2 years, 8 months ago
What was in the content of the Testament of Levi?
Where can I find the content in the "Testament of Levi", Dead Sea Scrolls?
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M$1 Answer
Well, Levi was one of the founding patriarchs of the 12 tribes of Israel, and each is said to have delivered a testament on their deathbeds. Those testaments are not scriptural, rather they are what's called "pseudepigraphical", which means related to and read in parallel to scripture, but not necessarily having to be taken with the same authority.
When the Israelistes came back from Egypt, they marched around canaan for 40 years until they'd killed or run off all the canaanites, and then divided the land into territories, one for each of the tribes, *except* for the tribe of Levi, which was given little island-cities sprinkled throughout the other eleven tribal territories, and it was their job to do all the priestly, rabinical duties, like weddings, and funerals, and slaughter of livestock according to kosher standards, etc.
As a consequence, the Testament of Levi concerned itself with what happens to a person's character if they let the startus of the job of being the local shaman/rabi/peace-broker etc. go to his head.
Specifically, it talks about how, from Levi's point of view, his sons had let their rabinical status go to their heads, and how they were being too arrogant about it, and how they needed to cultivate some humility.
When the Israelistes came back from Egypt, they marched around canaan for 40 years until they'd killed or run off all the canaanites, and then divided the land into territories, one for each of the tribes, *except* for the tribe of Levi, which was given little island-cities sprinkled throughout the other eleven tribal territories, and it was their job to do all the priestly, rabinical duties, like weddings, and funerals, and slaughter of livestock according to kosher standards, etc.
As a consequence, the Testament of Levi concerned itself with what happens to a person's character if they let the startus of the job of being the local shaman/rabi/peace-broker etc. go to his head.
Specifically, it talks about how, from Levi's point of view, his sons had let their rabinical status go to their heads, and how they were being too arrogant about it, and how they needed to cultivate some humility.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Status and pride cause remorse.