Apologies. i thought I had published this blog two weeks ago. Must have hit a wrong button.
Tanakh (24 results)
1. Shemot 2:1 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיֵּלֶךְ אִישׁ מִבֵּית לֵוִי וַיִּקַּח אֶת בַּת לֵוִי.
Exodus 2:1-4 – (NKJV Moses Is Born – Heb. 11:23)
1 And a man of the house (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) of Levi (h3878. לֵוִי lêwîy) went and took (as wife) a daughter of Levi. 2 So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he (was) a beautiful (child), she hid him three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she took an ark of bulrushes for him, daubed it with asphalt and pitch, put the child in it, and laid (it) in the reeds by the river’s bank. 4 And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.
2. Vayikra 25:33 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַאֲשֶׁר יִגְאַל מִן הַלְוִיִּם וְיָצָא מִמְכַּר בַּיִת וְעִיר אֲחֻזָּתוֹ בַּיֹּבֵל כִּי בָתֵּי עָרֵי הַלְוִיִּם הִוא אֲחֻזָּתָם בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵייִשְׂרָאֵל.
Leviticus 25:32-34
32 Nevertheless the cities of the Levites (h3881. לֵוִיִּי lêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy), and the houses (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) in the cities of their possession, the Levites (h3881. לֵוִיִּיlêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy) may redeem at any time. 33 And if a man purchases (a house) from the Levites (h3881. לֵוִיִּי lêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy), then the house (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) that was sold in the city of his possession shall be released in the Jubilee; for the houses (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) in the cities of the Levites (h3881. לֵוִיִּי lêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy) are their possession among the children of Israel. 34 But the field of the common-land of their cities may not be sold, for it is their perpetual possession.
3. Bemidbar 3:15 (Mikraot Gedolot)
פְּקֹד אֶת בְּנֵי לֵוִי לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם כׇּל זָכָר מִבֶּן חֹדֶשׁ וָמַעְלָה תִּפְקְדֵם.
Numbers 3:14-20 – (NKJV Census of the Levites Commanded – cf. Num. 1:47–54)
14 Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying: 15 “Number(h6485. פָּקַד p̱âqaḏ) the children of Levi (h3878. לֵוִי lêwîy) by their fathers’ houses(h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ), by their families; you shall number every male from a month old and above.”
16 So Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded. 17 These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 18 And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei. 19 And the sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 And the sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites (h3881. לֵוִיִּי lêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy) by their fathers’ houses(h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ).
4. Bemidbar 3:20 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וּבְנֵי מְרָרִי לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם מַחְלִי וּמוּשִׁי אֵלֶּה הֵם מִשְׁפְּחֹת הַלֵּוִי לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם.
- I point out only one important word here, h6485. פָּקַד p̱âqaḏ, which we saw in Exodus 34:6-7, giving significant insight there. The EDBH entry is very helpful. “Number” (to me) is a very weak translation of a much more powerful word.
9 And Micah said to him, “Where do you come from?”
So he said to him, “I am a Levite (h3881. לֵוִיִּי lêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy) from Bethlehem(h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ + h3899. לֶחֶם leḥem) in Judah, and I am on my way to find a place to stay.”
11. Shofetim 18:15 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיָּסוּרוּ שָׁמָּה וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל בֵּית הַנַּעַר הַלֵּוִי בֵּית מִיכָה וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ לוֹ לְשָׁלוֹם.
Judges 18:14-17
14 Then the five men who had gone to spy out the country of Laish answered and said to their brethren, “Do you know that there are in these houses (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) an ephod, household idols, a carved image, and a molded image? Now therefore, consider what you should do.” 15 So they turned aside there, and came to the house(h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) of the young Levite (h3881. לֵוִיִּי lêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy) man—to the house (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) of Micah—and greeted him. 16 The six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who (were) of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate. 17 Then the five men who had gone to spy out the land went up. Entering there, they took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molded image. The priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men (who were) armed with weapons of war.
12. Yechezkel 45:5 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַחֲמִשָּׁה וְעֶשְׂרִים אֶלֶף אֹרֶךְ וַעֲשֶׂרֶת אֲלָפִים רֹחַב [וְהָיָה] (יהיה) לַלְוִיִּם מְשָׁרְתֵי הַבַּיִת לָהֶם לַאֲחֻזָּהעֶשְׂרִים לְשָׁכֹת.
Ezekiel 45:1-5
1 “Moreover, when you divide the land by lot into inheritance, you shall set apart a district for the LORD, a holy section of the land; its length shall be twenty-five thousand cubits, and the width ten thousand. It shall be holy throughout its territory all around. 2 Of this there shall be a square plot for the sanctuary (h4720. מִקְדָּשׁmiqḏâš), five hundred by five hundred rods, with fifty cubits around it for an open space. 3 So this is the district you shall measure: twenty-five thousand cubits long and ten thousand wide; in it shall be the sanctuary (h4720. מִקְדָּשׁ miqḏâš), the Most Holy Place. 4 It shall be a holy section of the land, belonging to the priests (h3548. כֹּהֵןḵôhên), the ministers of the sanctuary (h4720. מִקְדָּשׁ miqḏâš), who come near to minister to the LORD; it shall be a place for their houses and a holy place for the sanctuary (h4720. מִקְדָּשׁ miqḏâš). 5 An area twenty-five thousand cubits long and ten thousand wide shall belong to the Levites (h3881. לֵוִיִּי lêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy), the ministers of the temple (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ); they shall have twenty chambers as a possession.
