Numbers 3
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- 1This is the family record of Aaron and Moses from the time the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.
- 2Aaron's sons were Nadab the firstborn, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
- 3These were Aaron's sons, the anointed priests who were consecrated to serve in the priesthood.
- 4But Nadab and Abihu died in the LORD's presence when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai. They had no children, and Eleazar and Ithamar served in the priest's office in the sight of their father Aaron.
- 5The LORD said to Moses,
- 6"Bring the tribe of Levi forward and present them to Aaron the priest so they can serve under him.
- 7They will carry out duties for Aaron and for the whole community at the Tent of Meeting, doing the work of the tabernacle.
- 8They will take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting and handle the responsibilities assigned by the Israelites for the service of the tabernacle.
- 9Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They are given entirely to him from among the Israelites.
- 10Appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall attend to their priestly duties. Any stranger who comes near shall be put to death.
- 11The LORD also said to Moses,
- 12I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the Israelites. Therefore, the Levites shall be mine;
- 13because every firstborn is mine. On the day I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I hallowed every firstborn in Israel for myself — both people and animals. They are mine. I am the LORD.
- 14The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai and said,
- 15"Count the Levites by their ancestral families and clans. Count every male who is 1 month old or older."
- 16So Moses counted them just as the LORD commanded.
- 17Levi had 3 sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
- 18Gershon's sons and their clans were Libni and Shimei.
- 19Kohath's sons and their clans were Amram, Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
- 20Merari's sons and their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the Levite clans, organized by their ancestral families.
- 21From Gershon came the clan of the Libnites and the clan of the Shimites. Together they made up the Gershonite clans.
- 22The total number of males 1 month old or older among the Gershonites was 7,500.
- 23The Gershonite clans were to set up camp behind the tabernacle, on the west side.
- 24Their leader was Eliasaph son of Lael.
- 25The Gershonites were responsible for the tabernacle itself, including the tent, its outer covering, and the curtain at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
- 26They also cared for the courtyard curtains, the screen at the courtyard entrance near the tabernacle and altar, and the ropes — everything related to maintaining these items.
- 27From Kohath came the clan of the Amramites, the Izeharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites. Together they made up the Kohathite clans.
- 28The total number of males 1 month old or older was 8,600. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary.
- 29The Kohathite clans were to set up camp on the south side of the tabernacle.
- 30Their leader was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.
- 31They were responsible for the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the sacred vessels used in worship, the inner curtain, and everything related to their upkeep.
- 32Eleazar son of Aaron the priest served as the chief leader over all the Levites, overseeing everyone assigned to care for the sanctuary.
- 33From Merari came the clan of the Mahlites and the clan of the Mushites. Together they made up the Merarite clans.
- 34The total number of males 1 month old or older was 6,200.
- 35Their leader was Zuriel son of Abihail. The Merarite clans were to set up camp on the north side of the tabernacle.
- 36The Merarites were assigned to care for the tabernacle's frames, crossbars, posts, bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their upkeep.
- 37They also cared for the posts around the courtyard, along with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes.
- 38Moses, Aaron, and his sons were to camp on the east side, directly in front of the Tent of Meeting. They were responsible for the sanctuary duties on behalf of the Israelites. Any stranger who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.
- 39The total number of Levite males 1 month old or older, counted by Moses and Aaron at the LORD's command and organized by clan, was 22,000.
- 40Then the LORD told Moses, "Count every firstborn male among the Israelites who is 1 month old or older, and record their names.
- 41Set apart the Levites for me — I am the LORD — as substitutes for all the firstborn among the Israelites. Also set apart the Levites' livestock as substitutes for all the firstborn livestock of the Israelites."
- 42So Moses counted all the firstborn among the Israelites, just as the LORD commanded.
- 43The total number of firstborn males 1 month old or older, counted by name, was 22,273.
- 44The LORD said to Moses,
- 45"Take the Levites as substitutes for all the firstborn among the Israelites, and take the Levites' livestock as substitutes for their livestock. The Levites are mine. I am the LORD.
- 46Since there are 273 more firstborn Israelites than there are Levites, you must pay a redemption price for those extra 273.
- 47Collect 5 shekels for each one, measured by the sanctuary standard — which is 20 gerahs per shekel.
- 48Give this redemption money to Aaron and his sons."
- 49So Moses collected the redemption money for those firstborn who exceeded the number of Levites.
- 50From the firstborn of the Israelites, he collected 1,365 shekels, measured by the sanctuary standard.
- 51Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, just as the LORD had commanded.