Levi
Artist: Maria Stolz

The Levitical banner or standard, as depicted on Aaron’s breastplate, was a tricolor of red, white and black bearing the mysterious urim meaning “teaching or light” and tumin, meaning “truth or perfection” as depicted as the lamp of knowledge above.  Note the Hebrew urim/tumin coming out of the lamp.  Yale University, uses this image as its emblem or motto.  (Note the other images…)

Moses, Aaron and Miriam were Levi’s great grandchildren.  Their tribe was that of the priesthood carrying out the difficult task of carrying the Tabernacle and its vessels throughout our wanderings in the desert.  They encamped in the center of all the tribes surrounding the Tabernacle and in such a way, represented the heart of the nation, unifying and synthesizing all of Israel—the musicians, teachers of Torah and leaders of prayer and meditation.

Moses was given the role of redeeming Israel from Egypt, receiving and teaching the Torah, while Aaron and his descendants were given the role of the Kohanim who served in the Tabernacle and the Temple, carrying out, in essence, Divine Service. Their pure service consisted of the complex rituals designed to effect the deepest unifying aspects of heaven and earth. One could say that the inner workings of the heart and soul of Israel is magnified through the Kohanim and Levites

The Kohanim and the Levites represent the deepest symbol of life.  Levi himself was forbidden to carry the coffin of Jacob because his descendants were destined to carry the Holy Ark housing the ten commandments.  The Kohanim were further restricted to entering cemeteries or attending funerals except those of their immediate family.  Purity for their Divine Service was paramount.

When settling the land of Israel, the Levites were scattered among the tribes—one third were assigned to protect kings with instruments of war; another third tended to the vessels of the Tabernacle (as mentioned earlier) and the rest were the musicians whose celestial melodies accompanied the building of the Temple as well as sacrificial offerings.

©Maria Stolz

Reuben | Simeon | Levi | Judah | Dan | Naphtali | Gad | Asher | Issachar | Zebulun | Joseph | Benjamin

Back to the main windows page