13. Zekharyah 12:13 (Mikraot Gedolot)
מִשְׁפַּחַת בֵּית לֵוִי לְבָד וּנְשֵׁיהֶם לְבָד מִשְׁפַּחַת הַשִּׁמְעִי לְבָד וּנְשֵׁיהֶם לְבָד.
Zechariah 12:10-14
10 “And I will pour on the house (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for (his) only (son), and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. 11 In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12 And the land shall mourn, every family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; 13 the family of the house (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) of Levi (h3878. לֵוִי lêwîy) by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family (h4940. מִשְׁפָּחָה mišp̱âḥâ) of Shimei by itself, and their wives by themselves; 14 all the families (h4940. מִשְׁפָּחָה mišp̱âḥâ) that remain, every family (h4940. מִשְׁפָּחָה mišp̱âḥâ) by itself, and their wives by themselves.
- Notice “attaching,” which is the meaning we are first given Re: Levi in Genesis 29:34. Is it that they are to be treated like family? That they are to treat others like family?
14. Tehillim 135:20 (Mikraot Gedolot)
בֵּית הַלֵּוִי בָּרְכוּ אֶת י״י יִרְאֵי י״י בָּרְכוּ אֶת י״י.
Psalms 135:20
20 Bless the LORD, O house (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) of Levi (h3878. לֵוִי lêwîy)!
You who fear (h3373. יָרֵא yârê’) the LORD, bless the LORD!
- Parallel here are those in (the house of) Levi and those who fear the LORD. See בלי in Jeremiah 38:11 below.
15. Nechemyah 10:35 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְהַגּוֹרָלוֹת הִפַּלְנוּ עַל קֻרְבַּן הָעֵצִים הַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם וְהָעָם לְהָבִיא לְבֵית אֱלֹהֵינוּ לְבֵית אֲבֹתֵינוּ לְעִתִּיםמְזֻמָּנִים שָׁנָה בְשָׁנָה לְבַעֵר עַל מִזְבַּח י״י אֱלֹהֵינוּ כַּכָּתוּב בַּתּוֹרָה.
Nehemiah 10:34
34(35H) We cast lots among the priests (h3548. כֹּהֵן ḵôhên), the Levites (h3881. לֵוִיִּיlêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy), and the people, for bringing the wood offering into the house(h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) of our God, according to our fathers’ houses (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ), at the appointed times year by year, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God as it is written in the Law.
16. Nechemyah 11:16 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְשַׁבְּתַי וְיוֹזָבָד עַל הַמְּלָאכָה הַחִיצֹנָה לְבֵית הָאֱלֹהִים מֵרָאשֵׁי הַלְוִיִּם.
Nehemiah 11:15-17
15 Also of the Levites (h3881. לֵוִיִּי lêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy): Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni; 16 Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the heads of the Levites (h3881. לֵוִיִּי lêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy), (had) the oversight of the business outside of the house (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) of God; 17 Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, the leader (who) began the thanksgiving with prayer; Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
17. Divrei HaYamim I 23:24 (Mikraot Gedolot)
אֵלֶּה בְנֵי לֵוִי לְבֵית אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם רָאשֵׁי הָאָבוֹת לִפְקוּדֵיהֶם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָם עֹשֵׂה הַמְּלָאכָה לַעֲבֹדַתבֵּית י״י מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמָעְלָה.
1 Chronicles 23:24
24 These (were) the sons of Levi (h3878. לֵוִי lêwîy) by their fathers’ houses (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ)—the heads of the fathers’ (houses) as they were counted individually by the number of their names, who did the work for the service of the house (h1004. בַּיִתḇayiṯ) of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and above.
18. Divrei HaYamim I 24:6 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיִּכְתְּבֵם שְׁמַעְיָה בֶן נְתַנְאֵל הַסּוֹפֵר מִן הַלֵּוִי לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וְהַשָּׂרִים וְצָדוֹק הַכֹּהֵן וַאֲחִימֶלֶךְ בֶּן אֶבְיָתָר וְרָאשֵׁיהָאָבוֹת לַכֹּהֲנִים וְלַלְוִיִּם בֵּית אָב אֶחָד אָחֻז לְאֶלְעָזָר וְאָחֻז אָחֻז לְאִיתָמָר.
1 Chronicles 24:4-6
4 There were more leaders found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar, and (thus) they were divided. Among the sons of Eleazar (were) sixteen heads of (their) fathers’ houses (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ), and eight heads of their fathers’ houses(h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) among the sons of Ithamar. 5 Thus they were divided by lot, one group as another, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials (of the house) of God, from the sons of Eleazar and from the sons of Ithamar. 6 And the scribe, Shemaiah the son of Nethanel, (one) of the Levites (h3881. לֵוִיִּי lêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy), wrote them down before the king, the leaders, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers’ (houses) of the priests and Levites (h3881. לֵוִיִּיlêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy), one father’s house (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) taken for Eleazar and (one) for Ithamar.
19. Divrei HaYamim I 24:30 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וּבְנֵי מוּשִׁי מַחְלִי וְעֵדֶר וִירִימוֹת אֵלֶּה בְּנֵי הַלְוִיִּם לְבֵית אֲבֹתֵיהֶם.
