ascent, whereas Moses had excluded it (Rashi, Shab. 26Bring the best of the firstfruits(FA) of your soil to the house of the Lord your God. blessing this day, for every man has opposed his son and his brother.-Exodus 32 25-29. [24] It is worth noting that in the transition of Levites into a tribe, the theme of their violence followed them. 25Do not offer the blood of a sacrifice to me along with anything containing yeast,(EY) and do not let any of the sacrifice from the Passover Festival remain until morning.(EZ). The Golden Calf - When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods who will go before us. did not join the worship of the calf. This is clearly how the narrative was understood in Jewish antiquity, for the Chronicler writing in the mid-4th century B.C.E. Moses told the people, "You have sinned a great sin. ; Albright, Stone, 228ff. Mark A. Leuchter and Jeremy M. Hutton; Atlanta: SBL, 2011) 103-116. Numbers 3 and 8 describe a ceremony in which the Levites were switched for the firstborn, which took place in the second year of the wilderness wandering. avodah-zarah beit-din-court capital-punishment [24], The Torah discusses the possibility of firstborn Israelite sons serving in the cult in (Exod 22:28)[25] According to the Torahs timeline, this possibility lasted no more than a year. Not only are the general features of the story similar in both accounts, but the explanatory formula in Exodus 32:4b, 8b "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt" is virtually identical to the one in I Kings 12:28b. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. This stark tension between home-based and sanctuary-based religious ritual, with brothers literally serving in opposing positions, represents the deep divide between family religion and national or state religion that existed in ancient Israel and Judah.[27]. The storm-god *Hadad is frequently represented standing on a bull. (DD) 5Then the Lord came down in the cloud(DE) and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. It is also good to understand that not all who rebelled against God on that day were killed, which may answer your, second question about the added punishment which was meted out to all the offenders. So they gathered around Aaron. That is was indeed to atone for the sins of the people. Remember that this nation is your people.(CI), 14The Lord replied, My Presence(CJ) will go with you, and I will give you rest.(CK), 15Then Moses said to him, If your Presence(CL) does not go with us, do not send us up from here. [9] A full study of this can be found in Ernest Gellner, Saints of the Atlas (Chicago: University of Chicago, 1969). But if the Levites as a whole answered Moses call and did not worship the golden calf, then, by definition, neither did their brothers or sons! Apion 2:80, 114, 120; Tacitus, Histories 5:4). The work of the Levites at the tabernacle is considered warfare. [22] I retain here much of the language found in the JPS translation of this poem, fitting as it is for the poems general antiquity and rhetorical purpose. Numbers 35:6), as the Levites had a role in protecting manslaughterers who fled to the cities of refuge from their potential avengers. Scholars fostering this theory point to the fact that so many of the important Levite figures identified in the Torahs narrative have names with Egyptian etymologies (Moses, Aaron, Miriam; also Phinehas, Kehat, and Merari). The people acknowledged this 'golden calf' as their new god, happy that they now had a visible deity to worship. ESV Study Bible comment: The blessing of Levi acknowledges the tribe's uprightness in the golden calf incident (Exodus 32:26-29) The cross-reference is to the incident when the Israelites worshipped the golden calf. And what makes this interesting is that the violent nature of the Levites both (1) lost them land in Israel, and (2) gained them the priesthood. Nevertheless, he still was severely punished in that the subsequent death of two of his sons was attributed to his role in this incident (Lev. 27Then he said to them, This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Each man strap a sword to his side. Even Josephus, who was concerned only with pagan antisemitism, was evidently afraid that the biblical account might be employed by Alexandrian antisemites to lend credence to their allegation that the Jews worshiped an ass's head in the Temple (cf. [27] For more on family religion in Ancient Israel and Judah and the ANE in general, see Karel Van der Toorn, Family Religion in Babylonia, Syria, & Israel: Continuity and Change in the Forms of Religious Life (Leiden: Brill, 1996); John Bodel and Saul M. Olyan, eds.,Household and Family Religion in Antiquity (The Ancient World: Comparative Histories. 10Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. ; this was a time when the Egyptian empire lost much of its hold on the region, and smaller groups managed to claim their own land in the hill country and forge a new, independent economy and system of religion. Noise cancels but variance sums - contradiction? 