The Priestly Garments

28 “Have Aaron^(A) your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu,^(B) Eleazar and Ithamar,^(C) so they may serve me as priests.^(D)

⁹ and fasten caps on them. Then tie sashes on Aaron and his sons.^[a](A) The priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance.^(B)

“Then you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.

³⁸ Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east^(A) of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting.^(B) They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary^(C) on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.^(D)

The Budding of Aaron’s Staff

17 ^[a]The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs^(A) from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes.^(B) Write the name of each man on his staff. ³ On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name,^(C) for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. ⁴ Place them in the tent of meeting^(D) in front of the ark of the covenant law,^(E) where I meet with you.^(F)

⁸ The next day Moses entered the tent^(A) and saw that Aaron’s staff,^(B) which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.^(C)

Duties of Priests and Levites

18 The Lord said to Aaron, “You, your sons and your family are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the sanctuary,^(A) and you and your sons alone are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the priesthood.