¹⁰ Appoint Aaron^(A) and his sons to serve as priests;^(B) anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”^(C)

³⁹ So Eleazar the priest^(A) collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned to death,^(B) and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, ⁴⁰ as the Lord directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense^(C) before the Lord,^(D) or he would become like Korah and his followers.^(E)

¹⁰ “‘The Levites who went far from me when Israel went astray^(A) and who wandered from me after their idols must bear the consequences of their sin.^{(B) 11} They may serve in my sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the temple and serving in it; they may slaughter the burnt offerings^(C) and sacrifices for the people and stand before the people and serve them.^{(D) 12} But because they served them in the presence of their idols and made the people of Israel fall^(E) into sin, therefore I have sworn with uplifted hand^(F) that they must bear the consequences of their sin, declares the Sovereign Lord.^{(G) 13} They are not to come near to serve me as priests or come near any of my holy things or my most holy offerings; they must bear the shame^(H) of their detestable practices.^{(I) 14} And I will appoint them to guard the temple for all the work that is to be done in it.^(J)

⁷ But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain.^(A) I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift.^(B) Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death.^(C)”

²¹ No descendant of Aaron the priest who has any defect^(A) is to come near to present the food offerings to the Lord.^(B) He has a defect; he must not come near to offer the food of his God.^{(C) 22} He may eat the most holy food of his God,^(D) as well as the holy food; ²³ yet because of his defect,^(E) he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar, and so desecrate my sanctuary.^(F) I am the Lord, who makes them holy.^(G)’”