¹¹ Aaron is to present the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering^(A) from the Israelites, so that they may be ready to do the work of the Lord.

³⁰ With their own hands they are to present the food offering to the Lord; they are to bring the fat, together with the breast, and wave the breast before the Lord as a wave offering.^(A)

²⁰ The priest shall then wave these before the Lord as a wave offering;^(A) they are holy^(B) and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented.^(C) After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.^(D)

⁵ The Lord said to Moses, ⁶ “Bring the tribe of Levi^(A) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.^{(B) 7} They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community^(C) at the tent of meeting by doing the work^(D) 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;^(E) they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.^{[a] 10} Appoint Aaron^(F) and his sons to serve as priests;^(G) anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”^(H)

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

¹⁴ The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,^{(N) 15} “Count^(O) the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”^{(P) 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^(Y) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;^(Z) 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.^{(AA) 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^(AB) and tent, its coverings,^(AC) the curtain at the entrance^(AD) to the tent of meeting,^{(AE) 26} the curtains of the courtyard^(AF), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,^(AG) and the ropes^(AH)—and everything^(AI) related to their use.

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

³³ To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;^(BB) these were the Merarite clans.^{(BC) 34} The number of all the males a month old or more^(BD) 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.^{(BE) 36} The Merarites were appointed^(BF) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,^(BG) its crossbars,^(BH) posts,^(BI) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,^{(BJ) 37} as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard^(BK) with their bases, tent pegs^(BL) and ropes.

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

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

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

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,^(BW) listed by name, was 22,273.^(BX)

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^(A) of the covenant law^(B)—over all its furnishings^(C) 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^(D) is to move,^(E) the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it.^(F) Anyone else who approaches it is to be put to death.^{(G) 52} The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each of them in their own camp under their standard.^{(H) 53} The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle^(I) of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall^(J) on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law.^(K)”

²⁹ Moses also took the breast, which was his share of the ordination ram,^(A) and waved it before the Lord as a wave offering, as the Lord commanded Moses.

²⁷ He put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons, and they waved them before the Lord^(A) as a wave offering.

²⁴ Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and have them wave them before the Lord as a wave offering.^(A)