LEVI REFERENCES & NOTES:

is of ’s line; is GERSHON KOHATH MERARI of ’s line (1 Chr. 24:2,3,6).

Ahimelech murdered at Nob under Saul, escapes to David (1 Sam. 22). AMRAM IZHAR HEBRON UZZIEL Abiathar unfaithful as high priest under David (defects with Adonijah); Zadok a faithful priest at time of David (1 Kings 1:5- MIRIAM KORAH NEPHEG ZICHRI 8).

Zadok made high priest under Solomon; fulfils prophecy of taking priesthood from NADAB ABIHU ELEAZAR ITHAMAR SONS OF KORAH house of (1 Kings 2:27, 35) *Therefore Eli must have been of Ithamar’s line. At some point the priesthood seems to have ELI* passed to Eli from Phinehas (and so changing family lines). PHINEHAS Line of Zadok lasted until the exile and also the return (1 Chr. 6:8-15; cf. 3:2). ETHAN HEMAN ASAPH It continued through intertestamental AHIMELECH (JEDUTHAN)   times until Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-  164 B.C.) sold the priesthood to , ZADOK ABIATHAR who was not of the priestly line (2 Macb 4:23-50). By the time of Christ, Roman powers often appointed High Priests for political reasons, and they did not serve *Eli succeeded or for life (it was not a hereditary office). (, Antiq. viii. 1, 3; v.11, 5). EZRA** JEHOZADAK  Key singers/musicians appointed to JESHUA **Ezra was the brother Jehozadak, accompany the ark being bought to Post-exilic who was taken into captivity by under David (1 Chr. 15). (Ezra 2:2,36; 3:2; Nebuchadnezzar (1 Chr. 6:13-15; Neh. 12:1-12) Ezra 7:1-2) FROM MT. SINAI TO THE JORDAN RIVER R!!SF0?%!%&$?! ~ A CHRONOLOGY OF KEY EVENTS ~ R!!?#$F+&$?%!%&$?!

! @0('+.%"! [*/'+.%"! IF(,'+.%"!

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‘LEVI,’ ‘LEVITE,’ ‘LEVITES’ [1 Chr. 2,6,9,12,13,15,16,21,23,24,26,27,28; 2 Chr. 5,7,8,11,13,17,19,20,23,24,29,30,31,34,35]

I CHRONICLES II CHRONICLES

1 Kings 12:31 (Jeroboam uses I SAMUEL II SAMUEL non-levitical priests for shrines)

I KINGS II KINGS 2 Sam. 15:24 (ark 1 Sam. 6:15 (the ark brought out when David returns to Israel) flees from Absalom) 1 Kings 8:4 (ark brought into temple)

Solomon on Death of Saul and throne Hannah Ahazia (Israel) and Samuel (Song of the Bow) David is old Jehoshaphat (Judah) Captivity

REFERENCE TO LEVITES:

MENTION OF LEVITES BY NAME: The record of Samuel refers twice to the Levites; the record of Kings refers Many Levites are not mentioned in the once to the Levites, and once to the Kings record, but are prolifically PRIESTS BUT NOT LEVITES: sons of Levi. mentioned in Chronicles. The Kings record makes frequent 3 of the 4 references in Samuel and Ex. Asaph – 2x in Kings (2 Kings 18:18, reference to the priests of the time, Kings are linked to the ark. The last 37) in passing as father of Joah. But he but seems to deliberately leave out reference is to their neglect under is mentioned about 18x in I-II references to Levites, even when they Jeroboam. Chronicles. were key to certain events.