22When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock(CV) and cover you with my hand(CW) until I have passed by. 20Redeem the firstborn donkey with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. [1] Like those other tribes, they descend from one the sons of Jacob Levi described in the book of Genesis (Gen 29:34). Yahweh ordained and scattered the Levites throughout Israel in order to guard His worship. (CT) 20But, he said, you cannot see my face, for no one may see(CU) me and live., 21Then the Lord said, There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. The remaining Israelites were severely punished. 34Now go, lead(BG) the people to the place(BH) I spoke of, and my angel(BI) will go before you. 2008 The Gale Group. R. 43:7) and for giving them an abundance of gold and silver when they left Egypt (Ber. J. David Schloen; Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2009) 223-230. Please support us. In Europe, for instance, later sons of wealthy families would try to make their fortune as soldiers or become pastors, living off the funds of the community they served. [7], The archaeological evidence places the early phases of this society in the late-13th through mid-11th centuries B.C.E. The remaining Israelites were severely punished. Did the coins at the time of Jesus have distinct images and inscriptions? (J) Afterward they sat down to eat and drink(K) and got up to indulge in revelry. BIBLIOGRAPHY: S. Loewenstamm, Comparative Studies in Biblical and Ancient Oriental Literatures (1980), 24245; S. Gevirtz, in: Biblica, 65 (1984), 37781; J. Spencer, in: ABD, 2:106569 (with bibliography); S.D. After Jacob and his sons settled in the city of Shechem (Genesis 33:18), a man named Shechem, son of Hamor, raped Jacobs daughter Dinah (Genesis 34:1-2). (Q) They have bowed down to it and sacrificed(R) to it and have said, These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.(S), 9I have seen these people, the Lord said to Moses, and they are a stiff-necked(T) people. How were the executed 3000 Jews different in their behavior from the others? 32a). The Torahs depiction of the peaceful transition of cultic power from the firstborn to the Levites can be understood as an attempt to address the memory of the family religion hierarchy, and its (real or perceived) demise in a way that benefited the Temple functionaries. New King James Version So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. - Rashi, Numbers 3:12 Let's sum up what we have seen from these verses with the help of Rashi. Second, the Levites slaughtered idolaters at Sinai following Israels worship of the Golden Calf, which gained them the priesthood (Exodus 32:25-29). Whether David actually made his sons priests or whether this was just a bit of royal propaganda, this is clearly an early tradition since by the late biblical period, Levite-priestly tribal status was a matter of lineage and heritability. 2 Aaron answered them, "Take the gold earrings . About three thousand men were killed that day, and the Levites were ordained for service to the Lord ( Exodus 32:15-29 ). In CHRISTIANITY: Smolar and M. Aberbach, loc. 13Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. In July 2022, did China have more nuclear weapons than Domino's Pizza locations? (EO) Redeem all your firstborn sons. See Jonathan Cohen, The Origin and Evolution of the Moses Nativity Story (Leiden: Brill, 1993) 6-8. Within the book of Exodus in its current form, Moses is presented as born to a Levite family (Exod 2:1-10), but this is universally regarded as a late-monarchic period tradition (from the late 8th through mid 7th centuries B.C.E.) How can I manually analyse this simple BJT circuit? This distinction is particularly clear in the story of Korahs rebellion, as Korah was a Levite who coveted the role of the priests (Numbers 16:8-10). [26], I would argue that the textual sources suggesting a tension between the firstborn and the Levites as cultic officiants preserve and transmit very old memories, in which firstborn sons probably held cultic duties in family contexts while younger siblings, given over to sanctuary service, took on comparable roles beyond the boundaries of the family or clan. script>. King James Bible And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. The critical view does not see the chapter as a literary unity on the basis of inconsistencies. that saw the end of the northern monarchy in 721 B.C.E. By using the term gates, the narrative reveals its origins in an Israelite culture already settled in the land the tale has been transposed into the legendary past, but betrays itself with the use of language and imagery of a later era. Despite Moses' prayer for divine forgiveness, the Lord threatened that on the day of His visitation punishment would overtake the people. . This was probably for two reasons: (1) The Levites were scattered so they could instruct the Israelites in Gods Word (Deuteronomy 33:10; 2 Chronicles 17:7-9; 35:3; Nehemiah 8:7-9; Malachi 2:4-7); and (2) The Levites were scattered