1 Chronicles 24:30
30 Also the sons of Mushi were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites (h3881. לֵוִיִּי lêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy) according to their fathers’ houses (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ).
20. Divrei HaYamim I 28:21 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְהִנֵּה מַחְלְקוֹת הַכֹּהֲנִים וְהַלְוִיִּם לְכׇל עֲבוֹדַת בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים וְעִמְּךָ בְכׇל מְלָאכָה לְכׇל נָדִיב בַּחׇכְמָה לְכׇלעֲבוֹדָה וְהַשָּׂרִים וְכׇל הָעָם לְכׇל דְּבָרֶיךָ.
⦁ 1 Chronicles 28:20-21
20 And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do (it); do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God—my God—(will be) with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. 21 (Here are) the divisions of the priests and the Levites (h3881. לֵוִיִּי lêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy) for all the service of the house (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) of God; and every WILLING (h5081. נָדִיב nâḏîyḇ) CRAFTSMAN (h4399. מְלָאכָה melâ’ḵâ) (will be) with you for all manner of workmanship (h2451. חָכְמָה ḥâḵemâ), for every kind of service; also the leaders and all the people (will be) completely at your command.” This writer’s emphasis. References: [Ex. 35:25, 26; 36:1, 2] Tabernacle connection.
1 Chronicles 28:21
21 וְהִנֵּ֗ה מַחְלְקוֹת֙ הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְהַלְוִיִּ֔ם לְכָל־עֲבוֹדַ֖ת בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעִמְּךָ֙ בְכָל־מְלָאכָ֜ה לְכָל־נָדִ֤יב בַּֽחָכְמָה֙לְכָל־עֲבוֹדָ֔ה וְהַשָּׂרִ֥ים וְכָל־הָעָ֖ם לְכָל־דְּבָרֶֽיךָ׃ פ
- Exodus 35:4-9 – (NKJV Offerings for the Tabernacle Ex. 25:1–9; 39:32–43)
- 4 And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying: 5 ‘Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a WILLING (h5081. נָדִיב nâḏîyḇ) heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze; 6 blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair; 7 ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; 8 oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; 9 onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate.
- Exodus 35:22
- 22 They came, both men and women, as many as had a WILLING (h5081. נָדִיבnâḏîyḇ) heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the LORD.
- ● Exodus 35:24 Everyone who could make a contribution of silver or bronze brought it as the LORD’S contribution. And every one who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work brought it. ● We will get to a big discussion on acacia wood – Tabernacle.
▸ h2451. חָכְמָה ḥâḵemâ; from 2449; wisdom (in a good sense): — skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.
AV (149) – wisdom 145, wisely 2, skilful man 1, wits 1;
wisdom
skill (in war)
wisdom (in administration)
shrewdness, wisdom
wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs)
wisdom (ethical and religious)
21. Divrei HaYamim II 29:16 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיָּבֹאוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים לִפְנִימָה בֵית י״י לְטַהֵר וַיּוֹצִיאוּ אֵת כׇּל הַטֻּמְאָה אֲשֶׁר מָצְאוּ בְּהֵיכַל י״י לַחֲצַר בֵּית י״י וַיְקַבְּלוּהַלְוִיִּם לְהוֹצִיא לְנַחַל קִדְרוֹן חוּצָה.
⦁ 2 Chronicles 29:15-16
15 And they gathered their brethren, sanctified themselves, and went according to the commandment of the king, at the words of the LORD, to cleanse (h2891. טָהֵר ṭâhêr) the house (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) of the LORD. 16 Then the priests (h3548. כֹּהֵן ḵôhên) went into the {inner part} (h6441. פְּנִימָה p̱eniymâ) of the house (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) of the LORD to cleanse (h2891. טָהֵר ṭâhêr) (it), and brought out all the debris (h2932. טֻמְאָה ṭum’â) that they found in the temple (h1964. הֵיכָל hêḵol) of the LORD to the (court h2691. חָצֵר ḥâṣêr) of the house (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) of the LORD. And the Levites (h3881. לֵוִיִּי lêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy) took it out and carried it to the Brook Kidron.
22. Divrei HaYamim II 29:25 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיַּעֲמֵד אֶת הַלְוִיִּם בֵּית י״י בִּמְצִלְתַּיִם בִּנְבָלִים וּבְכִנֹּרוֹת בְּמִצְוַת דָּוִיד וְגָד חֹזֵה הַמֶּלֶךְ וְנָתָן הַנָּבִיא כִּי בְיַד י״יהַמִּצְוָה בְּיַד נְבִיאָיו.
⦁ 2 Chronicles 29:25-30
25 And he stationed the Levites (h3881. לֵוִיִּי lêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy) in the house (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ) of the LORD with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for thus (was) the commandment of the LORD by His prophets. 26 The Levites (h3881. לֵוִיִּי lêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy) stood with the instruments of David, and the priests (h3548. כֹּהֵן ḵôhên) with the trumpets. 27 Then Hezekiah commanded (them) to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD (also) began, with the trumpets and with the instruments of David king of Israel. 28 So all the assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all (this continued) until the burnt offering was finished. 29 And when they had finished offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed and worshiped. 30 Moreover King Hezekiah and the leaders commanded the Levites(h3881. לֵוִיִּי lêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy) to sing praise to the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped.