LEVITICAL DUTIES TEMPLE PRACTICES (1 Chr. 23-26; 2 Chr. 13; (1 Chr. 9; 15-16; 22; 23; 28-29; 2 Chr. 19; etc.) 3-7; 11:16; 13; 15; 24; 29; 34; 36:23)

SOUTHERN & GENEALOGIES - JERUSALEM - (1 Chr. 1-9; see 2 Chr. (2 Chron. 10-36) PRAYERS/PSALMS 31:16,19 *Note: key for (1 Chr. 4:10; 16; 21:8; 29; 2 establishing true temple Chr. 6; 20:5-13; 33:11-19) practices; cf. 1 Kings 12:31; Ezra 2)

PASSOVER (2 Chr. 30; 35) *Note: RE-INSTITUTION OF MOSES’ AND DAVID’S UNIQUE detail given in Josiah’s INSTRUCTIONS (Moses = 22x; David, see 2 Chr. 7:6; time vs. Kings record 8:14; 23:18; 29:25,26,27,30; 35:4,15) EMPHASIS OF CHRONICLES Spiritual History & Lessons MUSIC (1 Chr. 15; 25; 2 HELPING/SUPPORTING Chr. 20; 29; 35) *Note: a key word in Chronicles – 24x Heb. ‘azar’ #5286, to succor/support SERVICE (only 3x in Kings) *Note: a key word in Chronicles – about 40x WORSHIP (Ex.1 Chr. 5:20; 12:1, 17-22; 2 Heb. ‘abodah’, #5656 (only 1x in Kings) (see Passover, Music, Chr. 14:11; 2 Chr. 32:3, etc.) (Ex. 1 Chr. 23:28; 2 Chr. 24:12) Prayers, Levitical duties, emphasis on sacrifices & the ark) LEVITES & PROPHETS

Chronicles: Leadership of Levites (also key prophets) in the southern kingdom (many repentant). SPEECHES/EXHORTATIONS Kings: Leadership of prophets in northern kingdom (mostly unrepentant). (1 Chr. 13; 28-29; 2 Chr. 7; 15; 16; 19; 20; 21; 36:23.) SEEKING THE LORD Notice: Elijah – 1x in Chronicles, yet extensive in Kings Elisha – 0x in Chronicles, yet extensive in Kings (1 Chr. 1:5; 15:13; 16:10-11; 22:19; 28:8-9; 2 Chr. 7:14; Note: we find 400 prophets + Micaiah under Ahab in Israel (Northern Kingdom). Interestingly no Levites seem to be 11:16; 12:14; 14:4; 15:2,12- handy here at this time (2 Chr. 18:5-7). 13; 19:3; 20:3-4; 30:19; 31:21; 34:3) *Note: not one Note: When Josiah reads the Law he takes ‘Levites’ as Chronicles records (2 Chr. 34:30), but ‘prophets’ as Kings records reference in Kings! (2 Kings 23:2). Chronicles tells us that Levites are noted for ‘prophesying’ in their musical duties (1 Chr. 25:1). THE PROPHETS & THE FUTURE ROLE OF LEVI Indicating a restoration of the levitical order in the restored Kingdom of Israel ~

Assyrian captivity Nebuchadnezzar begins invasions Fall of & exiles return

Temple destroyed

ISAIAH JEREMIAH MALACHI

C. 740-690 BC C. 630-575 BC C. 500-478 BC

EZEKIEL

C. 594-560 BC

“All the flocks of Kedar shall “David shall never lack a man “And the Levites… shall be be gathered together to ministers in My sanctuary as to sit on the throne of the “He will purify the sons of you…they shall ascend with gatekeepers of the house and house of Israel; nor shall the Levi, and purge them as gold acceptance on My altar” ministers of the house…” priests, the Levites, lack a and silver, that they may (60:7) (44:10-11) man to offer burnt offerings offer to the LORD an offering

before Me…” (33:17) in righteousness. Then the “But you shall be named the “But the priests, the Levites, offering of Judah and priests of the LORD” (61:6) the sons of Zadok, who kept “so will I multiply the Jerusalem will be pleasant to the charge of My sanctuary… descendents of David My the LORD, as in the days of “’And I will take some of they shall come near Me… servant and the Levites who old, as in former years…” them for priests and Levites, they shall stand before Me” minister to Me.” (33:22) (3:3-4) says the LORD’” (66:21) (44:15) TWO ORDERS OF PRIESTS & LEVITES Ezekiel 44:10-31 [vs. 15-16 are parenthetical (‘But’)]

