By Rabbi Yisrael Pinchas Tirnauer
The care and management of the Beis Hamikdash was the exclusive prerogative of the Kohanim and Leviim, and it was their responsibility to keep the other Jews at a safe distance from the holier sections of the Sanctuary, following the parameters laid out in the Torah and by Chazal. Essentially three tasks were assigned to the Leviim. They stood guard at the entrances to the Beis Hamikdash day and night, locked the doors of those entrances at night and opened them in the morning. They also sang in the Azarah to complement the offering of korbanos.
The Talmud (Arachin 11a) cites several sources from the Torah for the mitzvah of the Leviim to sing in the Beis Hamikdash. The Rambam cites one of those sources — the passuk (Devarim 18:7), “He shall serve with the Name of Hashem, like all his brethren the Leviim,” explaining that “serving with the Name of Hashem” means to praise Hashem utilizing the vehicle of song and melody. Nevertheless, Rashi (Divrei Hayamim II 29:25) declared that the real source for the mitzvah of singing in the Beis Hamikdash is Halachah l’Moshe miSinai, and the pesukim constitute no more than asmachta for the mitzvah.
What exactly is the mitzvah of shirah? Rabi Yose taught that the main mitzvah of shirah in the Beis Hamikdash was the playing of instruments, but the Chachamim said that it is the singing of the Leviim, and that is how the Rambam rules. Even so, the Leviim did play instruments to accompany the singing, and even on Shabbos. In fact, if an instrumental string snapped on Shabbos, it was permissible to repair it in order to continue playing. (This applied only to the music played to accompany the singing that related to the korbanos. Playing music for simchas beis hasho’eivah on Sukkos was forbidden on Shabbos.)
The Leviim sang every day when the nisuch hayayin (wine libation) was poured onto the Mizbei’ach. On an ordinary day, this applied to the korban tamid, morning and afternoon. When a korban mussaf was offered, they sang again for the extra nisuch hayayin of those korbanos. Although there is no obligation to sing when an individual’s korban is offered, it is permissible if they wish.
There is a separate mitzvah for the Kohanim to blow silver trumpets as the korban is being offered. The Kohanim also used their trumpets to accompany the singing of the Leviim, along with those who played various other instruments.
Everyone Line Up!
Every day at least twelve Leviim were assigned to stand on the duchan (stage) and sing while the korbanos were offered. There was no maximum number. Although only Leviim were allowed to sing, anyone from any shevet could serve as a musician, as long as he had a pedigreed lineage (meaning that a Kohen would be allowed to marry his daughter). A Levi could not serve as a singer and musician at the same time.
Any Levi was eligible to serve in the choir, even if he was physically deformed. The Torah forbids people of other shevatim to sing in the Beis Hamikdash; anyone who transgresses this is liable to be punished with an untimely death (misah bidei Shamayim). Children of the Leviim were permitted to sing along with the official
