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2 4 0 I n t e r p r e t a t i o n Volume 41 / Issue 3We noted that the line of Cain and the Levites share a family of characteristics.One of those characteristics is jealousy that issues in bloodshed. Bythe time we get to the end of the book of Numbers, however, what began asthe Levites’ jealous love of their own becomes the jealous love of the Lord. Inaddition to jealousy that issues in bloodshed, both the Cainites and the Levitesare also characterized by their disconnection from the earth and dwellingin cities. Here too, however, the Levites correct the Cainite flaw. Cain is exiledfrom the earth as punishment for murdering his brother, while the Levites donot receive a portion in the land of Israel because they are wholly dedicatedto the Lord. 37 Where will they live instead? The first city was founded by aCainite, and the Levites are likewise allocated cities to live in, including thecities of refuge, the places where accidental and, one assumes, sometimes notso accidental murderers fled out of fear of the enraged blood avengers. 38But the element missing from this series of parallels between the lineof Cain and the Levites is music. This element will reappear when Davidbrings up the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and, according to Chronicles,institutes the Levitical musical service. The Bible carefully delineates Cainitequalities along with their Levitical parallels; the book of Chronicles fills in alacuna in the Bible’s overall structure by telling the story of the founding ofthe Levitical musical service. 39David establishes the foundations of a new order in Israel, and in thefollowing section I will turn to the connection between monarchy, music,and friendship. First, however, I will attempt to answer the question of whyDavid chose the Levites to be the temple musicians. One likely answer is thatsince the origins of musical instruments were so problematic, only those fullycommitted to the Lord could be trusted to wield this power. David himselfknew how to do it, and he considered the Levites, the spiritual elite of Israel,to be fitting as well.Another possible answer is that David appointed the Levites to be thetemple musicians in order to tone down, as it were, the Levitical zealous, jealousardor. 40 If this is the case, then David’s political wisdom would resemblethe Arcadian wisdom described by Polybius in his Histories. There, in book 4,37Perhaps political wisdom also informed this decision. What might happen if Levitical jealousy wereto be connected to a piece of land?38It is possible that the Bible imagines the cities of refuge functioning as centers for “anger rehabilitation,”with the Levites playing the role of group leaders.39See note 32, above.40It is worth recalling that the anger of a Levite set off the civil war at the end of Judges.