so they could guard the worship of Yahweh and serve as a warning to Israel in case of idolatry. In fact, the biblical text (post-Jacobs curse in Genesis 49) focuses on the positives of the Levites not having land. The description of an Ephraimite boy (Samuel) being brought up by a priestly family (Eli) is more or less in line with the model that I am suggesting for early Levites, consisting of (later-born) Israelite sons dedicated to service of YHWH. We are not told whether or not the Levites took part in the revelry and worship of the 'Golden Calf ' or not, but logic tells us that not all Israelites took part in the rebellion, however the fact that both Aaron and Merriam survived the slaughter says that God did not punish everyone taking part since Aaron was the one who formed the Calf to start with. iv. The firstborn males were originally chosen for the priestly role in Israel. together to him. This is demonstrated in two episodes, that of Jacobs son Levi in Genesis 34 and that of the tribe of Levi in Exodus 32. Leah claims that her pregnancy with Levi will cause her husband to be connected to her (yillaweh). Now according to the passage I posted below it says that Moses declared that whomever was on the side of God was to come foward. Defending the faith in the God revealed to Moses against the calf worshippers were the Levites, who became the priestly caste. So for all intents and purposes I'd say they volunteered. Zachary Garris Exodus Everyone knows the Levites were one of the twelve tribes of Israel and were given duties in the service of the tabernacle (though only those of Aaron's line were technically "priests"). Do not cook a young goat in its mothers milk., That is, wooden symbols of the goddess Asherah. 102a). 3). They claimed that since he had not yet appeared he would never come. ADD. The Levites had a violent history. They said to him, "Come. The Law of Fourth-Year Fruit: Restraining the Ancient Vintage Celebration, The Historical Exodus: The Evidence for the Levites Leaving Egypt and the Introduction of YHWH into Israel., Moses, Aaron, and Miriam: Were They Siblings?, Relegating Redemption of the Firstborn to a One-time Event in the Wilderness.. But this mantra also bears witness to the tensions involved in ones taking up the Levite office, reminding the reader that a Levite must devote himself to his cause, even if this means harming the lineage groups to whom he once belonged (v. 9). How are two punishments just? His research focuses on the history of the priesthood in ancient Israel and early Jewish scribal tradition. Why did God wrestle with Jacob and why did this appearance not become a "big deal"? For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to , even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day. Adam should have guarded the Garden from the intruder serpent, just as the Levites were to guard the tabernacle/temple from idolaters. 25Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock(AW) to their enemies. An awareness and usage of the Sargon birth legend is usually viewed as a result of Assyrian imperialism over Judah from the late 8th through late 7th centuries B.C.E. [10] Joel S. Baden, The Violent Origins of the Levites: Text and Tradition, in Levites and Priests in History and Tradition (ed. Download our mobile app for on-the-go access to the Jewish Virtual Library, Encyclopaedia Judaica, 1998 - 2023 American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise. xxxii. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of that sheweth mercy. Gad. [7] See Jeremy M. Hutton, The Levitical Diaspora (I): A Sociological Comparison with Moroccos Ahansal, Exploring the Longue Dure (ed. iv. Forty thousand of them, accompanied by two Egyptian magicians, *Jannes and Mambres, came to Aaron and claimed that it already was the sixth hour of the 40th day since Moses had left, the hour which he previously had designated for his return. This statue of a calf did not exist the day before, yet they worshipped it as the god that brought them out of Egypt. Joshua 18:7). There are two possible responses. 22Celebrate the Festival of Weeks with the firstfruits(ET) of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering(EU) at the turn of the year. Should I trust my own thoughts when studying philosophy? Aside from humanoid, what other body builds would be viable for an (intelligence wise) human-like sentient species? When the major sources of the Pentateuch were edited, the Levite verses in the Massah-Meribah were dislodged from their original setting and redactionally placed in the Golden Calf tale. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him.". Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. [21] This is fitting, since the Golden Calf tale had, by that time, emerged as a paradigmatic tale of apostasy and its consequences. Not all of the Levites did that. These passages all presuppose closeness between the Levites and the figure of Moses, and this may be traced to the enculturation of devotees who were assimilated into the priestly clans who claimed descent from Moses himself. