Descendants of Levi. The work of ministering in the sanctuary was assigned to this tribe. The Levites are sometimes spoken of as distinct from the priests (1 Kgs. 8: 4; Ezra 2: 70; John 1: 19); sometimes as though all Levites were also priests, “the priests, the Levites” (Deut. 18: 1; Josh. 3: 3). The work of the Levites was to assist the priests (Num. 3: 5-10; Num. 18: 1-7). They acted as musicians (1 Chr. 6: 16, 31; 1 Chr. 15: 16; Neh. 11: 17, 22); slaughtered the sacrifices (2 Chr. 29: 34; 2 Chr. 35: 11; Ezra 6: 20); and generally assisted in the temple (Neh. 11: 16, 19). The Levites were themselves offered as a wave-offering on behalf of the children of Israel (Num. 8: 11-15); they thus became God’s peculiar property, given to him in place of the firstborn (Num. 8: 16). They were not consecrated, but cleansed for their office (Num. 8: 7-16). They had no inheritance in Canaan (Num. 18: 23-24); but they had the tithe (Num. 18: 21), 48 cities (Num. 35: 6), and a claim on the alms of the people at feast times (Deut. 12: 18-19; Deut. 14: 27, 29).