23. Divrei HaYamim II 31:17 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְאֵת הִתְיַחֵשׂ הַכֹּהֲנִים לְבֵית אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם וְהַלְוִיִּם מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וּלְמָעְלָה בְּמִשְׁמְרוֹתֵיהֶם בְּמַחְלְקוֹתֵיהֶם.
⦁ 2 Chronicles 31:16-18
16 Besides those males from three years old and up who were written in the genealogy, they distributed to everyone who entered the house of the LORD his daily portion for the work of his service, by his division, 17 and to the priests (h3548. כֹּהֵןḵôhên) who were written in the genealogy (h3187. יָחַשׂ yâḥaś) according to their father’s house (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ), and to the Levites (h3881. לֵוִיִּי lêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy) from twenty years old and up according to their work, by their divisions, 18 and to all who were written in the genealogy (h3187. יָחַשׂ yâḥaś)—their little ones and their wives, their sons and daughters, the whole company of them—for in their faithfulness they sanctified themselves in holiness.
24. Divrei HaYamim II 35:5 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְעִמְדוּ בַקֹּדֶשׁ לִפְלוּגֹּת בֵּית הָאָבוֹת לַאֲחֵיכֶם בְּנֵי הָעָם וַחֲלֻקַּת בֵּית אָב לַלְוִיִּם.
⦁ 2 Chronicles 35:1-6 – (NKJV Josiah Keeps the Passover 2 Kin. 23:21–23)
1 Now Josiah kept a Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem, and they slaughtered the Passover (lambs) on the fourteenth (day) of the first month. 2 And he set the priests in their duties and encouraged them for the service of the house of the LORD. 3 Then he said to the Levites who taught all Israel, who were holy to the LORD: “Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, built. (It shall) no longer be a burden on (your) shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel. 4 Prepare yourselves according to your fathers’ houses, according to your divisions, following the written instruction of David king of Israel and the written instruction of Solomon his son. 5 And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the fathers’ houses of your brethren the lay people, and according to the division of the father’s house of the Levites (h1004. בַּיִת ḇayiṯ + h3881. לֵוִיִּי lêwîyiy; or לֵוִי Leviy). 6 So slaughter the Passover offerings, consecrate yourselves, and prepare them for your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.”
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Tanakh (2 results)
(1). Yirmeyahu 38:11 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וַיִּקַּח עֶבֶד מֶלֶךְ אֶת הָאֲנָשִׁים בְּיָדוֹ וַיָּבֹא בֵית הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל תַּחַת הָאוֹצָר וַיִּקַּח מִשָּׁם בְּלוֹיֵ [סְחָבוֹת] (הסחבות) וּבְלוֹיֵ מְלָחִים וַיְשַׁלְּחֵם אֶל יִרְמְיָהוּ אֶל הַבּוֹר בַּחֲבָלִים.
⦁ Jeremiah 38:7-13
7 Now Ebed-Melech (h5663. עֶבֶד מֶלֶךְ ‘eḇeḏ meleḵ) the Ethiopian (h3569. כּוּשִׁי kûšiy), one of the eunuchs (h5631. סָרִיס sârîys; or סָרִס çariç), who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon. When the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin, 8 Ebed-Melech went out of the king’s house and spoke to the king, saying: 9 “My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon, and he is likely to die from hunger in the place where he is. For there is no more bread in the city.” 10 Then the king commanded Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, “Take from here thirty men with you, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon before he dies.” 11 So Ebed-Melech took the men with him and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took from there old (h1094. בְּלוֹא ḇelô’) clothes (h5499. סְחָבָה seḥâḇâ) and old (h1094. בְּלוֹא ḇelô’) rags (h4418. מָלָח mâlâḥ), and let them down by ropes into the dungeon to Jeremiah. 12 Then Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, “Please put these old (h1094. בְּלוֹא ḇelô’) clothes (h5499. סְחָבָה seḥâḇâ) and rags (h4418. מָלָח mâlâḥ) under your armpits, under the ropes.” And Jeremiah did so. 13 So they pulled Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the dungeon. And Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.
▸ h1094. בְּלוֹא ḇelô’; or (fully) בְּלוֹי blowy; from h1086. בָּלָה ḇâlâ; (only in plural construction) rags: — old.
AV (3) – old 3;
worn out things, rags
▸ h1086. בָּלָה ḇâlâ; a primitive root; to fail; by implication to wear out, decay (causatively, consume, spend): — consume, enjoy long, become (make, wax) old, spend, waste.
AV (16) – wax old 9, become old 2, consume 2, waste 1, enjoy 1, non translated variant 1;
to wear out, become old
(Qal) to wear out
(Piel)
to wear out
to wear out by use, use up completely
to enjoy, use to the full
- If we follow one of Rabbi Fohrman’s favorite prescriptions and look for “🎶 🎵One of these things is not like the others 🎵 🎶,” we may be able to learn from this passage. Here is the family for בלוא:
▸ GV p.27 בלל mix [new element into existing ones]; p.27 בלה decay [wither]; p.26 בלאwear out; p.22 בול lump [together]; p.99 יבל bring home; p.147 נבל wither [prevent growth]
DV אבל – p.27 בלל mix [new element into existing ones]; p.27 בלה decay [wither]; p.26 בלא wear out; p.22 בול lump [together] > p.1 אבל lack wholeness
DV בהל – p.27 בלל mix [new element into existing ones]; p.27 בלה decay [wither]; p.26 בלא wear out > p.21 בהל shock
¿ DV הבל – p.27 בלל mix [new element into existing ones]; p.27 בלה decay [wither]; p.26 בלא wear out > p.55 הבל lack value ? No באל, but would be cognate with בהלAND בעל (Baal).