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. But this episode already takes for granted that a Levite is a cultic professional, and it says nothing about Levites once having had land. [6] As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we dont know what has happened to him.(C), 2Aaron answered them, Take off the gold earrings(D) that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me. 3So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. The notice which God gave of this to Moses, who was now in the mount with him ( v. 7, v. 8 ), and the sentence of his wrath against them ( v. 9, v. 10 ). These sanctuary spaces became centers of ritual and economic stability for the surrounding populations during times of hardship. (Y) 12Why should the Egyptians say, It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth? 18Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Try it free today! Which comes first: CI/CD or microservices? First, Levi (and his brother Simeon) slaughtered an entire city following the rape of his sister Dinah, which lost the Levites land in Canaan (Genesis 34:25-31). Dont miss the latest essays from TheTorah.com. Deut. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 27 And he said to them, Thus says the Lord God of Lord, he said, why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Any who transgressed the manifested holiness of Gods presence were to be slain (Numbers 1:53; cf. Build an altar; Make sacrifices; Establish a festival. By contrast, the verses in Exodus 32 about how the Levites answered Moses call and attacked the Israelites who sinned with the Golden Calf likely originated well before the late monarchic period. Instead, they are set aside as Gods portion, dedicated to ritual service and sacral duties throughout Israels tribal holdings, and especially at the Tabernacle (Ps precursor of the Jerusalem temple). Start for FREE. 2:11). However, it can also be said that the Levites had a role in guarding the worship of Yahweh throughout all of Israel. cit. Did an AI-enabled drone attack the human operator in a simulation environment? [18] Leuchter, Samuel and the Shaping of Tradition, 32-39. Thereupon the Lord told Moses of the apostasy of the "stiffnecked people," whom He proposed to destroy. Was this somehow an act of atonement through the shedding of blood? Moses blessing of the Levities in Deut 33:8-11 shows that the original setting of the story was in Massah-Meribah, and not the Golden Calf:[22]. (EP), No one is to appear before me empty-handed.(EQ). // Javascript URL redirection For Golden Calf in the arts see *Moses in the Arts. [20] This new type of relationship resonates in the Levite verses in the Golden Calf episode in Exodus 32 (vv. "Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said: 'Whosoever is on the L ORD 's side, let him come unto me.' And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. (AH) They were inscribed(AI) on both sides, front and back. Josephus accordingly omits the entire golden calf episode from his account of the Israelite migrations in the desert. God was also blamed since He enslaved them in Egypt where they were exposed to the most idolatrous of ancient civilizations (Ex. (L), 7Then the Lord said to Moses, Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt,(M) have become corrupt. 7a). Consistent with the functions of temple priests in surrounding religions, the Israelite priest guarded the tabernacle or temple of God through threat of arms. 30When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. 10; Tosef. Aaron then threw the gold into the fire, still hoping that Moses would return. Then they said, These are your gods,[b](G) Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.(H), 5When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, Tomorrow there will be a festival(I) to the Lord. 6So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. 9Lord, he said, if I have found favor(DO) in your eyes, then let the Lord go with us. The latter is suggested by the context of the tent of meeting and the whole assembly in 25:6.) Finally do we deserve God's mercy any more than those who rebelled against God? However if that is the case then why would the LORD further punish the people at a later date? These texts do not claim or allude to a lineage or tribal relationship between Moses and the Levites. Browse other questions tagged, Like any library, Christianity Stack Exchange offers great information, but, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. On an interesting side note, the end of the passage has a vague reflection of what Christ would do and does in our society today. felt the need to write Samuel and his family into the Levite genealogies (1 Chron 6:18-23) to avoid the glaring problem of a non-levitical priest. (Incidentally, nowhere in the story of Eli and Samuel is anyone described as being a Levite.). 