What is the difference between priests and Levites?

The difference between the ministry of the priests and the Levites must be noted. The book of Leviticus acquainted us with the work of Aaron and his sons, but it had nothing to say about the ministry entrusted to the Levites. The priests had given to them the ministry of the sanctuary, where they acted as worshippers and intercessors. The work of the Levites as given in this chapter, and that which follows, was of a more outward nature. They had to guard the tabernacle, to attend to its erection and taking down, to bear the different parts, all of which was ordered in all its details by Jehovah.

In verses 2-6, the responsibilities of the Levites are stated. They were to keep their charge, ministering to the priests, as given to them by the Lord, but they were not to touch the priest's office. To the priests belonged activities which were typical of worship whilst to the Levites service was apportioned. The believer today is privileged to engage in both worship and service, and, being not under law but under grace, we are established in our privileges first, and then called upon to face our responsibilities.

The difference between the Levites and the priests is that the former stand before the people and minister to them, while the priests minister to Jehovah, stand before Him, and enter the Sanctuary. The holy privilege of going into God's presence and of fellowship with Him at His table is characteristic of the priestly place.

After the numbering of the Levites comes their division into courses (vv. 6-23) according to their three families: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. - Aaron and Moses belonged to the sons of Kohath, but Aaron and his sons are "for ever" separated from this family of Levites in order to exercise the office of the priesthood "for ever" (v. 13). As for Moses, once "king in Jeshurun," lawgiver, mediator, and leader of the people: he together with his sons enters into the tribe of Levi (vv. 14-26), and does not with his family occupy a place superior to his brethren from the moment the reign of Solomon begins. Thus we see him on the holy mountain disappearing completely together with Elijah to give place to Jesus alone, entering into His kingdom.

A difference is noted here between the priests and the Levites. The former did service to the Lord Himself (v. 13), the latter, "did the work of the service of the house of God" (vv. 24, 28).

But all that was Levitical service, not the work of the priesthood. So there was no ground for the Kohathites to exalt themselves as on a par with the Priests. For though carrying the sacred vessels, among which was the brazen Altar, they could never officiate at it; nor, though they were admitted to cross the threshold of the Sanctuary, could they enter that holy chamber, till all the vessels had been duly wrapped up by the priests. "They shall not go in to see the Sanctuary even for a moment, lest they die;" so reads the revised version of Num. 4:20. Each time the camp moved there was the reminder, that the priest had a place and a service in connection with the Tabernacle which no mere Levite could ever attain to. There was a great gulf between the two, which could never be bridged over, and we know that when some of the Kohathites, led by Korah, presumed to put themselves on an equality with priests, God signally dealt with them in judgment; and their censors, turned into beaten plates for a covering upon the Altar, served as a memorial to all time, that no one not of the seed of Aaron, was to draw near to burn incense before the Lord (Num. 16). Yet the priests were not independent of Levite service. For God's work to be properly performed the ministrations of the latter were indispensable. How all was balanced, as it were, by the Divine arrangement; for efficiency and due performance of the work could only be secured as each filled their post, and did their part.

*All the Levites were taken for the service of the tabernacle, given unto Aaron and his sons for this purpose, sanctified to God on the day that He smote the firstborn of Egypt (Numbers 8); but the priesthood was confined to the family of Aaron.

The tribe that descended from Levi, son of Jacob. When Moses came down from the mount and saw the golden calf which the people had made, he asked, "Who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him." He bade them gird on their swords and slay every man his brother, his companion, and his neighbour. And there fell of the people that day about three thousand. Moses spoke of it as consecrating themselves to the Lord, every man upon his son, and upon his brother, that God might bestow a blessing upon them. Ex. 32:26-29.

The Levites were chosen by God as a redemption for all the firstborn of Israel, which God claimed for Himself. They thus became wholly His, and they were given to Aaron to minister in all that pertained to the service of the tabernacle, except the priesthood, which was restricted to Aaron and his descendants. Num. 3:5-51.

The service of the sanctuary and priesthood belonged to Aaron and his sons; but the Levites were joined unto him for the service of the tabernacle (Num. 18:4); and they were given to Aaron as a gift for the Lord, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation (v. 6). The Levites waited on the priests, and their service flowed from the service of the priests.

The priesthood itself had a dual function. First of all, “Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of the burnt-offering, and on the altar of incense, for all the work of the most holy place.” Secondly, they made “atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded” (v. 49). Thus, the priesthood alone was called to portray the work of Christ as He is described in Hebrews 2:17: “a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” The Levites on the other hand depicted service and praise in connection with this work.

To Israel indeed pertained the service of God (worship), but it was a worship of relative nearness to God: the high priest the nearest, the priests next — these were inside worshippers; the Levites next to them — they were attendants on the priests, and employed about the tabernacle; and then the people who were outside worshippers, as it is said, "the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense" (Luke 1:10). But even there, even in the outer court, no Gentile could approach (Acts 21:28).