CM בלל integrate disparate elements (B30); בלה and בלא separate out completely (B28); בול combine/separate (B17); יבל express control (C5); נבל weaken; lose essence (D66); אבל and הבל restrain (A5); בהל have/lack control (B11)
▸ h5499. סְחָבָה seḥâḇâ; from h5498. סָחַב sâḥaḇ; a rag: — cast clout.
AV (2) – clout 2;
rag, clout (stuff pulled or dragged about)
▸ h5498. סָחַב sâḥaḇ; a primitive root; to trail along: — draw (out), tear.
AV (5) – draw 2, draw out 2, tear 1;
(Qal) to drag
▸ h4418. מָלָח mâlâḥ; from 4414 in its original sense; a rag or old garment: — rotten rag.
AV (2) – rotten rags 2;
rag
▸ h4414. מָלַח mâlaḥ; a primitive root; properly, to rub to pieces or pulverize; intransitively, to disappear as dust; also (as denominative from 4417) to salt whether internally (to season with salt) or externally (to rub with salt): — x at all, salt, season, temper together, vanish away.
AV (5) – salted 1, at all 1, season 1, tempered together 1, vanish away 1;
to tear away, dissipate
(Niphal) to be dispersed, be dissipated
to salt, season
(Qal) to salt, season
(Pual) to be salted
(Hophal) to be rubbed or washed with salt
(2). Divrei HaYamim II 31:19 (Mikraot Gedolot)
וְלִבְנֵי אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֲנִים בִּשְׂדֵי מִגְרַשׁ עָרֵיהֶם בְּכׇל עִיר וָעִיר אֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר נִקְּבוּ בְּשֵׁמוֹת לָתֵת מָנוֹת לְכׇל זָכָרבַּכֹּהֲנִים וּלְכׇל הִתְיַחֵשׂ בַּלְוִיִּם.
⦁ 2 Chronicles 31:16-19
16 Besides those males from three years old and up who were written in the genealogy, they distributed to everyone who entered the house of the LORD his daily portion for the work of his service, by his division, 17 and to the priests who were written in the genealogy according to their father’s house, and to the Levites from twenty years old and up according to their work, by their divisions, 18 and to all who were written in the genealogy—their little ones and their wives, their sons and daughters, the whole company of them—for in their faithfulness they sanctified themselves in holiness.
19 Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in the fields of the common-lands of their cities, in every single city, there were men who were designated by name to distribute portions to all the males among the priests (h3548. כֹּהֵן ḵôhên) and to all who were listed by genealogies (h3187. יָחַשׂ yâḥaś) among the Levites.
2 Chronicles 31:19 BHS
19 וְלִבְנֵי֩ אַהֲרֹ֨ן הַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים בִּשְׂדֵ֨י מִגְרַ֤שׁ עָרֵיהֶם֙ בְּכָל־עִ֣יר וָעִ֔יר אֲנָשִׁ֕ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִקְּב֖וּ בְּשֵׁמֹ֑ות לָתֵ֣ת מָנֹ֗ותלְכָל־זָכָר֙ בַּכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וּלְכָל־הִתְיַחֵ֖שׂ בַּלְוִיִּֽם׃
התיחשׂ
BDB All Results: יחשׂ כֹּל לְ וְ
וְ
GLOSS and; also; but; so; then
PARSING Hebrew, particle, conjunction
CODE@Pc
לְ
GLOSS to, toward; for; in regard to; of, about
PARSING Hebrew, particle, preposition
CODE@Pp
כֹּל
GLOSS all, every; entirety; whole
PARSING Hebrew, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct
CODE@ncmsc
יחשׂ
GLOSS hithpael: register in a genealogy
PARSING Hebrew, verb, hitpael, infinitive construct
CODE@vtc
A page from EDBH with Sin and Shin intertwined.
Genesis 29:34
34 וַתַּ֣הַר עוֹד֮ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּן֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר עַתָּ֤ה הַפַּ֨עַם֙ יִלָּוֶ֤ה אִישִׁי֙ אֵלַ֔י כִּֽי־יָלַ֥דְתִּי לֹ֖ו שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה בָנִ֑ים עַל־כֵּ֥ן קָרָֽא־שְׁמֹ֖ולֵוִֽי׃
Genesis 29:34
34 Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached (h3867. לָוָה lâwâ) {to me} (אלי), because I have borne {(to) him} (לו) three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi (h3878. לֵוִי lêwîy).
לו
BDB לו
לְ
GLOSS to, toward; for; in regard to; of, about
PARSING Hebrew, particle, preposition, pronomial suffix: 3rd person, masculine, singular
CODE@PpX3ms
אלי ?
BDB אֶל
GLOSS towards; against; according to; concerning
PARSING Hebrew, particle, preposition, pronomial suffix: 1st person, common, singular
CODE@PpX1cs
GV p.128 להה weaken [incrementally]; p.129 לוה connect [join for mutual benefit]; ¿ p.157 נלה finish ?
