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Wednesday, August 4thWho cont. (John 1:19)
Background and History (click)
Scripture and Background on the Levites (Click for Scripture)
Scripture and Background on the Priests (Click for Scripture) Were these people bad guys? Does any of this information change what you had previously thought about the passage of John 1:19-28?
In the Old Testament the Kingdom of Israel under Saul, David, and Solomon was unified. When Solomon died the kingdom was split into two separate kingdoms; the Northern Kingdom (Israel or Ephraim), and the Southern Kingdom (Judah). Then Northern Kingdom was completely destroyed by Assyria in 722BC and the people that were left began to intermarry with other nations. These people became the Samaritans. The Southern Kingdom was destroyed in 586BC by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the people were exiled. However, seventy years later they came back and rebuilt the Temple and the wall around Jerusalem, the capital city. These people became known as Jews. The reason that God allowed the kingdoms to be destroyed and the people exiled was because they didn't live up to their end of the covenant (i.e. they worshiped other gods and didn't follow God's (YHWH's) law that He had given them). So, when the Jews, the exiled people of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, came home to rebuild they had a renewed passion for God's law so that their homes would never be destroyed again. In their vigor to obey God's law they developed a few thousand rules that served as a buffer so that they wouldn't even come close to breaking any of His laws. Their religious identity became wrapped up in outward actions. Scripture and Background on the Levites Jacob, who we were studying earlier in Genesis, had his name changed by God to Israel. Jacob had twelve sons who became the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. Levi was Jacob's fourth son and his descendants were called Levites. During the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt they stopped at Mt. Siani where God gave them the ten commandments. While Moses was up on the mountain getting the commandments the Israelites rebelled and made a golden calf to worship. When Moses came down he was furious and said, "'Whoever is for the LORD, [come] to me.' And all the Levited gathered around him." (Exodus 32:26) So, obviously Levites were passionate about being on the LORD's side. Because of the Levites zeal for God, He consecrated them for Himself. "The LORD spoke to Moses: 'See, I have taken the Levites from the Israelites in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb. The Levites belong to Me. At the time I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated every firstborn in Israel to Myself, both man and animal; they are Mine; I am the LORD.'" (Numbers 3:11-13) When Aaron died and God was portioning out the promised land to the different tribes of Israel the tribe of Levi got special instructions. "At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the LORD's covenant, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to bless in His name, as it is today. For this reason, Levi does not have a portion or inheritance like his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, as the LORD your God told him." (Deuteronomy 10:8-9) Scripture and Background on the Priests The priests were special men from the tribe of Levi who were descendents of Aaron, Moses brother, the first high priest. They were set aside for serving the LORD in the work of the Tabernacle which became the Temple. They took care of the Temple and performed all of the sacrifices for the people of Israel. |
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