Samuel

Steve Petersen said:

How did Samuel, and Ephraimite, become a priest in the Levitical line?

Click to expand...

Who said he was an Ephraimite? His family lived in that sector but this has been studied out before and his lineage was actually Levite.

That meant that he could take part in much of the Temple/Tabernacle service but could not actually do the proper sacrifices in the Holy Place.

1 Chron 6.31 Now these are those whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the Lord, after the ark rested there. 32 They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem; and they served in their office according to their order. 33 These are those who served with their sons: From the sons of the Kohathites were Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, 34 the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah, 35 the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, 36 the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, 37 the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, 38 the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel. 39 Heman’s brother Asaph stood at his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea, 40 the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchijah, 41 the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah, 42 the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei, 43 the son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.

The shift was away from the Aaronic priesthood.

Steve Petersen said:

How did Samuel, and Ephraimite, become a priest in the Levitical line?

Click to expand...

I think the explanation in 1 Samuel chapters 1 through 3 is good to know.

Halbhh said:

I think the explanation in 1 Samuel chapters 1 through 3 is good to know.

Click to expand...

That does not explain how someone NOT from Levi could serve in the tabernacle; only that he did serve there.

Dave-W said:

That does not explain how someone NOT from Levi could serve in the tabernacle; only that he did serve there.

Click to expand...

His father was from Ephiriam but he was still a descendant of Korah, a Levite. The Levites didn't have their own region but were scattered among the other tribes. Ephiriam was the largest tribe in Israel, they would of had a lot of Levites.

mark kennedy said:

His father was from Ephiriam but he was still a descendant of Korah, a Levite. The Levites didn't have their own region but were scattered among the other tribes. Ephiriam was the largest tribe in Israel, they would of had a lot of Levites.

Click to expand...

Correct. That is clear from 1 Chron 6.

But the first 3 chapters of 1 Sam do NOT explain that. The statement I was commenting on:

Halbhh said:

I think the explanation in 1 Samuel chapters 1 through 3 is good to know.

Click to expand...

Dave-W said:

That does not explain how someone NOT from Levi could serve in the tabernacle; only that he did serve there.

Click to expand...

Yes, you're right. Does that question truly concern you? I was merely presuming that God is able to do whatever He wants to do. He isn't limited that only levites could ever serve Him, of course.

Our pastor just offered me a wonderful way of saying something. He said that when younger he was aiming to interpret scripture -- he was above looking down at the text.

But now, older, over 60, he wants to instead have scripture doing the interpreting of him, so now the scripture is in the position of being above, and he is the one being altered.

Halbhh said:

Yes, you're right. Does that question truly concern you? I was merely presuming that God is able to do whatever He wants to do. He isn't limited that only levites could ever serve Him, of course.

Click to expand...

It is a concern since it was a severe violation of the Mosaic Law for a non-levite to serve that way in the temple. Of course God can do anything He wants to, but He always limits Himself to working within His word - the bible.

mark kennedy said:

His father was from Ephiriam but he was still a descendant of Korah, a Levite. The Levites didn't have their own region but were scattered among the other tribes. Ephiriam was the largest tribe in Israel, they would of had a lot of Levites.

Click to expand...

The notes for 1 Chronicles 6 in the Jewish Study Bible (JPS), throw up some questions about Samuel's origins, but accept in the light of a report saying he had served as a Levite, that he must be one. Hardly a resounding endorsement.

Dave-W said:

It is a concern since it was a severe violation of the Mosaic Law for a non-levite to serve that way in the temple. Of course God can do anything He wants to, but He always limits Himself to working within His word - the bible.

Click to expand...

ah, Why not just keep reading then? By presuming we don't already know everything in the text, we can always be seeking to learn and then because of this, we read without an agenda past our own learning, we can really take in new learning. Put another way, even reading through for the 3rd time in my life, I want to be sure I presume all the time there is all sorts of good things waiting for me that I don't know yet, and because of this humble openness, I have found new things that are very wonderful, so I know this works even if you already read through before.

I have read that passage at least a dozen times; the most recent being in a bible study group I am in. We discussed this at length including the passages concerning the Levites being the only ones who could deal with the stuff in the tabernacle.

Dave-W said:

I have read that passage at least a dozen times; the most recent being in a bible study group I am in. We discussed this at length including the passages concerning the Levites being the only ones who could deal with the stuff in the tabernacle.

Click to expand...

Curious. Why did anyone want to discuss that obscure question.

Halbhh said:

Curious. Why did anyone want to discuss that obscure question.

Click to expand...

We are an odd lot. Someone mentions something and it sends us all on a research mission. About half of us can read the Hebrew OT directly from the text. We also have access to a plethora of commentaries, both of Christian viewpoint and traditional (orthodox) Jewish.

Dave-W said:

... the passages concerning the Levites being the only ones who could deal with the stuff in the tabernacle.

Click to expand...

What does that have to do with the heavenly tabernacle that we as new creations now occupy?

~Cassia~ said:

What does that have to do with the heavenly tabernacle that we as new creations now occupy?

Click to expand...

I just thought it was an interesting question.

mark kennedy said:

I just thought it was an interesting question.

Click to expand...

I thought so too ..

~Cassia~ said:

What does that have to do with the heavenly tabernacle that we as new creations now occupy?

Click to expand...

About the same thing as having a good marriage reflects the relationship between the assembled people of God and His Messiah.