Numbers 8:18-20

New International Version

¹⁸ And I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons in Israel.^{(A) 19} From among all the Israelites, I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons^(B) to do the work at the tent of meeting on behalf of the Israelites^(C) and to make atonement for them^(D) so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the sanctuary.”

²⁰ Moses, Aaron and the whole Israelite community did with the Levites just as the Lord commanded Moses.