¹² “I have taken the Levites^(A) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring^(B) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,^(C)

⁴¹ Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites,^(A) and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord.”^(B)

⁴² So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. ⁴³ The total number of firstborn males a month old or more,^(C) listed by name, was 22,273.^(D)

⁴⁴ The Lord also said to Moses, ⁴⁵ “Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be mine.^(E) I am the Lord.^(F)

¹⁴ In this way you are to set the Levites apart from the other Israelites, and the Levites will be mine.^(A)

¹⁶ They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me. I have taken them as my own in place of the firstborn,^(A) the first male offspring^(B) from every Israelite woman. ¹⁷ Every firstborn male in Israel, whether human or animal,^(C) is mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set them apart for myself.^{(D) 18} And I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons in Israel.^(E)

⁶ I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you,^(A) dedicated to the Lord to do the work at the tent of meeting.^(B)