Levi

Once again Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi.

Three days later, while they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons (Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi) took their swords, went into the unsuspecting city, and slaughtered every male.

Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble upon me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people of this land. We are few in number; if they unite against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.”

The sons of Leah were Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are weapons of violence.

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;

Now a man of the house of Levi married a daughter of Levi,

These were the names of the sons of Levi according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived 137 years.

The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites according to their records.

So Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him.

The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people fell dead.

“Do not number the tribe of Levi in the census with the other Israelites.

“Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.

“Number the Levites by their families and clans. You are to count every male a month old or more.”

These were the sons of Levi by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

“Take a census of the Kohathites among the Levites by their clans and families,

Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath son of Levi, along with some Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—conducted

and tomorrow you are to place fire and incense in them in the presence of the LORD. Then the man the LORD chooses will be the one who is holy. It is you sons of Levi who have taken too much upon yourselves!”

Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you sons of Levi!

He has brought you near, you and all your fellow Levites, but you are seeking the priesthood as well.

and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi, because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe.

The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds.

But bring with you also your brothers from the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may join you and assist you and your sons before the Tent of the Testimony.

Behold, I have given to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do, the service of the Tent of Meeting.