⁵ Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people^(A)—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham.

⁴ He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion^(A) due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the Lord. ⁵ As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits^(B) of their grain, new wine,^(C) olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. ⁶ The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe^(D) of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them in heaps.^(E)

²¹ “I give to the Levites all the tithes^(A) in Israel as their inheritance^(B) in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.^{(C) 22} From now on the Israelites must not go near the tent of meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die.^{(D) 23} It is the Levites who are to do the work at the tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it. This is a lasting ordinance^(E) for the generations to come.^(F) They will receive no inheritance^(G) among the Israelites.^{(H) 24} Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord.^(I) That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.’”

²⁵ The Lord said to Moses, ²⁶ “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you^(J) as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering.^{(K) 27} Your offering will be reckoned^(L) to you as grain from the threshing floor^(M) or juice from the winepress.^{(N) 28} In this way you also will present an offering to the Lord from all the tithes^(O) you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the Lord’s portion to Aaron the priest. ²⁹ You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.’

³⁰ “Say to the Levites: ‘When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress.^{(P) 31} You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the tent of meeting.^{(Q) 32} By presenting the best part^(R) of it you will not be guilty in this matter;^(S) then you will not defile the holy offerings^(T) of the Israelites, and you will not die.’”

¹⁰ He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too.^{(A) 11} It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble^(B) against him?^(C)”

³⁰ “‘A tithe^(A) of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy^(B) to the Lord. ³¹ Whoever would redeem^(C) any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value^(D) to it. ³² Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod^(E)—will be holy to the Lord. ³³ No one may pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution.^(F) If anyone does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.^(G)’”

¹⁰ because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

¹⁰ I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them,^(A) and that all the Levites and musicians responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields.^(B)

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)”