וּבְנֵ֧י מְרָרִ֛י לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם מַחְלִ֣י וּמוּשִׁ֑י אֵ֥לֶּה הֵ֛ם מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת הַלֵּוִ֖י לְבֵ֥ית אֲבֹתָֽם׃
און די זין פֿון מרָרין לױט זײערע משפּחות: מַחלי, און מושֵי. דאָס זײַנען די משפּחות פֿון לֵוִי לױט זײערע פֿאָטערהײַזער.
Bamidbar Rabbah
“These [eleh] were the sons of Levi by their names…” (Numbers 3:17) – Rabbi Abbahu said: Every place that eleh is stated, it rejects what preceded it; ve’eleh adds to what preceded it. Here, where it is stated: “These [eleh] were the sons of Levi by their names,” what does it reject? It rejects the firstborn of Israel, who worshipped the calf.
“And these are the names of the sons of Gershon [by their families]” (Numbers 3:18) – see how beloved the Levites are, as the Holy One blessed be He engaged Himself in all their families to count their names, what He did not do regarding Israel. That is what is written: “And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Livni and Shimi”; and likewise, “the sons of Kehat: Amram and Yitzhar, Ḥevron and Uziel” (Numbers 3:19); and likewise, “the sons of Merari by their families: Maḥli and Mushi” (Numbers 3:20). Our Rabbis said: These are the eight priestly watches25Each week a different shift worked in the Temple. that Moses instituted at the directive of the Holy One blessed be He, until David stood and rendered them twenty-four for the priesthood and the Levites.26Tosefta, Taanit 3:2.
“And these are the names of the sons of Gershon [by their families]” (Numbers 3:18) – see how beloved the Levites are, as the Holy One blessed be He engaged Himself in all their families to count their names, what He did not do regarding Israel. That is what is written: “And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Livni and Shimi”; and likewise, “the sons of Kehat: Amram and Yitzhar, Ḥevron and Uziel” (Numbers 3:19); and likewise, “the sons of Merari by their families: Maḥli and Mushi” (Numbers 3:20). Our Rabbis said: These are the eight priestly watches25Each week a different shift worked in the Temple. that Moses instituted at the directive of the Holy One blessed be He, until David stood and rendered them twenty-four for the priesthood and the Levites.26Tosefta, Taanit 3:2.
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
(Exod. 29:1:) AND THIS IS THE THING WHICH YOU SHALL DO TO THEM. To them you shall do it and not to others.43Tanh., Exod. 8:13. He began to teach them how they would keep <themselves> in a state of purity and eat the sacrifices, how they would immerse and eat the priestly share. (Ibid., cont.:) TO SANCTIFY THEM FOR SERVING ME (li) AS PRIESTS. R. Mani said in the name of R. Eliezer: Wherever TO ME (li) is stated, <it means> "forever and forevermore."44Cf. above, Exod. 7:3; below, Numb. 3:20; Tanh., Exod. 7:3. The first-born < remains > forever, since it is stated (in Numb. 3:13 = 8:17): FOR ALL THE FIRST-BORN ARE MINE (li). Silver and gold <remain> forever, since it is stated (in Hag. 2:8): THE SILVER IS MINE (li), AND THE GOLD IS MINE (li). The kingship <remains> forever, since it is stated (in I Sam. 16:1): FOR I HAVE CHOSEN A KING FOR MYSELF (li) AMONG HIS (Jesse's) SONS. The land <remains> forever, since it is stated (in Lev. 25:23): FOR THE LAND BELONGS TO ME (li). Israel <remains> forever, since it is stated (in Lev. 25:55): FOR TO ME (li) THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL <ARE SERVANTS>. The Levites <remain> forever, since it is stated (Numb. 3:12): AND THE LEVITES SHALL BE MINE (li). The priesthood <remains> forever, since it is stated (Exod. 29:1): FOR SERVING ME (li) AS PRIESTS.