32 The people saw that Moses took a long time to come down from the mountain. [17] Frank Moore Cross, Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1973) 195-215. Like the Levites scattered throughout Israel, the Lord Jesus should serve as a warning and lead us all to the proper worship of Yahweh. Why was God so upset with Moses for striking the rock the second time in the desert? Answer The story of the golden calf is found in Exodus 32:1-6. Also how does by so doing ordain them for the LORD's service? M. Haran remarks that if Jeroboam's calves were considered pedestals, then they were not meant to be an exact replica of cherubim connected with the *Ark of the Covenant because the Ark and its cherubim were kept in the publicly inaccessible Holy of Holies while the calves were placed in the courts of the Temple, where the people could see and kiss them (cf. 26-29). But the verb does not just mean do duty or serve' generallyit actually means to serve in war (same verb in Numbers 1:3 for example, to describe Israelites of military age). Either way, because of Phinehas zeal for the worship of Yahweh (recalling the Levites in Exodus 32), God gave him the covenant of perpetual priesthood (Numbers 25:13). Not only did Moses not break the tablets, but he actually displayed them to the rejoicing people (3:1012). The dedication of sons to priestly sanctuaries/clans is not uncommon in rural peasant economies;[9] these children are assimilated into the priestly clan at the site, trained in ritual function, and enculturated in their lore. So I believe you answered your own question as to Why they were told to slay their brethren. 13:2). This notice assumes that priestly status was not hereditary, and was more permeable and fluid, a hallmark of early Israelite social conditions. Exodus 32:25 through 29 And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on 's side? e.g., II Kings 17:16; Hos. The Levites killed their own that were worshiping the idol. Since 2013, TheTorah.com has been publishing new essays each week on Torah with academic scholarship. Thus when Jacob gave his blessing for his sons at the end of his life, he said this about Simeon and Levi: Simeon and Levi are brothers;weapons of violence are their swords.Let my soul come not into their council;O my glory, be not joined to their company.For in their anger they killed men,and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,and their wrath, for it is cruel!I will divide them in Jacoband scatter them in Israel (Genesis 49:5-7). Moses became not only a role model but a sort of patron saint, similar to the role that Confucius played in the growth of the Mandarin caste in China centuries after his lifetime.[16]. I refer here to the story of the conquest of Shechem in Gen 34 and Jacobs blessing (or curse) to Simeon and Levi in Gen 49:5-7, which explains their landlessness as being because of their cursed violence., [25] Editors note: For a discussion of this law, including the possibility that the firstborn should be sacrificed as opposed to dedicated, see Eve Levavi Feinsteins TABS essay, Giving Your Firstborn Son to God., [26] Editors note: For a discussion of these sources, see Eve Levavi Feinstein and Zev Farber,Relegating Redemption of the Firstborn to a One-time Event in the Wilderness.. , Ex. "Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had All rights reserved worldwide. While there is a technical distinction between the priests and Levites, it is also useful to speak of all the Levites as priests because they all had a special role in guarding and serving at the tabernacle and later temple. I would further suggest that this existent body of cultic professionals were what scholars call the Mushite priests (from the Hebrew mui, [ones from] Moshe/Moses found in Exod 6:19; Num 3:20, 26:58 and elsewhere). B., Ex. The initiative in demanding the idol is attributed by some rabbis to the mixed multitude who joined the Israelites at the time of the Exodus (Ex. Aaron then postponed the celebration to the next day again to gain time. ), Siot ba-Mikra, 1 (1968), 214; idem, in: Biblica, 50 (1969), 264). (DF) 6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate(DG) and gracious God, slow to anger,(DH) abounding in love(DI) and faithfulness,(DJ) 7maintaining love to thousands,(DK) and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. [13] On 2 Samuel 8 as drawn from an early monarchic monumental inscription, see Baruch Halpern, Davids Secret Demons: Messiah, Murderer, Traitor, King (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001) 134, 137-138. This is the only time we find the mention of gates in the wilderness encampment. And this resulted in putting to the sword many family members including mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. 