DV לאה – p.128 להה weaken [incrementally] > p.127 לאה give up; tire
¿ DV אלה – p.128 להה weaken [incrementally]; p.129 לוה connect [join for mutual benefit] > p.10 אלה master [combine elements for control] ?
¿ DV הלה – p.128 להה weaken [incrementally] > p.59 הלה fault ? No other DVs
CM להה move slowly/quickly (D51); לוה ignite emotion/interest (D46); (נלה none listed); לאה retain/lose power (D42); אלה and הלה develop/decline (A33) [[D42 and D51 should be combined]]
By the way, אלה (EDBH) (or maybe איל, per Strongs) is the root for the word God. A reminder, the ¿ ? are there simply because the listing is not there in EDBH, not because there is doubt about the relationship of these roots. Roots appear easily to fit in multiple families. (A few are listed so.) Again, this is all based upon the consonants individually having meaning.
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There are many messages in Scripture about the importance of our words. Taking vows, making oaths before the LORD. One particularly powerful incident is in Judges 11, about Jephthah h3316. יִפְתָּח iyp̱ṯâḥ; Jephthah = “he opens,” and his vow that affects his daughter.
Jacob was also one who tended to be a bit “open” with his words, used them unwisely. One very critical example of not having a judicious use of words is:
Genesis 31:32
32 With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live. In the presence of our brethren, identify what I have of yours and take it with you.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.
His words do end up coming true with the loss of his most beloved wife Rachel. Another important vow that he makes is the critical piece in understanding the situation with Levi.
Genesis 49:5-7
5 “Simeon (h8095. שִׁמְעוֹן šim‘ôn) and Levi (h3878. לֵוִי lêwîy) are brothers;
weapons of violence are their swords.
6 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.
7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,
and their wrath, for it is cruel!
I will divide (h2505. חָלַק ḥâlaq) them in Jacob
and scatter (h6327. פּוּץ pûṣ) them in Israel.
h3878. לֵוִי lêwîy; from h3867. לָוָה lâwâ; Levi = “joined to”
h8095. שִׁמְעוֹן šim‘ôn; from h8085. שָׁמַע šâma‘; Simeon or Shimeon = “heard”
- For understanding, first you must read Chapter 34 of Genesis, and then there are two follow-up passages. For Simeon read Gn 42:21-38. Two most important verses:
Genesis 42:24
24 And he turned himself away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes.
Genesis 42:36
36 And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me: Joseph is no(t)(more), Simeon is no(t) (more), and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me.”
Remember that Simeon is שמע “heard,” and indeed, Simeon is never heard from again, “Simeon is not,” Simeon was “bound before their eyes.”
- See also that Jacob’s words “Joseph is not” comes true in that the tribe of Joseph does not continue as such, but in his realization, Israel adopts Ephraim and Manasseh, through which seed Joseph continues. (You can read about this in Genesis 48.) Ephraim h0669. אֶפְרַיִם ’ep̱raiym; Ephraim = “double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful.” Manasseh h4519. מְנַשֶּׁה menaše; from h5382. נָשָׁה nâšâ; causing to forget; Manasseh = “causing to forget.” Just a bit more, and then we will return to Levi. Recall that though Manasseh was born first, Israel gives the firstborn blessing to Ephraim. And recall that later Manasseh is divided, one half on one side of the Jordan, the other on the other side (“causing to forget”). The firstborn blessing (“doubly fruitful”) upon Ephraim continues to us today; however, the cycles of Gn8:22 must be remembered – with waxing must also come waning. There is MUCH more to teach about this, for another day, but do recall Shlomo/Solomon whose fruitfulness led to a great crash.
Back to Genesis 49:7
7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,
and their wrath, for it is cruel!
I will divide (h2505. חָלַק ḥâlaq) them in Jacob
and scatter (h6327. פּוּץ pûṣ) them in Israel.
h2505. חָלַק ḥâlaq
Cognate
Cognate permutation
Need to really think about this and in what way הלך and אכל have similar meanings.
h6327. פּוּץ pûṣ
- As you are looking up verses for this, the Genesis 10:5 reference cannot really be understood without a lot of other connections, see especially Genesis 10:18 which includes פוץ, tied into Gn9:25, and Genesis 11:1-9, which has a threefold occurrence of פוץ = scattered. It will make more sense with the cognate below.
Cognate
- As you inquire into these verses, note the EDBH abbreviation Er is for Ezra.
Two important cognate permutations:
Which we have been discussing.
And:
All of these are very important in understanding the idea of cycles, turning, the waxing and waning. But there is one very important spot that EDBH fails to point out in this entry, where סבב is used, that will also take you back, perhaps, to the notation a short time back of the female/penetrating-to-the-core connection. Find Jeremiah 31:32 where סבב occurs, and as always, you may want to include some context.
OK, with this background in mind, there is one more piece to include to understand Levi לוי, in order that we make sense of all the passages with “in Levi” or “in the house of Levi,” and then we get even more understanding of the way the Tabernacle works and the book of Leviticus/VaYikra, the instructions for Levites. Shame is a powerful teacher. It appears many times in Scripture. Bodies are hung on display on a wall or on a tree, for all to see.
Read the passage about the aftermath of the molten/golden calf incident. Start on Exodus 32:19 with Moses’s anger burning hot. He has broken the tablets upon which the LORD wrote the The Ten Words in his anger. And he calls out, “Who is on the LORD’s side?” in his anger, and asks them to come to him. Well, what the Hebrew actually says is מִ֥י לַיהוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י, with מי being “who,” and p.299 The ל indicates movement or return to an object.” So literally, “who to יהוה to me.”
