利未人的职分

以下是耶和华在西奈山与摩西说话期间亚伦和摩西的后代。

亚伦的长子是拿答,其他儿子还有亚比户、以利亚撒和以他玛。 亚伦的儿子都是受膏的祭司,从摩西那里承受圣职做祭司。 拿答和亚比户在西奈旷野用凡火向耶和华献祭,因而被击杀。他们没有后裔,因此只剩下以利亚撒和以他玛在父亲亚伦身边担任祭司。

耶和华对摩西说: “你去叫利未支派来协助亚伦祭司。 他们要为亚伦和全体会众在会幕司职,办理圣幕的事务, 也要负责看守会幕里面的器具,为以色列人办理圣幕的事务。 你要把利未人交给亚伦父子们,因为他们是从以色列人中选出来协助亚伦的。 10 你要指派亚伦父子们尽祭司的职分,其他人若走近圣幕,必被处死。” 11 耶和华又对摩西说: 12 “我从以色列人中拣选利未人代替以色列人所有的长子。利未人要属于我, 13 因为所有头生的都属于我。我杀死埃及人所有的长子和头生的牲畜那天,已把以色列人所有的长子和头生的牲畜都分别出来,使之圣洁,归给我,我是耶和华。”

14 耶和华在西奈旷野对摩西说: 15 “你要按利未人的宗族和家系统计他们的人口,登记所有年龄在一个月以上的男性。” 16 于是,摩西照耶和华的吩咐统计利未人。 17 利未的儿子是革顺、哥辖和米拉利。 18 革顺的儿子依次是立尼和示每。 19 哥辖的儿子依次是暗兰、以斯哈、希伯仑和乌薛。 20 米拉利的儿子依次是抹利和姆示。他们按家系都属于利未人的宗族。

21 革顺宗族有立尼和示每两个家族, 22 其中年龄在一个月以上的男性共七千五百人。 23 革顺宗族的人要在圣幕的后面,即西面安营, 24 拉伊勒的儿子以利雅萨做首领。 25 他们负责看守会幕,即圣幕、圣幕的罩棚、顶盖和门帘、 26 围绕圣幕和祭坛的院子的帷幔、门帘、绳索及一切相关的物品。

27 哥辖宗族有暗兰家族、以斯哈家族、希伯仑家族和乌薛家族, 28 其中年龄在一个月以上的男性共有八千六百人,他们负责看守圣所。 29 哥辖宗族的人要在圣幕南面安营, 30 乌薛的儿子以利撒反做首领。 31 他们负责照管约柜、桌子、灯台、两座坛、圣所里面的器具、幔子等一切物品。 32 亚伦祭司的儿子以利亚撒是利未人的最高首领,负责监督在圣所工作的人。

33 米拉利宗族有抹利和姆示两个家族, 34 其中年龄在一个月以上的男性共六千二百人, 35 亚比亥的儿子苏列做首领。他们要在圣幕的北面安营, 36 负责照管圣幕的木板、横闩、柱子、带凹槽的底座和圣幕的一切器具, 37 以及院子四周的柱子、带凹槽的底座、橛子和绳索。

38 摩西、亚伦和亚伦的儿子们要在圣幕东面、朝日出的方向安营,为以色列人在圣所司职。凡擅自走近圣所的人,都要被处死。 39 摩西和亚伦照耶和华的吩咐,按宗族统计利未人,年龄在一个月以上的男性共两万二千人。

利未人代替长子的地位

40 耶和华对摩西说:“你要统计以色列人中年龄在一个月以上的长子,登记他们的姓名。 41 我是耶和华,你要把利未人归给我,代替以色列人所有的长子,也要把利未人的牲畜献给我,代替以色列人所有头生的牲畜。” 42 摩西就照耶和华的吩咐统计了以色列人的长子, 43 年龄在一个月以上的共两万二千二百七十三人。 44 耶和华又对摩西说: 45 “你要用利未人代替以色列人所有的长子,用利未人的牲畜代替以色列人所有头生的牲畜。利未人是属于我的,我是耶和华。 46 以色列人所有长子的人数比利未人总数多二百七十三人,这些多出来的人需要被赎回, 47 每人折合五十五克银子,要以圣所的秤为准,即一舍客勒[a]是二十季拉。 48 要把赎银交给亚伦父子们。” 49 摩西就收取了那二百七十三人的赎银, 50 以圣所的秤计算,共十五公斤银子, 51 照耶和华的吩咐,将赎银交给亚伦父子们。

