Don Isaac Abravanel, sometimes spelled Abarbanel (1437-1508) was a probing and penetrating Jewish thinker, as well as a prolific
Biblical commentator. The role of the Levites is covered extensively in Numbers 3. Among other things,
Abravanel delineates their official functions. He also discusses the tribe’s population size, in relation to
the other tribes.
“And God spoke unto Moses saying. Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set
them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.”
For Abravanel, the Torah’s recruitment of the Levites to assist the priests was a practical measure. “And
God spoke to Moses saying. Bring the tribe of Levi near…” How so? Aaron and his two sons were
physically incapable of fulfilling all the multifaceted Tabernacle tasks for an entire nation, a populous
one to boot. Furthermore, the priests alone could not possibly transport the Tabernacle fixtures and
vessels. For such a cumbersome job, Aaron and his sons needed all-hands-on-deck, if you will.
Let’s be clear, Abravanel continues. Levites were chosen to be the priests’ attendants or employees,
meaning Aaron and his sons were the bosses, the Levites the workers. “And set them before Aaron the
priest, that they may minister unto him” makes that point quite explicitly.
Abravanel lists the Levites three chief functions. They are:
- “That they may minister unto him” alludes to the Levite’s vocal accompaniment in the
Tabernacle. Singing and instrumentation were part and parcel of sacrificial services. - “And they shall safeguard My trust, and the trust of the entire congregation” refers to guard
duty in the Tabernacle, really an honor guard. Of paramount importance was keeping the
Hebrews at bay. Under no circumstances were non-Tabernacle personnel allowed to enter those
areas deemed most holy. - “To do the service of the Tabernacle” conveys another function of the Levites: they lugged the
Tabernacle sub-parts throughout the desert trek.
Before closing here, let us add one more point that Abravanel makes about the Levites – their
population size in comparison to the other tribes. In Egypt, Hebrews multiplied prodigiously. Divine
providence saw to it. Why? Had the Maker not wildly boosted the Jews’ fertility, they would not have
fielded an army large enough to liberate Canaan. Indeed, the population explosion was a “Godsend.” A
swarming nation would also be able to hold the territory, and settle Canaan.
Imagine. In the two hundred and ten-year stay in Egypt, the Hebrews’ numbers grew exponentially. A
wholly unnatural phenomenon that allowed the tribes to conquer and dwell in Israel, as stated. Now, let
us focus on the tribe of Levi.
God foresaw that the Levites would be entrusted with service in the Tabernacle. For their toil, they
would be supported by their brethren through gifts and tithes. Furthermore, the Levites would be
landless in Canaan, as the Torah states that they did not receive a portion of territory.
Accordingly, the Levites’ population growth in Egypt dwarfed in comparison to the other tribes. Had
their numbers swelled, they would have starved to death because the tithes wouldn’t suffice to feed
them all. In sum, Abravanel writes that the Levites’ population was just enough for them to fulfil their
destiny, but not a soul more.
For the entire discourse on the Levites, see Abravanel’s World.
