Devarim 18:6,7 – To stand before G-d

דברים יח:ו,ז - וְכִי-יָבֹא הַלֵּוִי מֵאַחַד שְׁעָרֶיךָ, מִכָּל-יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲשֶׁר-הוּא, גָּר שָׁם; וּבָא בְּכָל-אַוַּת נַפְשׁוֹ, אֶל-הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר-יִבְחַר ה'. וְשֵׁרֵת בְּשֵׁם ה' אֱלֹקיו כְּכָל-אֶחָיו הַלְוִיִּם הָעֹמְדִים שָׁם לִפְנֵי ה'.

Devarim 18:6,7 record that a Levi from anywhere in the country had a right to serve G-d in the chosen place with all of his Levite brothers who stand there before G-d. What does it mean that the Levi can serve in the chosen place? What work is he able to do? What is the meaning or importance of standing before G-d?

The traditional answer (see Rashi, Rashbam and D. Hoffmann on 18:6) is that the Levi here is not just a Levi but also a priest and his service is offering the sacrifices in the chosen place. Yet, it seems odd that the Torah would use the general term Levi if it only meant the priests, especially since the law of the previous verses refers specifically to priests, 18:3. Also, the phrase “all of the tribe of Levi” in 18:1 would not be related to any of the following verses.

The Talmud (Erechin 11a) quotes R. Yehuda in the name of Shmuel that the verses are referring to a regular Levi, and the service is their singing in the chosen place. This could be, and while in modern times singing is considered a basic part of the worship of G-d, the Torah never refers to any singing in the mishkan/ ohel moed or in the future chosen place.

Ibn Ezra (on 18:6, also quoted by Hizkuni on 18:6, see also Rambam, Laws of shemitta and yovel, 13:12)) follows the idea that the verses are referring to a Levi, and he suggests that the service is that the Levi was to teach Torah, presumably in the chosen place. This idea might be hinted at in Devarim 33:10, but the Ibn Ezra claims the proof is from Divrei ha-Yamim II 17:7-9. Again this is possible, but Devarim 33:10 and the verses in Divrei ha-Yamim do not refer to the Levites teaching Torah in the chosen place.

None of these approaches relate to the word standing in 18:7. My understanding is that the verses refer to the Levites, as Shmuel and the Ibn Ezra maintained, but the service of the Levites was literally to stand in the chosen place. This standing in reference to the Levites is mentioned two other times, Devarim 10:8 and Bemidbar 16:9, again in reference to the work of the Levites. It also applies to the priests, 17:12 and 18:5, just that the priests would also bring the sacrifices. The standing by the Levites and the priests would give respect to the chosen place that there would always be an honor guard in the chosen place. Furthermore, when the Levites were standing they could do many tasks, such as clean up if there was a mess or dirt in the chosen place, they could offer assistance to the priests or to people coming to offer sacrifices, and they could function as guards.

Furthermore, it seems from 18:7 that the Torah envisions that in the land of Israel some Levites would take these tasks upon themselves and specialize in this work. Other Levites would live in their cities throughout the country and work regular jobs. However, if a Levi who lived in the cities throughout the country was having a hard time supporting himself, or if he just wanted to help in the worship of G-d, then 18:6,7 record that he would have the option of going to the chosen place to stand there with his fellow Levites.