Who was Levi?

Levi was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Jacob. In the Hebrew Bible, Levi is described as the third son of Jacob and Leah. The tribe of Levi played a significant role in the religious life of ancient Israel and provided the priests who served at the Temple in Jerusalem. Members of the tribe of Levi were set apart for religious duties and were responsible for the maintenance of the Tabernacle and later, the Temple. In the New Testament, Levi is also known as Matthew, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and the author of the Gospel of Matthew.