levites

Levites are members of the tribe of Levi, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Levi, son of Jacob. In the Hebrew Bible, the Levites were set apart for service to the God of Israel. They did not receive an allotment of land like the other tribes; instead, the Levites were given cities scattered among the tribal territories and were supported by the tithes and offerings of the people.

Within the Levites, the priestly line, the Kohanim, descended from Aaron, formed a subset whose members performed the primary sacrifices and temple rites. All priests are Levites, but not all Levites are priests. The non-priest Levites assisted in various temple duties, including carrying sacred objects, guarding the sanctuary, maintaining ritual purity, singing in the liturgical service, teaching the Law, and serving as temple officials.

During the Israelite monarchy and later the Second Temple period, Levitical families maintained official roles in worship, Torah instruction, and ritual maintenance. After the Temple's destruction, Levitical functions shifted to rabbinic and liturgical forms; the term preserves hereditary status and certain honors in many communities.

In contemporary Judaism, Levites still hold a ceremonial role in some communities; Kohanim perform the priestly blessing, and Levi’im may be called to read the Torah portions or participate in special ritual honors when a Levi is present. The concept of Levitical status remains a noted feature in Jewish tradition and biblical interpretation.