Footnotes

  1. 3:47 一舍客勒约合十一克。

亞倫的後代

耶和華在西奈山上與摩西說話的日子,亞倫和摩西的後代如下。 亞倫的兒子的名字如下:長子是拿答,還有亞比戶、以利亞撒、以他瑪。 這就是亞倫的兒子的名字,他們是受膏的祭司,是摩西叫他們承受聖職擔任祭司的職分的。 拿答和亞比戶在西奈曠野把凡火獻在耶和華面前的時候,死在耶和華面前;他們沒有兒子;以利亞撒和以他瑪,就在他們的父親亞倫面前,擔任祭司的職分。

利未人的職責

耶和華對摩西說: “你要叫利未支派近前來,使他們站在亞倫祭司面前,可以服事他。 他們要替亞倫和全體會眾,在會幕前盡上本分,辦理帳幕的事。 他們又要看守管理會幕裡的一切器具,也要替以色列人盡上本分,辦理帳幕的事。 你要把利未人派給亞倫和他的兒子,因為他們是從以色列人中選出來完全給他的。 10 你要委派亞倫和他的兒子,使他們謹守自己祭司的職分;外人走近,必被治死。”

利未人被選

11 耶和華告訴摩西: 12 “看哪,我從以色列人中,揀選了利未人,代替以色列人所有頭生的,就是他們的長子,所以利未人要歸我。 13 因為所有頭生的,都是我的;我在埃及地擊殺所有頭生的那天,就把以色列中所有頭生的,無論人畜,都分別為聖歸我;他們要歸我,我是耶和華。”

數點利未人的人口

14 耶和華在西奈曠野對摩西說: 15 “你要照著利未人的父家、宗族,數點他們;所有男丁,一個月及以上的,你都要數點。” 16 於是,摩西照著耶和華的命令,就是耶和華吩咐他的,數點了利未人。 17 利未眾子的名字是:革順、哥轄、米拉利。 18 革順兒子的名字,按著宗族,是立尼和示每。 19 哥轄的兒子,按著宗族,是暗蘭、以斯哈、希伯倫、烏薛。 20 米拉利的兒子,按著宗族,是抹利、母示。這些人按著他們的父家,都是利未人的宗族。

21 屬革順的,有立尼家族和示每家族;這是革順人的家族。 22 根據所有男丁的數目,一個月及以上,被數點的,共有七千五百人。 23 革順人的家族,要在帳幕的後面,就是西方安營; 24 革順人家族的領袖是拉伊勒的兒子以利雅薩。 25 革順的子孫在會幕中的職分,是看守帳幕、罩棚、罩棚的頂蓋和會幕門口的簾子, 26 還有院子的帷幔、院子門口的簾子(院子是環繞帳幕和祭壇的),以及院子使用的一切繩子。

27 屬哥轄的,有暗蘭家族、以斯哈家族、希伯倫家族和烏薛家族;這是哥轄人的家族。 28 根據所有男丁的數目,一個月及以上的,共有八千六百人;他們要盡看守聖所的職分。 29 哥轄子孫的家族要在帳幕的南方安營。 30 哥轄家族的領袖是烏薛的兒子以利撒反。 31 他們的職分是管理約櫃、桌子、燈臺、兩座壇,以及他們在聖所內使用的器具、簾子和帳幕裡使用的一切東西。 32 亞倫祭司的兒子以利亞撒要作利未人眾領袖中的領袖,要監察那些盡看守聖所職分的人。

33 屬米拉利的,有抹利家族和母示家族;這些是米拉利的家族。 34 根據所有男丁的數目,一個月及以上,被數點的,共有六千二百人。 35 米拉利二家族的領袖,是亞比亥的兒子蘇列;他們要在帳幕的北方安營。 36 米拉利子孫的職分,是看守帳幕的木板、門閂、柱子、插座、一切器具,以及負責一切有關的事務, 37 還有看守院子四周的柱子、插座、橛子和繩子。

38 在帳幕前面東邊,就是在會幕前向日出的方向安營的,是摩西、亞倫和亞倫的兒子;他們代替以色列人應盡的職責,看守聖所;外人近前來,必被治死。 39 摩西和亞倫照著耶和華的命令,數點了所有的利未人;按著家族,凡是男丁,一個月及以上被數點的,共有二萬二千人。

利未人代替以色列人頭生的

40 耶和華對摩西說:“以色列人中所有頭生的男子,一個月及以上的,你都要數點;登記他們的姓名。 41 我是耶和華,你要把利未人歸我,代替以色列人所有頭生的;也要把利未人的牲畜歸我,代替以色列人中一切頭生的牲畜。” 42 摩西就照著耶和華吩咐他的,把以色列人所有頭生的都數點了。 43 根據人名的數目,一個月及以上,凡是頭生的男子,被數點的,共有二萬二千二百七十三個。