MORTAL IMMORTAL (VS.10-14, 17-31) (VS. 15-16) 1. Represent those who previously led 1. Represent those who were faithful Israel astray (44:10,12,13) (kept the charge) when the rest went astray (44:15) 2. They shall not come near to Me 2. They shall come near to Me 3. Will not come into the Most Holy 3. Will come into the Most Holy 4. Will not come near any holy things; 4. Will come near My table Minister as gatekeepers in the (table = altar, cf. Mal.1:7) sanctuary 5. Slay sacrifices for all the people 5. Offer fat and blood before Adonay 6. Keep the charge of the house 6. Keep the charge of the altar (40:46)

sweat, shave, marry, can be defiled can enter in to the very presence of (vs.18-31) Yah; come before His holy things given the ‘holy oblation’ where sanctuary of the LORD is (48:10-12) Levitical – taken from Israel that will Sons of Zadok (after the order of have been converted and instructed by Melchizedek) *Psalm 110; Heb. 7; Rev. Elijah 5:10) – those who have been resurrected (clearly a vision of future kingdom – 40:2-4; cf. Rev. 1:12-15; Isa. 2)

Note: The description of the ‘sons of Zadok’ does not match it the details of vs. 17- end. The Levites in these verses are in the inner court, but not the Holy and Most Holy. The Levites of vs. 17-end have contact with the people, but not the presence of God. Yet the sons of Zadok come before God – they, with the Prince-High Priest, fill the necessary gap that exists between the mortal Levites and Yahweh.

Note: The altar seems to be in the Most Holy (inner circle of H. Sulley’s drawings) – at the top of the hill, enshrined in glory, smoke, etc.

GROUPS IN THE KINGDOM AGE IN RELATION TO YAHWEH

Nations -- Israel -- Leviticals -- Sons of Zadok -- Prince -- Yahweh (most ‘remote’)

EZEKIEL’S VISION OF THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES RECONCILIATION AND THE SACRIFICES OF PAST AND FUTURE

FIRST – MOSAIC COVENANT SECOND – NEW COVENANT (OF ISRAEL UNDER THE LAW) (OF THE KINGDOM, IN EZEKIEL)

“make reconciliation with the blood “one lamb… to make reconciliation of the sacrifices upon the altar, to [atonement] for them” make atonement for all Israel” (Ezek. 45:15,17) J (2 Chr. 29:24) ESUS

C

Typical sacrifices HRIST Memorial sacrifices

–

‘

ONCE FOR ALL Cannot perfect the conscience of Can perfect the conscience of worshippers, as Christ had not died worshippers, as Christ has died and and risen (nor could they when he lives forever; his death and had risen, as they were still offered resurrection are now connected to the by high priests whose office had reconciliation offerings by faith in the been superseded by a high priest of worshipper, and offered to God ’

Judah after a different order than through the Prince and High Priest that of Aaron). after the order of Melchizedec (they have a character, reality and power that was not possible under the Mosaic law).

THE BLOOD OF THE MOSAIC SACRIFICES WAS LACKING (CP. HEB. 9:11-15) 1. Because it was not human 2. Because it was not innocent human blood 3. Because it was not the blood of one innocent of the great transgression, who had come to life again through the power of the Eternal Spirit.

Note: Christ’s sacrifice (and not the animal sacrifices) was effective for ‘the transgressions under the first covenant,’ and ‘to redeem those who were under the law.’ (Heb. 9:15; Gal. 4:5)

Note: Take away the death and resurrection of Christ, and faith in them, and the promises, and reconciliation under both covenants is imperfect and vain.

Based on the article “Sacrifice in the Future Age and Christ’s Accomplished Work” by Bro. John Thomas in The Christadelphian, Vol. 13 (1876) p. 433-444.