Deuteronomy 18:5
For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever.
For the Lord thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes,.... That is, has chosen the tribe of Levi out of all the other tribes of Israel:
to stand to minister in the name of the LORD; the priests to minister to the Lord by offering sacrifices, and the Levites to minister to the priests in assisting them in their service; and both their ministry were in the name of the Lord, and for his glory, and done standing; for there was no sitting in the sanctuary {w}; the priestly ministry was only performed standing {x}, whatever was done sitting was rejected {y}; see Hebrews 10:11,
him and his sons for ever; Levi and his posterity, or the posterity of the tribe of Levi, were chosen by the Lord to this service, to be employed in it as long as the ceremonial law continued, on which stood the Levitical priesthood; but both are now abolished by Christ, having their accomplishment in him, Hebrews 7:11.
{w} Maimon. in Misn. Zebachim, c. 2. sect. 1.
{x} Bartenora in ib.
{y} Misn. ib.