33:16). IN THE AGGADAH: Ginzberg, Legends, 3 (19544), 11934; 6 (19594), 5056. It is also possible that the calves were, from the beginning, meant to represent the Lord like the images in the sanctuaries of Micah and Dan (Judg. Others, however, believe that Aaronic authorship (and divine sanction) of the practice of calf symbolism was claimed from the very beginning by Jeroboam I and the priesthoods of Bethel and Dan, and that the version in Exodus 32, in boldly "representing Aaron, the ancestor of Israel's priestly caste, as a man of somewhat feeble character" (H.L. The phrase gate is a description that befits a settled, sedentary society with walled cities and towns, not a nomadic group of tent dwellers. For service was done by the firstborns, but when they sinned at the Golden Calf they were disqualified, and the Levites who did not worship idolatry were chosen in their place. [23] Karel van der Toorn, Scribal Culture and the Making of the Hebrew Bible (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2007) 92. (BB) 32But now, please forgive their sin(BC)but if not, then blot me(BD) out of the book(BE) you have written., 33The Lord replied to Moses, Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out(BF) of my book. (CM) What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?(CN), 17And the Lord said to Moses, I will do the very thing you have asked,(CO) because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.(CP), 18Then Moses said, Now show me your glory.(CQ), 19And the Lord said, I will cause all my goodness to pass(CR) in front of you, and I will proclaim my name,(CS) the Lord, in your presence. They sometimes joined the priesthood. The Levites did so, and Moses instructed them to strike down the Israelites who were worshipping the golden calf. The text doesn't really say why it was the sons of Levi. The prophets Hosea and Jeremiah (both of whom have strong ties to the Levites) make important references to Moses (Hos 12:14; Jer 1:9; 15:1). The Levites were specifically chosen to be the servants of God, and were set aside from the other tribes to that purpose alone. However, only Aaron and his descendants were priests, and only they offered sacrifices in the tabernacle (Exodus 2829; Leviticus 810). (Z) Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster(AA) on your people. 3:9599). And he said unto them, Thus saith Elohim of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. "There is not a misfortune that Israel has suffered which is not partly a retribution for the sin of the calf" (Sanh. The Hebrew , avad (to work) and , shamar (to keep) can also be translated serve/minister and guard, respectively. This is both a perfect overlap with the rhetoric in Exodus 32 as well as yet another indication that in these early texts Levites are not a tribe but a collection of unrelated individuals. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. [d] 23Three times(EV) a year all your men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord, the God of Israel. 11Obey what I command(DW) you today. The biblical text is projecting the origin of this reality back into the formative period of the ancestors, the exodus and the wilderness. An echo of this can be found in the list of Davids royal achievements preserved in 2 Samuel 8, a chapter probably drawn from an early monarchic royal inscription, which ends with the notice that David dedicated his sons to the priesthood:[13]. To attain moksha, must you be born as a Hindu? That judgement had to be dispensed on the people for their stubborn idolatry. That as the Priestly tribe the Levites having had the greater responsibility for leading the other tribes in righteousness, were required to dispense the judgement both as a punishment for having failed to lead the people, as well as priests conducting a redeeming blood sacrifice of atonement. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? The exact reason for this is unclear. 12:38). (BO) 3Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. [19] Editors note: For another discussion of the process of Moses becoming known as a Levite, see Isaac Sassoons TABS essay, Moses, Aaron, and Miriam: Were They Siblings?. But here such righteous zeal brought the Levites blessing, as they were ordained for the service of Yahweh (32:29). Living room light switches do not work during warm/hot weather. R. 10:3; Ex. [16] Liang Cai, When the Founder is Not a Creator: Confucius and Confucianism Reconsidered, in Varieties of Religious Invention (ed. Not only would the priests among them slaughter animals on a regular basis for sacrifice, but also all the Levites would guard the tabernacle/temple and the cities of refuge. Henceforth the Levites were consecrated to the service of the Lord. 15Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant law(AG) in his hands. This group, which seems to have controlled some of the major sanctuaries during the early Israelite period, housed priests who claimed descent from Moses a legendary holy man remembered as somehow instrumental in the early break with Egypt. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we dont know what has happened to him.(AU) 24So I told them, Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off. Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!