44 耶和華對摩西說: 45 “你要揀選利未人代替以色列人所有頭生的,也要揀選利未人的牲畜代替以色列人的牲畜;利未人要歸我,我是耶和華。 46 至於那超過利未人總數的二百七十三個,需要贖回的以色列人的長子, 47 你要每人收取贖銀五十七克,要按照人數,根據聖所的秤收取,就是按照聖所的標準重量(“就是按照聖所的標準重量”,原文作“一舍客勒是二十季拉”)。 48 你要把那超額人數的贖銀,交給亞倫和他的兒子。” 49 於是,摩西就從那些被利未人贖回以外的人收取贖銀; 50 從頭生的以色列人收取的銀子,根據聖所的秤,共有約十五公斤。 51 摩西照著耶和華的吩咐,把這贖銀交給了亞倫和他的兒子,正如耶和華吩咐摩西的。

The Levites

This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses(A) at the time the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.(B)

The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn(C) and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.(D) Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests,(E) who were ordained to serve as priests. Nadab and Abihu, however, died before the Lord(F) when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai.(G) They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar(H) served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.(I)

The Lord said to Moses, “Bring the tribe of Levi(J) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.(K) They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community(L) at the tent of meeting by doing the work(M) of the tabernacle. They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons;(N) they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.[a] 10 Appoint Aaron(O) and his sons to serve as priests;(P) anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”(Q)

11 The Lord also said to Moses, 12 “I have taken the Levites(R) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring(S) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,(T) 13 for all the firstborn are mine.(U) When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.”(V)

14 The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,(W) 15 “Count(X) the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”(Y) 16 So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

17 These were the names of the sons of Levi:(Z)

Gershon,(AA) Kohath(AB) and Merari.(AC)

18 These were the names of the Gershonite clans:

Libni and Shimei.(AD)

19 The Kohathite clans:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.(AE)

20 The Merarite clans:(AF)

Mahli and Mushi.(AG)

These were the Levite clans, according to their families.

21 To Gershon(AH) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;(AI) these were the Gershonite clans. 22 The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500. 23 The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle.(AJ) 24 The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. 25 At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle(AK) and tent, its coverings,(AL) the curtain at the entrance(AM) to the tent of meeting,(AN) 26 the curtains of the courtyard(AO), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,(AP) and the ropes(AQ)—and everything(AR) related to their use.

27 To Kohath(AS) belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;(AT) these were the Kohathite(AU) clans. 28 The number of all the males a month old or more(AV) was 8,600.[b] The Kohathites were responsible(AW) for the care of the sanctuary.(AX) 29 The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side(AY) of the tabernacle. 30 The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan(AZ) son of Uzziel. 31 They were responsible for the care of the ark,(BA) the table,(BB) the lampstand,(BC) the altars,(BD) the articles(BE) of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,(BF) and everything related to their use.(BG) 32 The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar(BH) son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible(BI) for the care of the sanctuary.(BJ)

33 To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;(BK) these were the Merarite clans.(BL) 34 The number of all the males a month old or more(BM) who were counted was 6,200. 35 The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.(BN) 36 The Merarites were appointed(BO) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,(BP) its crossbars,(BQ) posts,(BR) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,(BS) 37 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard(BT) with their bases, tent pegs(BU) and ropes.

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

39 The total number of Levites counted(BZ) at the Lord’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.(CA)

40 The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more(CB) and make a list of their names.(CC) 41 Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites,(CD) and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord.”(CE)

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,(CF) listed by name, was 22,273.(CG)

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.(CH) I am the Lord.(CI) 46 To redeem(CJ) the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, 47 collect five shekels[c](CK) for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel,(CL) which weighs twenty gerahs.(CM) 48 Give the money for the redemption(CN) of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”(CO)

49 So Moses collected the redemption money(CP) from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the firstborn of the Israelites(CQ) he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels,[d](CR) according to the sanctuary shekel. 51 Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 3:9 Most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint (see also 8:16) to me
  2. Numbers 3:28 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts 8,300
  3. Numbers 3:47 That is, about 2 ounces or about 58 grams
  4. Numbers 3:50 That is, about 35 pounds or about 16 kilograms

These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the Lord spake with Moses in mount Sinai.

And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.

And Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord, when they offered strange fire before the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.

And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.

And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.

10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

11 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;

13 Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the Lord.

14 And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,

15 Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.

16 And Moses numbered them according to the word of the Lord, as he was commanded.

17 And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.

18 And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei.

19 And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

20 And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.

21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.

22 Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred.

23 The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.

24 And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.

25 And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,

26 And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.

27 And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.

28 In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.

29 The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.

30 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.

31 And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.

32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.

33 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.

34 And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.

35 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward.

36 And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto,

37 And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.

38 But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

39 All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the Lord, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

40 And the Lord said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

41 And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the Lord) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.

42 And Moses numbered, as the Lord commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.

43 And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.

44 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the Lord.

46 And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites;

47 Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:)

48 And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.

49 And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:

50 Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:

51 And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.