Levi
“Joined or attached”
Summary
The third son of Jacob and Leah, whose descendants became the priestly tribe of Israel, and also the original name of the apostle Matthew.
☩Birth and Name
Levi was the third son born to Jacob by his wife Leah. The name derives from the Hebrew lavah, meaning 'to join' or 'to adhere,' expressing his mother's hope that her husband's affections would finally be drawn to her: 'Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons.' The same etymology is recognized in Numbers 18:2, where the Levites are to be 'joined' to Aaron for service.
☩The Massacre at Shechem
The most prominent event in Levi's personal history was his role in avenging his sister Dinah's violation by Shechem. Together with Simeon, Levi plotted treacherous revenge, persuading the Shechemites to be circumcised and then slaughtering them while they were incapacitated. They made the covenant sign of circumcision an instrument of deception and murder. Their father Jacob initially offered only a feeble protest about endangering the family, but the brothers justified themselves: 'Should he deal with our sister as with a harlot?'
☩Jacob's Prophecy
On his deathbed, Jacob pronounced judgment on Simeon and Levi for their violence at Shechem: 'Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.' This prophecy found fulfillment differently for each tribe. Simeon was absorbed into Judah's territory, while Levi was scattered throughout Israel in Levitical cities—a curse transformed into blessing through their subsequent faithfulness.
☩Later History and Other Levis
Levi's three sons—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari—accompanied him to Egypt and became heads of the three branches of Levites. Levi died at age 137. From him descended Moses and Aaron, through whom the tribe's curse was transformed into priestly honor when they showed zeal for God at Sinai. The name Levi also applies to the apostle Matthew, called from his tax collector's booth to follow Jesus. Additionally, two ancestors of Jesus in Luke's genealogy bore this name.
Related Verses69 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Levi," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Levi," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Levi," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 4.George Morrish, "Levi," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).