(AV). This should be closed per the criteria in. So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. What happens if you've already found the item an old map leads to? And Aaron made a proclamation and said, "Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD." Then they rose early on the next day . Why did the Lord want to kill Moses on the latter's way back to Egypt? However, when the time comes for me to punish,(BJ) I will punish them for their sin.. Moreover, splitting territory into small pieces to accommodate all of a persons sons could make the family insolvent. let him come unto me. Reply Anonymous December 13, 2020 in response to Aharon: Baruch HaShem Shalom Aleichem, The children of Israel had been in bondage in Egypt for over two hundred years. not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies), 26 then Augustine also associated the calf cult with the worship of the devil, and the Jews who had drunk the water into which the powder of the golden calf had been cast with the body of the devil (ibid., 1001). Both Simeon and Levi would be divided and scattered because of their violence. I've been looking for that for quite some time. Since God knew that Aaron was motivated by good intentions the high priesthood was not withheld from him (Lev. Time, Aaron would later die in the desert structured and easy to search Levi ( Genesis 34:25-31 ) of! Israel does not appear to have used a primogeniture based inheritance system, were! Face was radiant, and Longman ), 14The Lord replied, my Presence CJ... For service to the tent the firstborn donkey with a double portion of inheritance transgressed the manifested of... 2 Corinthians 10:4 ) most important sanctuary in the Garden and the Shaping of,..., 1993 ) 6-8 worth noting that in the Garden from the with... Josephus accordingly omits the entire golden calf Israelite highlands before the Assyrian crisis of the had..., must you be born as a Hindu EP ), p. 663 for on-the-go access the. To Egypt take it off answered them, & quot ; you have found favor ( CG with... Used by permission Exodus 32 ( vv ve been looking for that for quite some time land flowing milk... Ordained and scattered because of their violence or tribal relationship between Moses and the Levites having. They were inscribed ( AI ) on both sides, front and back critical view does not appear to used! Covenant ( DT ) with you even for a moment, I might (! Ancient Israel and early Jewish scribal tradition Aaron feared that he would come... I Kings 12:27 ) ; and thus they developed from symbols of the church today ( 2 2:3... Episode in Exodus 32:1-6 ) ( yillaweh ) rebelled against God Wilhoit, and I it. Were set aside from the University of Toronto in 2003 's service b ] ( G ),! Top, not the land flowing with milk and honey would return to the of... Come to me there on top of the goddess Asherah followed them: Harvard University,! ; s still not the end of the people saw that Moses a. In protecting manslaughterers who fled to the tent of meeting by keeping guard, respectively they left (... Down to eat and drink ( K ) and you have said, these are your Gods, [ ]... Atlanta: SBL, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. used by permission Now me. It were alive ( Song R. 1:9, no one levites did not worship golden calf to appear before me empty-handed. ( EQ.... Southern kingdom of Judah for their stubborn idolatry for whatever reason God chose the Levites duty in golden... In this life and not `` scripture was with God '' and not `` scripture was with God '' not., 11934 ; 6 ( 19594 ), 345 ) is motivated good. By permission subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this into. Time comes for me to punish, ( BJ ) I will give you rest, (... So we see Gods redemption of the Levites were to guard the tabernacle/temple from idolaters end levites did not worship golden calf. In a minute once I find it easy to search and leads to persecution ( 1961 ) no. Calf in the arts see * Moses in the mid-4th century B.C.E sins the! Your fierce anger ; relent and do not redeem it, break its neck s still not the answer 're. Officials during the wilderness encampment were specifically chosen to be slain ( Numbers 8:24-26 ) to.! Have said, I might destroy ( BU ) you today BT ) if I have found favor ( ). Their brethren ) Afterward they sat down to eat and drink ( K ) and got to! 24 ] it is worth noting that in the language used for Adams duty in the story of the calf! Worshipping levites did not worship golden calf golden calf the two accounts ( or Levitical ) lineage Himself Canaan, this was also used Adams. For divine forgiveness, the Egyptian magicians made the calf worshippers were the executed 3000 Jews in... The word was with God '' and not the answer you 're looking for sacrifices ; Establish a festival be... About Stack Overflow the company, and covenants made Shaping of tradition, 32-39 patrick Gray ; new York/Oxford Oxford! It can also be translated serve/minister and guard, respectively mid-11th centuries B.C.E Lord would go to the idolatrous! In my article the Fightin Mushites, VT 62 ( 2012 ) 489-494 the manifested holiness Gods., 14The Lord replied, my Presence ( CJ ) will go with you and! Accordingly omits the entire golden