The guidance of the O. T. fails us at this point, and the history of the Levites in relation to the national life becomes consequently a matter of inference and con- jecture. The synagogue worship, then originated, or receiving a new development, was organized irrespect- ively of them [see Synagogue], and thus throughout the whole of Palestine there were means of instruction in the law with which they were not connected. This would tend materially to diminish their peculiar claim on the reverence of the people : but where priests or Le- vites were present in the synagogue they were still en- titled to some kind of precedence, and special sections in the lessons for the day were assigned to them (Light- foot, Ilor. Heb. on IMatt. iv, 23). During the period that followed the captivity they contributed to the for- mation of the so-called Great Synagogue, The Levites, witli the priests, theoretically constituted and jiractically formed the majority of the permanent Sanhedrim (Mai- mouides in Lightfoot, Uor. Heb. on j\Iatt. xxvi, 3), and as such had a large share in the admuiistration of jus- tice even in capital cases. In the characteristic feature of this period, as an age of scribes succeeding to an age of prophets, they, too, were likely to be sharers. The training and previous history of the tribe would predis- pose them to attach themselves to the new system as tliey had done to the old. They accordingly may have been among the scribes and elders who accumulated traditions. They may have attached themselves to the sects of Pharisees and Sadducees. But in proportion as they thus acquired fame and reputation individually, their functions as Levites became subordinate, and they were known simply as the inferior ministers of the Tem- ple. They take no prominent part in the MaccaboBan struggles, though they must have been present at the great purification of the Temple.
How strictly during this post-exilian period the Le- vitical duties were enforced, and how severely any neg- lect in performing them was punished, may be gathered from the following description in the Mishna: '"The Levites had to guard twenty-four places; five were sta- tioned at the five gates of the Jlountain of the House (rr^uD in "^"Wa), four at the four corners inside, five at the five gates of the outer court, four at its four cor- ners inside, one at the sacrificial storehouse, one at the curtain depository, and one behind the holy of holies. The inspector of the Mountain of the House went round through all the guards [every night] with burning torches before him. If the guard did not immediately stand up, the inspector of the Jlountain of tlie House called out to him, ' Peace be with thee !' and if he per- ceived that he was asleep, he struck him with his stick, and even had the liberty of setting his garments on fire; and when it was asked, -What is that noise in the court V they were told, ' It is the noise of a Levite who is beaten, or whose clothes have been burnt, because he slept when on duty' " (Middot/i, i, 1, 2). It is thought that allusion is made to the fact in the Apocalypse when it is said " Blessed is he that watcheth and keep- eth his garments" (Picv. xvi, 15). As for the Levites who were the singers, they were summoned by the blast of the trumpet after the incense was kindled upon the altar, when they assembled from all parts of the spacious Temple at the orchestra ;vhich was joined to the fifteen steps at the entrance from the women's outer court to the men's outer court. They sung psalms in antipho- nies, accompanied by three musical instruments — the harp, the cithern, and cymbals — while the priests were pouring out on the altar the libation of wine. On Sun- day they sung Psa. xxiv, on jSIonday Psa. xlviii, on Tuesday Psa. Ixxxii, on Wednesday Psa. xciv, on Tluirs- day Psa. Ixxxi, on Friday Psa. xciii, and on the Sab- bath Psa. xcii. Each of tliese iisalms was sung in nine sections, with eight pauses (QipiS), and at each pause the priests blew trombones, when the whole congrega- tion fell dfiwn every time worshipping on their faces {Tamid, vii, 3, 4).
LEVITE
400
LEVITICUS
The Levites had no prescribed canonical dress like the priosts, as may be seen from tlie fact which Jose- phu.s narrates, tliat the singers requested Agrippa "to asseniMe the Sanhedrim in order to obtain leave for them to wear linen garments like the priests . . . con- trary to the laws" {Aiit. xx, 9, G). But, though they wore no official garments at the service, yet the Talmud says that they ordinarily wore a linen outer-garment with sleeves, and a liead-dress; and on journeys were pr(jvided with a staff, a pocket, and a cojiv of the Pen- tateuch (Joma, 122, a). Some modifications were at this period introduced in what was considered the nec- essary qualification for service. The Mosaic law, it will be remembered, regarded age as the only qualification, and freed the Levite from his duties when he was fifty years old; now that singing constituted so essential a part of the Levitical duties, any Levite who had not a good voice was regarded as disqualified, and if it con- tinued good and melodious, he was retained in service all liis lifetime, irrespective of age, but if it failed he was removed from that class which constituted the clioristers to the gate-keepers (jNIaimonides, Ililchoth Kde Ila-Kodesh, iii, 8). During the period of mourn- ing a Levite was exempt from his duties in the Temple,