God had honored the Levites to do service in the tabernacle because they took no part in making and worshiping the golden calf and because of their faithfulness in executing the order of God upon the idolaters. To the Levites was also assigned the office of erecting the tabernacle and encamping around about it, while the hosts of Israel pitched their tents at a distance from it. And when they journeyed, the Levites took down the tabernacle and bore it and the ark and all the sacred articles of furniture. Because God thus honored the Levites, they became ambitious for still higher office, that they might obtain greater influence with the congregation. “And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?” {3T 345.1}

Gud havde hædret levitterne til at gøre tjeneste i tabernaklet fordi de ikke tog del i at lave og dyrke guldkalven og på grund af deres trofasthed i gennemførelsen af Guds orden på afgudsdyrkerne. Levitterne var også tiltænkt embedet at rejse tabernakelet og lejre sig omkring det, medens Israels hære rejste deres telte et stykke fra det. Og når de rejste, tog levitterne tabernaklet ned og bar det og arken og alle de hellige møbelelementer. Fordi Gud således ærede levitterne, blev de begærlige for et endnu højere embede, så de kunne vinde indflydelse sammen med menigheden. »Og de samlede sig og trådte op imod Moses og Aron og sagde til dem: »Lad det nu være nok, thi hele menigheden er hellig, hver og en og Herren er i dens midte; hvorfor vil I da ophøje eder over Herrens menighed?"