1. Ezra 2:40 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Who were the Levites?

Ezra 2:40 (ESV)

40 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74.

Levites were assistants to the priests (Numbers 3:9–10; 1 Chronicles 16:4–42; 1 Chronicles 23:26–32). They also served in/around the Temple but they were prohibited from offering sacrifices on the altar (Numbers 16:40; Numbers 18:7). All priests were Levites (descendants of Levi), but not all Levites were priests (only those who were descendants of Aaron).