l. singular of individual, ׳אִישׁ ל Judges 19:1 a certain Levite; predicate ׳וְהוּא ל Judges 17:1 and he was a Levite, so Judges 17:9; with article ׳הַלּ as substantive the Levite Exodus 4:11 (J), Judges 17:10,11,12,13 (as priest), Deuteronomy 18:6; 2Chronicles 20:14; 31:12,14; Ezra 10:15; ׳הַנַּעַר הַלּ Judges 18:3,15; ׳הָאִישׁ הַלּ Judges 20:4. Sg. usually

2 with article הַלֵּוִי as substantive collective the Levites: Exodus 6:19; Numbers 3:20,32; Numbers 26:57 (all P); Numbers 18:23 (P; charged with service of tabernacle); especially D, Deuteronomy 12:12,18,19; Deuteronomy 14:27,29; Deuteronomy 16:1,14; Deuteronomy 26:10,12,13; also 1 Chronicles 24:6; Malachi 2:8 (as priestly tribe); ׳שֵׁבָט הַלּ Deuteronomy 10:8 tribe of the Levites (set apart for service), compare Joshua 13:14,33; 1 Chronicles 23:14; בְּנֵיהַֿלֵּוִי 1 Chronicles 12:27 (van d. H v.1 Chronicles 12:26) sons of the Levites (i.e. of the tribe); so Nehemiah 10:40 (as tithe-collectors); בֵּית הַלֵּוִי Psalm 135:20 house (family, tribe) of the Levites.

3 plural לְוִיִּם chiefly Chronicles and P; — always with article ַ˜הלְוִיִּם except suffix לוִיֵּנוּ Nehemiah 10:1; the article is omitted by ᵐ5 ᵑ9 and most in Isaiah 66:21; always = substantive Levites; — 1

a. earlier usage: — as bearing the ark 1 Samuel 6:15; 2 Samuel 15:24; Deuteronomy 31:25, so (with priests) 1 Kings 8:4 2Chronicles 5:5 (HCT ׳הכהנים הַל; read probably ׳וְהַל as in Kings, ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 compare Öttli VB); also 1Chronicles is 1 Chronicles 15:2,26,27; 1 Chronicles 23:26; 2Chron 5:4 (for הכהנים "" 1 Kings 8:3).

b. not distinguished from priests by D: ׳הַכֹּהֲנִים הַל Deuteronomy 17:9,18; Deuteronomy 18:1; Deuteronomy 24:8; Deuteronomy 27:9; Joshua 3:3; Joshua 8:33 (both D; as bearing ark), also Jeremiah 33:18,21 ׅ ׳הַכ ׳(הַל, Ezekiel 43:19; Ezekiel 44:15; compare Deuteronomy 18:7; Deuteronomy 27:14; Jeremiah 33:22; ׳הַל ׳הַכ likewise 2 Chronicles 23:18; 30:27 (but read probably ׳וְהַל after ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9, compare Öttli and below)

c. as tribal designation, Exodus 6:25; Numbers 3:39; Numbers 4:18,46; Joshua 21:1 (all P), 1 Chronicles 9:33,34; 1 Chronicles 15:12; 2Chronicles 35:5; Nehemiah 11:15,16; Nehemiah 12:24; with reference to share in land Leviticus 25:32 (twice in verse); Leviticus 25:33 (twice in verse) (H), Numbers 1:47; Numbers 2:33; Joshua 14:3,4; Joshua 21:3,4,8,20,27,34,38,39 (all P), Joshua 18:7 (D), 1 Chronicles 6:49; compare also 2Chronicles 11:14.

d. set apart for service in tabernacle, Exodus 38:21; Numbers 1:50,51 (twice in verse); Numbers 1:53 (twice in verse); Numbers 2:17; Numbers 7:5,6; Numbers 8:6 18t. Numbers 8 (all p), compare 1 Chronicles 6:33; 1 Chronicles 16:4; ministers to Aaron and his sons Numbers 3:9; Numbers 8:19; Numbers 18:6 (P); set apart for ׳י (as redemption for first-born) Numbers 3:12 (twice in verse) + 7 t. Numbers 3 (P); with certain perquisites Numbers 18:24,26,30 9t. Numbers (P).

2 in Chronicles the tribal idea is in the background, and thought of Levites as official class is prominent:

a. distinguished from priests ׳וְהַל ׳הַכ 1 Chronicles 9:14 (compare 1 Chronicles 9:10), 1 Chronicles 13:2; 1 Chronicles 15:4,11,14; 1 Chronicles 23:2; 1 Chronicles 24:6,31 67t. Chronicles; also Isaiah 66:21 (according to Vrss., but dubious), Ezekiel 44:10; Ezekiel 45:5 (compare Ezekiel 45:4), Ezekiel 48:11,12,13,22.

b. as porters, 1 Chronicles 9:26; 1 Chronicles 26:17, compare 1Chron 34:9; as in charge of music, 1 Chronicles 15:16,17,22; 2Chronicles 5:12; 29:25,30; 34:12; Nehemiah 12:27; yet distinguished from porters and singers, Nehemiah 7:1; Nehemiah 13:5,10; distinguished also from נְתִינִים 1 Chronicles 9:2; Ezra 8:20; Nehemiah 10:29; further (with various official functions) 1 Chronicles 9:31 29t. Chronicles; of groups of individuals, 2 Chronicles 17:8 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 29:12; 34:12; Ezra 2:40 = Nehemiah 7:43; Ezra 8:33; Nehemiah 3:17; Nehemiah 9:5; Nehemiah 10:10; Nehemiah 12:8, also Nehemiah 8:7 (omitted וְ; ᵑ9 BeRy Ryle).

c. בְּנֵיהַֿלְוִיִּם 1 Chronicles 15:15 (bearing ark), 1 Chronicles 24:30 (tribal designation). — See, on Levites, especially Gf^{Geschichte. d. Stammes} Levi in Me^{Archiv i. 68 ff. 208 ff.} We^{Prol. Cap. iv} RS^{OTJC. 435 f., 2nd ed., 360 f.} Bau^{Priesterthum 50 f.}, 68 f., and often