Levi Facts for 9-13 Year Olds

Categories: Jacob

• Levi is the third son of Jacob and Leah.
• The name Levi might mean, “to join.”
• There is also a tribe of Levi that becomes known as the Levites.
• Because the Levites are the priests, some scholars think “Levi” means priest.
• Levi is with Simeon during the rescue of Dinah.
• Jacob gets really angry and is worried that the neighbors will retaliate.
• Levi defends his actions as being necessary.
• He is also with his brothers when they sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites.
• Levi has three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
• They all go with Jacob to Egypt.
• On his deathbed, Jacob says Levi is to be scattered.
• In the Testament of Levi, Levi is a radical believer and is told what to do in Shechem. He follows orders.
• That’s why he is chosen to head up the priesthood.
• In the Book of Jubilees, his grandfather, Isaac, blesses him and says, “May God….cause you and your seed, from among all flesh, to approach Him to serve in His sanctuary…”
• Levi also dreams it.
• In the Bible, the Levites are chosen for the priesthood during the time of Moses and the Golden Calf incident.
• They dedicate themselves to God and are “set apart and blessed.”
• They are not included in the census because their job is to care for the tabernacle and not to fight.
• They are not given land, but are placed in cities.
• The other tribes take care of them through tithes.