God's promise to the Levites, and to the family of Phinehas in particular, to maintain those who serve him faithfully in a lasting priesthood.
God's covenant with Phinehas
Numbers 25:12–13 Phinehas was the grandson of Aaron. God's pledge of “a lasting priesthood”, granted to him as a result of his zeal, probably means that the high priesthood would remain in his family. See also Numbers 25:10–11; Ezra 7:1–5; Psalm 106:30–31
Declare, therefore, that I am granting him My covenant of peace. It will be a covenant of permanent priesthood for him and his descendants, because he was zealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.”
God's covenant with the Levites
An everlasting covenant
Numbers 18:19 This covenant confirms the privileges and responsibilities of Aaron and his fellow Levites who have been called to Israel's priesthood. The reference to “salt” may underline the permanent nature of the covenant. God's covenant with David is also described as a “covenant of salt”. See also 2 Chronicles 13:5; Jeremiah 33:18–22
All the holy offerings that the Israelites present to the LORD I give to you and to your sons and daughters as a permanent statute. It is a permanent covenant of salt before the LORD for you and your offspring.”
Requirements of the covenant
“My covenant with him was one of life and peace, which I gave to him; it called for reverence, and he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.
The Levites' portion is the LORD
Deuteronomy 10:8–9 See also Numbers 3:12
At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to serve Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name, as they do to this day. That is why Levi has no portion or inheritance among his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, as the LORD your God promised him.
The covenant violated
Malachi 2:8 By their unfaithfulness, Judah's priests have forfeited the blessings of God's promise to Levi. See also Nehemiah 13:29
But you have departed from the way, and your instruction has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.