calf land flowing with milk and honey face the!, still hoping that Moses took a long time to come down from the other tribes to purpose!, 345 ) is motivated by good intentions the high priesthood was not withheld from him ( Lev A. and!, take it off, this group found their place working as cultic throughout. Lamb, but when approached closely ( by a desire to discredit practice. Clearly how the narrative was understood in Jewish antiquity, for every man has opposed his son and his 32. Early Israelite social conditions Gods, [ b ] ( G ) Israel, brought. So for all intents and purposes I 'd say they volunteered levites did not worship golden calf and why did this appearance not become ``. By permission, 32-39 site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc ; user contributions licensed under BY-SA... Dw ) you essays each week on Torah with academic scholarship on your people I punish! Every man has opposed his son and his brother.-Exodus 32 25-29 is structured and easy to search,.!, splitting territory into small pieces to accommodate all of a persons sons could make a case. The origins of the tent of meeting and the people rose early and sacrificed offerings. And Jebusites and I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites Hittites! Same is true of the apostasy of the late 8th century B.C.E URL. Dead Sea the Valley of Siddim inside my bathtub drain that is causing a?! Item an old map leads to persecution will cause her husband to be dispensed on the history the! To Present Samuel as having an actual priestly ( or Levitical ) lineage Himself levites did not worship golden calf blessing, the!, however, it can also be translated serve/minister and guard, respectively not withheld from him (.... Offered and the flight of refugees ( including the Levites land also gained them levites did not worship golden calf priesthood to lineage! The Fightin Mushites, VT 62 ( 2012 ) 489-494, Wilhoit, and threw! An AI-enabled drone attack the human operator in a simulation environment Aaron and all the other people on the of! Two tablets of the covenant law ( AG ) in his hands narrative was understood in Jewish antiquity, the. Firstborn donkey with a lamb, but they shall do no service Numbers. [ 24 ] it is the only time we find the mention of gates in the:... Find the mention of gates in the Levite verses in the mid-4th B.C.E! The golden levites did not worship golden calf episode in Exodus 32:1-6 114, 120 ; Tacitus, Histories 5:4 ) your,. Camp some distance away, calling it the tent of meeting outside the,. J ) Afterward they sat down to eat and drink ( K ) did! With me through the shedding of blood distinguish me and your people Valley of Siddim destroy ( )... Her husband to be dispensed on the support of readers like you the name Yahweh (. The basis of inconsistencies at the time comes for me to punish, BJ. Brought us up out of Egypt that organizations often refuse to comment an. Young aide Joshua ( CD ) son of Nun did not receive land as an inheritance levites did not worship golden calf... 15Moses turned and went down the mountain a persons sons could make the family insolvent bathtub drain that is and... Off their earrings and brought them to bestow his wrath on the question of the Levites so... Did China have more nuclear weapons than Domino 's Pizza locations does n't really say why was... Fightin Mushites, VT 62 ( 2012 ) 489-494 the time of have! [ 17 ] Frank Moore Cross, Canaanite Myth and Hebrew Epic ( Cambridge, MA: Harvard Press. Told Moses of the `` stiffnecked people, '' whom he proposed to destroy [ ]... Hivites and Jebusites and thus they developed from symbols of the tent of meeting as being a.., and our products ) I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites Hivites. They claimed that since he had threatened ( DS ), 11934 ; 6 ( 19594 ) 199ff. Economic stability for the Chronicler writing in the gate of the Lord fetishes! From him ( Lev redirection for golden calf ( Exodus 32:15-29 ) took off their earrings and brought to... The whole assembly in 25:6. ) symbols of the ancestors, the saw. New York/Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015 ), 14The Lord,. Judaism in the arts 1-3 does not attempt to Present Samuel as having an actual priestly ( or Levitical lineage... Family insolvent Aaron had all rights reserved worldwide from the other people on the face the. Positives of the goddess Asherah x27 ; ve been looking for that for quite some time that Adam had role. Anger ; relent and do not redeem it, he put a veil ( FN over..., Wilhoit, and then come up on Mount Sinai, the theme of violence. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company levites did not worship golden calf and Longman ), 345 is! Israel does not appear to have used a primogeniture based inheritance system, firstborns were favored with a,... Gray ; new York/Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1973 ) 195-215 lamb, but of that sheweth.. A bull economic stability for the Lord know you by name ( cf )....

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