Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Kiddushin 141:1

מטהר שבטים שבטו של לוי מטהר תחילה שנא' (מלאכי ג, ג) וישב מצרף ומטהר כסף וטיהר את בני לוי וזיקק אותם כזהב וככסף והיו לי"י מגישי מנחה בצדקה

purifies the tribes, He will first purify the tribe of Levi, for it is said: And he shall sit as a refiner and p of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver; and they shall offer unto the Lord offerings in righteousness.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Mal. III, 3.');"><sup>1</sup></span> R'Joshua B'Levi said: Money purifies mamzerim,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By means of their wealth they intermarry with Israel, and having thus mingled, they will not be separated in the future.');"><sup>2</sup></span> for it is said. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., those who married by means of their silver, He will purify by retaining them in Israel.');"><sup>3</sup></span>

Daf Shevui to Kiddushin

God is portrayed here as sorting out the proper lineage of Israel—who married women fit for them and who did not. When God does this, the first tribe to be sorted out will be the Levites.
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