Another thing: Fortunate is the man whose tribe is Levi, and who did not participate in the sinful act of the Golden Calf, as it is written, "They shall teach Your ordinances to Jacob and Your Torah to Israel; they shall place incense before You and burnt offerings on Your altar" (Deuteronomy 33:10). Levi did not stand with the sinners, as it is written, "I have sinned this great sin" (Exodus 32:31).
In the company of the scoffers they did not sit, as it is written, "And the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play" (Exodus 32:6), but the children of Levi are described as follows, "And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him" (Exodus 32:26). Rabbi Berechiah said in the name of Rabbi Samuel bar Nachmani: "Whoever did not contribute a nose ring for the Golden Calf, let him come and attach himself to me" (Exodus 32:26).
Immediately, all the sons of Levi gathered around him, as it was their desire to be involved in the study of the Torah. As it is written, "For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek Torah from his mouth, for he is an angel of the Lord of Hosts" (Malachi 2:7). They were like a planted tree that the Holy One, blessed be He, planted in the land of Israel, as all of them entered the land.
Rabbi Zeira said in the name of Rabbi Joshua that from all the members of the tribe of Levi, only Aaron and Miriam died.