וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב מֹשֶׁה֮ אֶת־הַתּוֹרָ֣ה הַזֹּאת֒ וַֽיִּתְּנָ֗הּ אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִים֙ בְּנֵ֣י לֵוִ֔י הַנֹּ֣שְׂאִ֔ים אֶת־אֲר֖וֹן בְּרִ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וְאֶל־כָּל־זִקְנֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
Lalu Musa menuliskan Taurat ini dan menyerahkannya kepada para kohen, anak-anak Lewi, yang mengusung tabut perjanjian Yang Mahakekal, dan kepada semua tua-tua Israel.
Jerusalem Talmud Gittin
HALAKHAH: “The following was said for communal peace,” etc. The saying of Rebbi Simeon ben Ioḥai implies that it is of the words of the Torah, for Rebbi Simeon ben Ioḥai stated: “Moses wrote this Torah and gave it to the Cohanim, the Levites (etc.)” and afterwards “to all the Elders of Israel.223Deut. 31:9. The implication is that in all matters of reading the Torah the Cohanim and Levites have precedence over Israel Elders. In the Babli, 58b, the author of the statement is given as the Amora R. Mattaniah.” The saying of Rebbi Joshua ben Levi implies that it is of their words, as Rebbi Joshua said, never did I recite the benediction before a Cohen and I did not allow an Israel to do it before him224If it were a Torah obligation to give precedence to Cohanim, there would be no reason to point it out as a sign of particular religiosity. In the Babli, Megillah 28a, the statement is attributed to the wonder-working R. Perida. In Yerushalmi Berakhot 5:5 (9d 1.3), the reference is that R. Joshua ben Levi never let any non-Cohen publicly recite Grace in the presence of a Cohen (Halakhah 5:5, Notes 163,164.). The saying of Rebbi Ḥanina implies that it is of their words, as Rebbi Ḥanina said, in a city of only Cohanim, an Israel reads first because of communal peace225If it were a Torah obligation, then even to avoid quarrels it would not be possible to call an Israel..