The Census

1 The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting^(A) in the Desert of Sinai^(B) on the first day of the second month^(C) of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt.^(D) He said: ² “Take a census^(E) of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families,^(F) listing every man by name,^(G) one by one. ³ You and Aaron^(H) are to count according to their divisions all the men in Israel who are twenty years old or more^(I) and able to serve in the army.^{(J) 4} One man from each tribe,^(K) each of them the head of his family,^(L) is to help you.^{(M) 5} These are the names^(N) of the men who are to assist you:

¹⁶ These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders^(AM) of their ancestral tribes.^(AN) They were the heads of the clans of Israel.^(AO)

¹⁷ Moses and Aaron took these men whose names had been specified, ¹⁸ and they called the whole community together on the first day of the second month.^(AP) The people registered their ancestry^(AQ) by their clans and families,^(AR) and the men twenty years old or more^(AS) were listed by name, one by one, ¹⁹ as the Lord commanded Moses. And so he counted^(AT) them in the Desert of Sinai:

⁴⁴ These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron^(BV) and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. ⁴⁵ All the Israelites twenty years old or more^(BW) who were able to serve in Israel’s army were counted according to their families.^{(BX) 46} The total number was 603,550.^(BY)

⁴⁷ The ancestral tribe of the Levites,^(BZ) however, was not counted^(CA) along with the others. ⁴⁸ The Lord had said to Moses: ⁴⁹ “You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. ⁵⁰ Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle^(CB) of the covenant law^(CC)—over all its furnishings^(CD) and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. ⁵¹ Whenever the tabernacle^(CE) is to move,^(CF) the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it.^(CG) Anyone else who approaches it is to be put to death.^{(CH) 52} The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each of them in their own camp under their standard.^{(CI) 53} The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle^(CJ) of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall^(CK) on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law.^(CL)”

⁵⁴ The Israelites did all this just as the Lord commanded Moses.

The Arrangement of the Tribal Camps

2 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ² “The Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting some distance from it, each of them under their standard^(CM) and holding the banners of their family.”

³⁴ So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.

The Levites

3 This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses^(DT) at the time the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.^(DU)

² The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn^(DV) and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.^{(DW) 3} Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests,^(DX) who were ordained to serve as priests. ⁴ Nadab and Abihu, however, died before the Lord^(DY) when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai.^(DZ) They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar^(EA) served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.^(EB)

⁵ The Lord said to Moses, ⁶ “Bring the tribe of Levi^(EC) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.^{(ED) 7} They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community^(EE) at the tent of meeting by doing the work^(EF) of the tabernacle. ⁸ 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. ⁹ Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons;^(EG) they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.^{[b] 10} Appoint Aaron^(EH) and his sons to serve as priests;^(EI) anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”^(EJ)

¹¹ The Lord also said to Moses, ¹² “I have taken the Levites^(EK) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring^(EL) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,^{(EM) 13} for all the firstborn are mine.^(EN) 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.”^(EO)

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

These were the Levite clans, according to their families.

²¹ To Gershon^(FA) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;^(FB) 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.^{(FC) 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^(FD) and tent, its coverings,^(FE) the curtain at the entrance^(FF) to the tent of meeting,^{(FG) 26} the curtains of the courtyard^(FH), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,^(FI) and the ropes^(FJ)—and everything^(FK) related to their use.

²⁷ To Kohath^(FL) belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;^(FM) these were the Kohathite^(FN) clans. ²⁸ The number of all the males a month old or more^(FO) was 8,600.^[c] The Kohathites were responsible^(FP) for the care of the sanctuary.^{(FQ) 29} The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side^(FR) of the tabernacle. ³⁰ The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan^(FS) son of Uzziel. ³¹ They were responsible for the care of the ark,^(FT) the table,^(FU) the lampstand,^(FV) the altars,^(FW) the articles^(FX) of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,^(FY) and everything related to their use.^{(FZ) 32} The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar^(GA) son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible^(GB) for the care of the sanctuary.^(GC)

³³ To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;^(GD) these were the Merarite clans.^{(GE) 34} The number of all the males a month old or more^(GF) 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.^{(GG) 36} The Merarites were appointed^(GH) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,^(GI) its crossbars,^(GJ) posts,^(GK) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,^{(GL) 37} as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard^(GM) with their bases, tent pegs^(GN) and ropes.

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

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

⁴⁰ The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more^(GU) and make a list of their names.^{(GV) 41} Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites,^(GW) and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord.”^(GX)

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,^(GY) listed by name, was 22,273.^(GZ)

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.^(HA) I am the Lord.^{(HB) 46} To redeem^(HC) the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, ⁴⁷ collect five shekels^[d](HD) for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel,^(HE) which weighs twenty gerahs.^{(HF) 48} Give the money for the redemption^(HG) of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”^(HH)

⁴⁹ So Moses collected the redemption money^(HI) from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. ⁵⁰ From the firstborn of the Israelites^(HJ) he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels,^[e](HK) 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.

The Kohathites

4 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ² “Take a census^(HL) of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. ³ Count^(HM) all the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(HN) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

⁴ “This is the work^(HO) of the Kohathites^(HP) at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.^{(HQ) 5} When the camp is to move,^(HR) Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain^(HS) and put it over the ark of the covenant law.^{(HT) 6} Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,^[f](HU) spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles^(HV) in place.

⁷ “Over the table of the Presence^(HW) they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings;^(HX) the bread that is continually there^(HY) is to remain on it. ⁸ They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles^(HZ) in place.

