Levi

Levi was the third son of Jacob and Leah, ancestor of the tribe that became the priestly class of Israel. His violent attack on Shechem with Simeon (Genesis 34) earned Jacob's rebuke and a prophecy of dispersal (Genesis 49:5–7). Paradoxically, this dispersal was fulfilled positively: the Levites had no tribal territory of their own but lived in cities scattered throughout Israel, supported by the other tribes, in order to fulfill priestly and teaching functions (Numbers 18:20–24). Moses and Aaron were descendants of Levi through Kohath and Amram. The Levites' zeal for the LORD during the golden calf incident—when they executed three thousand fellow Israelites at Moses's command—is cited as the basis for their priestly consecration (Exodus 32:25–29).