| Levi International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
|
|
| (לוי,
lēwī;
Λευεί,
Leueí): The
third of Leah's sons born to Jacob in Paddan-aram (Gen
29:34). In this passage the name is connected with the verb
lāwāh, “to
adhere,” or “be joined to,” Leah expressing assurance that with the
birth of this third son, her husband might be drawn closer to her in the
bonds of conjugal affection. There is a play upon the name in
Num 18:2,
Num 18:4, where direction is given
that the tribe of Levi be “joined unto” Aaron in the ministries of the
sanctuary. The etymology here suggested is simple and reasonable. The
grounds on which some modern scholars reject it are purely conjectural.
It is asserted, e.g., that the name is adjectival, not nominal,
describing one who attaches himself; and this is used to support theory
that the Levites were those who joined the Semitic people when they left
Egypt to return to Palestine, who therefore were probably Egyptians.
Others think it may be a gentilic form
lē'āh, “wild
cow” (Wellhausen, Prolegomena, 146; Stade, Geschichte des
Volkes Israel, 152); and this is held to be the more probable, as
pointing to early totem worship! Levi shared with Simeon the infamy incurred at Shechem by the treacherous slaughter of the Shechemites (Gen 34). Jacob's displeasure was expressed at the time (Gen 34:3), and the memory was still bitter to him in his last days (Gen 49:5 f). The fate predicted for the descendants of Simeon and Levi (Gen 49:7), in the case of the latter on account of the tribe's stedfast loyalty in a period of stern testing, was changed to a blessing (Exo 32:26). In later literature the action condemned by Jacob is mentioned with approval (Judith 9:2 ff). Levi was involved in his brothers' guilt with regard to Joseph (Gen 37), and shared their experiences in Egypt before Joseph made himself known (Gen 42 through 45). Three sons, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, were born to him in Canaan, and went down with the caravan to Egypt (Gen 46:11). Nothing further is known of the personal history of this patriarch. He died and found sepulture in Egypt
|
|
|
Taken from: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia by James Orr, M.A., D.D., General Editor |
|