And Levi •••
Exodus 32:27-28
27 And he said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill (h2026. הָרַג hârag̱) his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.'” 28 So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell (h5307. נָפַל nâp̱al) that day.
▸ h2026. הָרַג hârag̱
A brief side-trip for clarity. The LORD had just given Moshe the tablets with The Ten Words, including:
Exodus 20:13
13 “You shall not murder.
Would the unchanging One then turn around and give the command to murder? In Ex20:13, the word is רצח, a different word.
The referent verse is precisely that from The Ten Words, so we might look at the “also” (parallel) verse for some help.
⦁ Genesis 30:25-30
25 As soon as Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own home and country. 26 Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, that I may go, for you know the service that I have given you.” 27 But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you. 28 Name your wages, and I will give it.” 29 Jacob said to him, “You yourself know how I have served you, and how your livestock has fared with me. 30 For you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly, and the LORD has blessed you wherever I turned. But now when shall I provide for my own household also?”
⦁ Genesis 30:28
28 וַיֹּאמַ֑ר נָקְבָ֧ה שְׂכָרְךָ֛ עָלַ֖י וְאֶתֵּֽנָה׃
▸ BDB All Results: אמר וְ
וְ
GLOSS and; also; but; so; then
PARSING Hebrew, particle, conjunction
CODE@Pc
אמר
GLOSS qal: say; niphal: be said; be called; hiphil: declare
PARSING Hebrew, verb, qal, wayyiqtol form, 3rd person, masculine, singular
CODE@vqw3ms
▸ BDB נָקְבָ֧ה
נקב
GLOSS qal: pierce; niphal: be pierced
PARSING Hebrew, verb, qal, imperative, masculine, singular, suffix: paragogic he
CODE@vqvmsXh
- This looks just like female h5347. נְקֵבָה neqêḇâ if there are no vowel pointings. And we met the root in Blog 89 cognate permutation בין.
שְׂכָרְךָ֛ is “your wages” – so how our Bible translations say “Name,” as in “Name your wages,” Laban is saying “speak penetratingly to me,” “be serious, shoot straight.” Why does EDBH see this as parallel to רצח murder? I can only see that it has to do with speaking truth even when it hurts. Perhaps you see something else. And that is OK.
⦁ Genesis 49:6
6 Let my soul come not into their council;
O my glory, be not joined to their company.
For in their anger (h0639. אַף ’ap̱) they killed (h2026. הָרַג hârag̱) men,
and in their willfulness (h7521. רָצָה râṣâ) they hamstrung (h6131. עָקַר ‘âqar) oxen (h7794. שׁוֹר šôr).
- h0639. אַף ’ap̱ we have spoken of before, maybe anger, maybe frustration
- p.248 רצה satisfy; favor;; CM satisfy/harm (E84) one subheading is correcting a wrong (note cognate with רצח murder is not always physical, but also of thespirit – please see Matthew 5:21-48)
- p.191 עקר uproot; retard development;; CM concentrate energy (A15) one subheading is impotent
- p.258 שור see;; CM unify/separate (E14) one subheading is listed as “powerful steer”
- See that in Leviticus 9:18-19 and the verses to follow, the discussion is of sacrificing the ox/bull h7794. שׁוֹר šôr, and this is paralleled (negative parallel) with “unauthorized” in verse 10:1 (p.66 זור separate out from others;; CM (E14). We are to make sacrifices of our blessings, our strengths, but not in order to make ourselves look good (see Matthew 18:9-14 and others).
- As noted before, there are many levels of meaning in Scripture. I am convinced that one level has to do with how to use the language and how to use words. It does at times “feel like” this could not have been a language that “developed organically,” but was given as a gift. Think about what other language you might be able to not only communicate with those around you, but that also has built in the instructions of how to use it. The only way you could do that is by linking it to something that you experience, thus the need for parables. If you have a concrete anchor, then you can grasp a meaning.
Levi
We can be taught by Levi, learn from Levi, but Levi cannot be “brought together.” One who is passionate about something will share their beliefs. But when many who are passionate about something are “brought together,” there is mob violence, there is crowd mentality. They must be scattered, spread out. They must be dispersed, there must be shame. And certainly Simeon and Levi received shame from their father’s rebuke. Adam and Eve must be sent out. But let’s go back to Ex32:27 for a moment to understand, “let every man kill (h2026. הָרַג hârag̱) his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.” For the moment, I am going to substitute the cognate meaning “force alignment” for kill. The instruction given was an individual task to be undertaken. You are to force alignment of your brother, your companion, your neighbor.
- Warning, I’m giving my thoughts about what this is saying. Feel free to accept or reject. Here, I believe, are some parallels, and I am using the word “rebuke” or “exhort” for “force alignment:”
Leviticus 19:17-18
17 You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
Matthew 18:15-17 – we are to begin, as the LORD led Moses, one on one
15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
Luke 17:3
3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
1 Timothy 5:1-2
1 Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort (him) as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.
2 Timothy 4:2
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
Moshe/Moses (a Levite) was allowed to see the land that the LORD was giving to the people from the top of Pisgah פסגה, but was not allowed to cross the Jordan ירדן with them (see Dt34).
