According to one source, the history of the Wardens can be traced to creation, through the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the beautiful Garden of Eden. God drove out man; and He placed at the east gate of the Garden, Cherubim with flaming sword which turned away the sinners from the gate, to keep them away from the tree of life and prevent Adam and Eve access to the Garden (Gen. 3:23-24). The Cherubim, an exalted being, served as or played the role of Wardens, guiding, protecting; and supervising the beautiful and perfect Garden of Eden by ensuring that the tree of life is preserved.
Moses was commissioned by God to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt- Ex.3:1-22. Aaron was then commissioned to be the spokesman for Moses – Ex. 4:10-17.

Later, God instructed Moses to anoint, consecrate and sanctify Aaron and his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar from among the children of Israel that they may minister unto God in the Priest’s office – Ex.28:1-41.

God then later chose the remaining males out of the tribe of Levi to be ministers unto Aaron and his sons – Numbers 3:5-10. God then adopted the Levites in place of the firstborn among the children of Israel [Ex.3:1-2, 11-16, Numbers 3:11-13]. 22,000 Levite males were exchanged for first born males of the whole Israel while a ransom price of five shekels was given to Aaron and his sons for each of the 273 first born males in excess of the Levite males –Num. 3:39-51.

While the priestly duties were confined to the male members of Aaron’s family, the remaining males of the tribe of Levi were acting as their assistants – [as Wardens, Deacons, Choristers, etc. of the present day worship] – Num. 3:3, 6-10, 1 Chron 23:3-5, 28-31.

According to Collins Gem Dictionary of the Bible, in the Old Testament time the Levitical System or Priesthood was in three grades – [Num. 18:1-7]:

a. The High Priest
The High Priest is “the man who spoke for the nation to God and reported God’s will to the nation”. He has complete authority in the sanctuary and has to perform the rites and ceremonials on days set apart.

Aaron was the first High Priest. His vestments and role were by divine directive – Exodus 28:2-39. Other notable High Priests were Eleazar and Phinehas. The office used to be hereditary and for life. However by the time of the New Testament hereditary and life tenure system had ceased.

b. The (Ordinary) Priests
These were the immediate assistants to the High Priest. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar were the first ministers in the Priest’s office in the sight of Aaron (the High Priest) – Numbers 3:2-4. Their garments were also by divine directive – Exodus 28:40.

The Priest’s role included the offer of sacrifices, blowing the trumpets for mobilization of the people to war and religious observance (Numbers 10:2-10) and other priestly duties like diagnosing the presence of disease and performing rites for getting rid of it.

c. The Levites
These were members of the tribe of Levi (excluding Aaron and his sons) who were originally selected by God as functionaries in the Priesthood (Numbers 8:6-26). “They were given charge of the sanctuary”. They also wore a uniform (I Chronicle 15:27, II Chronicles 5:12).

According to Prof. Philip Schaff: the word “Levites” is generally used to designate those descendants of Levi who were not priests. The Levites were employed in the lower services of the Tabernacle and of the Temple and as special servants of the Lord. [Deut. 10:8, 9; 18:1, 2; 33:8-11].

With the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in 70 C.E, the family records of the Levites were lost or destroyed, bringing the Levitical System to an end. But the tribe of “Levi” constitutes part of Spiritual Israel – Rev. 7:4-7. The name of the tribe is also the basis for the Bible book “Leviticus”. This book deals extensively on the Levites and their role in the development of the religious and ceremonial practices of the people.

ROLE AND DUTIES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT LEVITES 
In Moses’ days, the Levites were mainly engaged in setting up, dismantling, carrying and protecting the tabernacle and the furnishing during the Exodus (Numbers 1:50-53; 4:4-33).

But in addition, they were charged with the following duties (Numbers 3:5-8):

• Conduct of religious services (supporting the Priests);
• Custody of holy materials; and
• Priesthood service, (as functionaries in the Priesthood).

From King David’s time [I Chronicles Chapters 23-26] the Levites were highly organized and appointed as supervisors, officers, judges, gate-keepers, treasurers and rulers as well as a vast number of duties to assist the priest and the king in the temple, the courtyards, and the dining rooms in connection with the offerings sacrifices, purification work, weighing, measuring, guard duties and general administration. Levite musicians were also separately organized.

David divided the priests and Levites (and the musicians) into 24 orders/courses/shifts – (I Chron. 24:1-18, 27:1-15). Each course had its own organization and its cycle of one week to perform. On the three great annual festivals, all 24 orders officiated.

The Levites were well versed in the law and were often being called upon to read it in public and to teach it to the common people [II Chron. 17:7-9, Nehemiah 8:7-11]

The Levites portrayed some notable examples of enthusiasm for true worship. This was evident in the golden-calf incident when all the sons of Levi gathered themselves on the side of the Lord [Exodus 32:26-28] and their desertion of Jeroboam’s territory following the split in the kingdom [II Chron. 11:13-14].

They were also zealous in their support of Kings Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah, Governors Zerubbabel and Nehemiah and the priest-scribe Ezra in their efforts to restore true worship in Israel (II Chron, 17:7-9, 29:12-17; 30:21-22; 34:12-13; and also Ezra and Nehemiah).

THUS, THE LEVITICAL DUTIES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT COULD BE SUMMARIZED INTO SEVEN (7) FOLDS:

1. Dismantling, transporting, erecting and taking care of the tabernacle including the Sanctuary and the Ark – Numbers 1:50-53; 3:17-37; 4:4-15.
2. Serving or assisting the priests in all work of the tabernacle – Numbers 3:6; 8:15-22; 18:2; I Chron. 23:28-32; II Chron.35:3-14.
3. Supervision of the work of the temple – I Chron 23:4.
4. Serving God as officials, judges, collectors and treasurers – I Chron 23:4; 26:20-32.
5. Door or gate keeping and guards – I Chron. 23:5; 26:1-19; Ps.84:10.
6. Praising God with musical instruments – I Chron. 23:5, 30-31; 25:1-31; II Chron. 5:12-13.
7. Teaching the law – II Chron. 17:7-9, Neh. 8:7-11.
   
   In all these duties they were to serve before the Lord in the proper number and in the way prescribed for them – I Chron. 23:31b.

LEVITICAL SERVICE TERMS
During the time of Moses, Levites assumed full duties at the age of 30 years – Number 4:46-49, 8:24. Some duties that were not laborious could be performed from age of 25 – Lev. 8: 24. David reduced the resumption age to 20 (I Chron 23:24-27) since the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle.
Assignments of obligatory services by Levites terminated at the age of fifty years (Num. 8:25-26).

Maintenance of the Levites was mainly by tithes from the other tribes, a tenth of everything produced from the ground and the cattle being given to them. Num.18:21-24. The Levites, in turn, passed on a tenth of this to the priests (Num. 18:25-31, II Chron. 31:4-8, Neh. 10:38, 39). Also, though the Levites were exempted from military service, they along with the priests shared some of the spoils of battle, (Num.1:45-49, 31:25-31).

The Levites received no territorial allotment in Canaan, Jehovah being their share (Num. 18:20). However, other tribes of Israel gave them a total of forty-eight cities scattered throughout the Promised Land. – Num.35:1-8.

It is important to note that through a covenant of peace given to Phinehas, a descendant of Aaron, for his zealousness for God, Levites and their descendants possess a covenant of an everlasting priesthood – Num. 25:12&13.