⁹ “They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays,^(IA) and all its jars for the olive oil used to supply it. ¹⁰ Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of the durable leather and put it on a carrying frame.^(IB)

¹¹ “Over the gold altar^(IC) they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with the durable leather and put the poles^(ID) in place.

¹² “They are to take all the articles^(IE) used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with the durable leather and put them on a carrying frame.^(IF)

¹³ “They are to remove the ashes^(IG) from the bronze altar^(IH) and spread a purple cloth over it. ¹⁴ Then they are to place on it all the utensils^(II) used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans,^(IJ) meat forks,^(IK) shovels^(IL) and sprinkling bowls.^(IM) Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles^(IN) in place.

¹⁵ “After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move,^(IO) only then are the Kohathites^(IP) to come and do the carrying.^(IQ) But they must not touch the holy things^(IR) or they will die.^(IS) The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

¹⁶ “Eleazar^(IT) son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light,^(IU) the fragrant incense,^(IV) the regular grain offering^(IW) and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles.”

¹⁷ The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ¹⁸ “See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not destroyed from among the Levites. ¹⁹ So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things,^(IX) do this for them: Aaron and his sons^(IY) are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.^{(IZ) 20} But the Kohathites must not go in to look^(JA) at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”

The Gershonites

²¹ The Lord said to Moses, ²² “Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans. ²³ Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(JB) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

²⁴ “This is the service of the Gershonite clans in their carrying and their other work: ²⁵ They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle,^(JC) that is, the tent of meeting,^(JD) its covering^(JE) and its outer covering of durable leather, the curtains for the entrance to the tent of meeting, ²⁶ the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,^(JF) the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard,^(JG) the ropes and all the equipment^(JH) used in the service of the tent. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things. ²⁷ All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons.^(JI) You shall assign to them as their responsibility^(JJ) all they are to carry. ²⁸ This is the service of the Gershonite clans^(JK) at the tent of meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar^(JL) son of Aaron, the priest.

The Merarites

²⁹ “Count^(JM) the Merarites by their clans and families.^{(JN) 30} Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting. ³¹ As part of all their service at the tent, they are to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases,^{(JO) 32} as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes,^(JP) all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry. ³³ This is the service of the Merarite clans as they work at the tent of meeting under the direction of Ithamar^(JQ) son of Aaron, the priest.”

The Numbering of the Levite Clans

³⁴ Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites^(JR) by their clans and families. ³⁵ All the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(JS) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, ³⁶ counted by clans, were 2,750. ³⁷ This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clans^(JT) who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

³⁸ The Gershonites^(JU) were counted by their clans and families. ³⁹ All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, ⁴⁰ counted by their clans and families, were 2,630. ⁴¹ This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command.

⁴² The Merarites were counted by their clans and families. ⁴³ All the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(JV) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, ⁴⁴ counted by their clans, were 3,200. ⁴⁵ This was the total of those in the Merarite clans.^(JW) Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

⁴⁶ So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted^(JX) all the Levites by their clans and families. ⁴⁷ All the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(JY) who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting ⁴⁸ numbered 8,580.^{(JZ) 49} At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.

Thus they were counted,^(KA) as the Lord commanded Moses.

⁸ “Then have them make a sanctuary^(A) for me, and I will dwell^(B) among them.

The Golden Calf

32 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain,^(A) they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods^[a] who will go before^(B) us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”^(C)

² Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings^(D) that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” ³ So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. ⁴ He took what they handed him and made it into an idol^(E) cast in the shape of a calf,^(F) fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods,^[b](G) Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”^(H)

⁵ When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival^(I) to the Lord.” ⁶ So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings.^(J) Afterward they sat down to eat and drink^(K) and got up to indulge in revelry.^(L)

⁷ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt,^(M) have become corrupt.^{(N) 8} They have been quick to turn away^(O) from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol^(P) cast in the shape of a calf.^(Q) They have bowed down to it and sacrificed^(R) to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’^(S)

⁹ “I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked^(T) people. ¹⁰ Now leave me alone^(U) so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy^(V) them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”^(W)

¹¹ But Moses sought the favor^(X) of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?^{(Y) 12} Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’?^(Z) Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster^(AA) on your people. ¹³ Remember^(AB) your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self:^(AC) ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars^(AD) in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land^(AE) I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” ¹⁴ Then the Lord relented^(AF) and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

¹⁵ Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant law^(AG) in his hands.^(AH) They were inscribed^(AI) on both sides, front and back. ¹⁶ The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.^(AJ)

¹⁷ When Joshua^(AK) heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “There is the sound of war in the camp.”

¹⁸ Moses replied:

¹⁹ When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf^(AL) and the dancing,^(AM) his anger burned^(AN) and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces^(AO) at the foot of the mountain. ²⁰ And he took the calf the people had made and burned^(AP) it in the fire; then he ground it to powder,^(AQ) scattered it on the water^(AR) and made the Israelites drink it.

²¹ He said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?”

²² “Do not be angry,^(AS) my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil.^{(AT) 23} They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’^{(AU) 24} So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”^(AV)

²⁵ Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock^(AW) to their enemies. ²⁶ So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.

²⁷ Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’”^{(AX) 28} The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. ²⁹ Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.”

³⁰ The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin.^(AY) But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement^(AZ) for your sin.”

³¹ So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed!^(BA) They have made themselves gods of gold.^{(BB) 32} But now, please forgive their sin^(BC)—but if not, then blot me^(BD) out of the book^(BE) you have written.”

³³ The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out^(BF) of my book. ³⁴ Now go, lead^(BG) the people to the place^(BH) I spoke of, and my angel^(BI) will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish,^(BJ) I will punish them for their sin.”

³⁵ And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf^(BK) Aaron had made.