Moshe was raised to prominence to the point that he was thinking himself godlike (see Numbers 20:10-12 and context), and those who rise high fall hard. The cycles must be (I AM):
Genesis 8:22
22 עֹ֖ד כָּל־יְמֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ זֶ֡רַע וְ֠קָצִיר וְקֹ֨ר וָחֹ֜ם וְקַ֧יִץ וָחֹ֛רֶף וְיֹ֥ום וָלַ֖יְלָה לֹ֥א יִשְׁבֹּֽתוּ׃
עד
• עַד-eternity, ever(-lasting, -more), old, perpetually, [phrase] world without end.
• עַד-against, and, as, at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as), (hither-) to, [phrase] how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that, till, toward, until, when, while, ([phrase] as) yet.
• עַד-[idiom] and, at, for, (hither-) to, on till, (un-) to, until, within.
• עַד-prey.
• עֵד-witness.
• עֵד-filthy.
h5704. עַד ‘aḏ; h5710. עָדָה ‘âḏâ; 226 occurrences
GV p.179 עדד tear off [pieces]; p.180 עדה decorate [adorn]; p.180 עוד endure [continue]; p.106 יעד arrange [set specifics] No DVs.
CM עדד pierce (A31); עדה retain/relinquish (A57); עוד constrain by external force (A2); יעד bring together (C49)
כל
▸ GV p.119 כלל complete [by including everything]; p.118 כלה strive [to attain]; p.118 כלא restrain [prevent]; p.116 כול contain [a measured quantity]; p.104 יכל prevail; p.156 נכל plot [harm; endanger through veiled acts]
DV p.9 אכל – p.119 כלל complete [by including everything]; p.118 כלה strive [to attain] > p.9 אכל consume No other DVs – BUT see היכל just below
CM כלל encircle (C26); כלה and כלא contain/expose (C25); כול express control (C5); יכל (none listed); נכל (none listed); אכל move directly/circularly (A11)
•1 Samuel 1:9
9 So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost (h4201. מְזוּזָה mezûzâ) of the temple (h1964. הֵיכָל hêḵol) of the LORD.
•CWSBD – H1964. הֵיכָל hēyḵāl: A masculine noun meaning temple, palace. The word derives from the word yāḵōl (H3201), meaning to be able and comes from the idea of capacity. It refers to a king’s palace or other royal buildings (1 Kgs. 21:1; Isa. 13:22) and, likely by extension, to the dwelling of God, whether on earth (Ps. 79:1) or in heaven (Isa. 6:1). The word is used of Solomon’s Temple, the second Temple (Ezra 3:6; Neh. 6:10) and also of the Tabernacle. In reference to foreign buildings, it is sometimes difficult to say whether a palace or the temple of a false god is meant (2 Chr. 36:7; Joel 3:5[4:5]). A special usage of the word designates the holy place of the Temple as opposed to the Holy of Holies (1 Kgs. 6:17; Ezek. 41:4, 15).
יםי
▸ GV p.104 ימם perfect [be clear]; p.102 יום ascend; p.137 מום disable [fault]: ¿ p.152 נום sleep (Pr23:21) (h5124; h5123) ?
¿ DV אום – p.104 ימם perfect [be clear]; p.102 יום ascend; p.137 מום disable [fault] > אום limit [condition reality] ?
¿ DV הום – p.104 ימם perfect [be clear]; p.102 יום ascend; p.137 מום disable [fault] > הום billow [be in agitated motion]
CM ימם perfect (C52); יום establish (C45); נום (none listed); אום and הום limit (A22)
הארץ
+
Your Bible translation likely says something along the lines of “While the earth remains•••” I encourage you to look through these word definitions from EDBH and see how you interpret these words עד כל–ימי הארץ, in light of the discussion we have been having.
Scripture has many messages, but one that is seen throughout, one of the strongest, is the importance to the LORD (יהוה), is humility. This writer has been given many gifts in this world, many background resources, many helpful messengers, and so very privileged to walk with the LORD. Yet the danger always lies in our rising to a point that we think too highly of ourselves. That is why the website includes many of the things with which this writer has been blessed, but never my name. Anything that touches your spirit here comes not from me.
So, we should end with Levi, since that is where we began. We first meet Levi in Genesis 29:34.
Genesis 29:34
34 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached (h3867. לָוָה lâwâ) to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi (h3878. לֵוִי lêwîy).
▸ h3878. לֵוִי lêwîy; from h3867. לָוָה lâwâ; attached; Levi, a son of Jacob: — Levi. See also 3879, 3881.
AV (64) – Levi 64; Levi = “joined to”
the 3rd son of Jacob by Leah and progenitor of tribe of Levites
At a minimum, when Levi was “attached to” Simeon, they devastated a community, perhaps killing them, perhaps making them impotent, affecting the house in which they lived. Jacob cursed the pair then with separation and dispersion. Levi’s ability with a “sharp tongue” in rebuking led them to הרג their brother, their companion, their neighbor, on the individual basis. Perhaps it is killing the spirit of waywardness or wickedness. Levites then were dispersed all among their brethren to teach and to rebuke. Their sacrifice is the dependence upon others for their livelihood, the “others” that they might have to rebuke at some point. It should make them humble, to know they were dependent upon those very ones for sustenance. Mercy should be their calling card, rebuke with openness to forgiveness. One on one.
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