Numbers 3
The Message
The Levites
3 This is the family tree of Aaron and Moses at the time God spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.
2-4 The names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar—anointed priests ordained to serve as priests. But Nadab and Abihu fell dead in the presence of God when they offered unauthorized sacrifice to him in the Wilderness of Sinai. They left no sons, and so only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father, Aaron.
5-10 God spoke to Moses. He said, “Bring forward the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron so they can help him. They shall work for him and the whole congregation at the Tent of Meeting by doing the work of The Dwelling. Their job is to be responsible for all the furnishings of The Dwelling, ministering to the affairs of The Dwelling as the People of Israel come to perform their duties. Turn the Levites over to Aaron and his sons; they are the ones assigned to work full time for him. Appoint Aaron and his sons to minister as priests; anyone else who tries to elbow his way in will be put to death.”
11-13 God spoke to Moses: “I have taken the Levites from among the People of Israel as a stand-in for every Israelite mother’s firstborn son. The Levites belong to me. All the firstborn are mine—when I killed all the firstborn in Egypt, I consecrated for my own use every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They belong to me. I am God.”
14-16 God spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai: “Count the Levites by their ancestral families and clans. Count every male a month old and older.” Moses counted them just as he was instructed by the mouth of God.
17 These are the names of the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
18 These are the names of the Gershonite clans: Libni and Shimei.
19 The sons of Kohath by clan: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
20 The sons of Merari by clan: Mahli and Mushi.
These are the clans of Levi, family by family.
21-26 Gershon was ancestor to the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites, known as the Gershonite clans. All the males who were one month and older numbered 7,500. The Gershonite clans camped on the west, behind The Dwelling, led by Eliasaph son of Lael. At the Tent of Meeting the Gershonites were in charge of maintaining The Dwelling and its tent, its coverings, the screen at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the hangings of the Courtyard, the screen at the entrance to the Courtyard that surrounded The Dwelling and Altar, and the cords—in short, everything having to do with these things.
27-32 Kohath was ancestor to the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites. These were known as the Kohathite clans. All the males who were one month and older numbered 8,600. The Kohathites were in charge of the Sanctuary. The Kohathite clans camped on the south side of The Dwelling, led by Elizaphan son of Uzziel. They were in charge of caring for the Chest, the Table, the Lampstand, the Altars, the articles of the Sanctuary used in worship, and the screen—everything having to do with these things. Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, supervised the leaders of the Levites and those in charge of the Sanctuary.
33-37 Merari was ancestor to the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites, known as the Merarite clans. The males who were one month and older numbered 6,200. They were led by Zuriel son of Abihail and camped on the north side of The Dwelling. The Merarites were in charge of the frames of The Dwelling, its crossbars, posts, bases, and all its equipment—everything having to do with these things, as well as the posts of the surrounding Courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and cords.
38 Moses and Aaron and his sons camped to the east of The Dwelling, toward the rising sun, in front of the Tent of Meeting. They were in charge of maintaining the Sanctuary for the People of Israel and the rituals of worship. Anyone else who tried to perform these duties was to be put to death.
39 The sum total of Levites counted at God’s command by Moses and Aaron, clan by clan, all the males one month and older, numbered 22,000.
40-41 God spoke to Moses: “Count all the firstborn males of the People of Israel who are one month and older. List their names. Then set apart for me the Levites—remember, I am God—in place of all the firstborn among the People of Israel, also the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. I am God.”
42-43 So, just as God commanded him, Moses counted all the firstborn of the People of Israel. The total of firstborn males one month and older, listed by name, numbered 22,273.
44-48 Again God spoke to Moses. He said, “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 mine, I am God. Redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of Levites by collecting five shekels for each one, using the Sanctuary shekel (the shekel weighing twenty gerahs). Give that money to Aaron and his sons for the redemption of the excess number of Israelites.”
49-51 So Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. From the 273 firstborn Israelites he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels according to the Sanctuary shekel. Moses turned over the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of God.
Numbers 3
King James Version
3 These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the Lord spake with Moses in mount Sinai.
2 And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.
4 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.
5 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
6 Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
Numeri 3
Nuova Riveduta 2006
Censimento dei Leviti e il loro servizio
3 (A)Questi sono i discendenti di Aaronne e di Mosè al tempo in cui il Signore parlò a Mosè sul monte Sinai.
2 Questi sono i nomi dei figli di Aaronne: Nadab, il primogenito, Abiu, Eleazar e Itamar. 3 Questi sono i nomi dei figli di Aaronne, che ricevettero l’unzione come sacerdoti e furono consacrati per esercitare il sacerdozio. 4 Nadab e Abiu morirono davanti al Signore quando gli offrirono fuoco estraneo, nel deserto del Sinai. Essi non avevano figli, ed Eleazar e Itamar esercitarono il sacerdozio in presenza di Aaronne, loro padre.
5 (B)Il Signore disse a Mosè: 6 «Fa’ avvicinare la tribù di Levi e mettila a disposizione del sacerdote Aaronne, affinché sia al suo servizio. 7 Essi avranno la cura di tutto ciò che è affidato a lui e a tutta la comunità davanti alla tenda di convegno e faranno così il servizio del tabernacolo. 8 Avranno cura di tutti gli utensili della tenda di convegno e di quanto è affidato ai figli d’Israele, e faranno così il servizio del tabernacolo. 9 Tu darai i Leviti ad Aaronne e ai suoi figli; tra i figli d’Israele sono essi quelli che si dedicheranno completamente al suo servizio. 10 Tu stabilirai Aaronne e i suoi figli, perché esercitino le funzioni del loro sacerdozio; l’estraneo che si accosterà all’altare sarà messo a morte».
11 Il Signore disse a Mosè: 12 «Ecco, tra i figli d’Israele io ho preso i Leviti al posto di ogni primogenito che nasce da donna israelita; i Leviti saranno miei; 13 poiché ogni primogenito è mio; il giorno in cui colpii tutti i primogeniti nel paese d’Egitto, io mi consacrai tutti i primi parti in Israele, tanto degli uomini quanto degli animali; saranno miei[a]: io sono il Signore».
14 (C)Il Signore parlò a Mosè nel deserto del Sinai e disse: 15 «Fa’ il censimento dei figli di Levi secondo la discendenza paterna, secondo le loro famiglie; farai il censimento di tutti i maschi dall’età di un mese in su». 16 E Mosè ne fece il censimento secondo l’ordine del Signore, come gli era stato comandato di fare.
17 Questi sono i nomi dei figli di Levi: Gherson, Cheat e Merari. 18 Questi sono i nomi dei figli di Gherson, secondo le loro famiglie: Libni e Simei. 19 I figli di Cheat, secondo le loro famiglie, sono: Amram, Isear, Ebron e Uzziel. 20 I figli di Merari, secondo le loro famiglie, sono: Mali e Musi. Queste sono le famiglie dei Leviti, secondo la discendenza paterna.
21 Da Gherson discendono la famiglia dei Libniti e la famiglia dei Simeiti, che formano le famiglie dei Ghersoniti. 22 Quelli dei quali fu fatto il censimento, contando tutti i maschi dall’età di un mese in su, furono settemilacinquecento. 23 Le famiglie dei Ghersoniti avevano il campo dietro il tabernacolo, a occidente. 24 Il capo della famiglia dei Ghersoniti era Eliasaf, figlio di Lael. 25 Per quel che concerne la tenda di convegno, i figli di Gherson dovevano aver cura del tabernacolo e della tenda, della sua coperta, della portiera all’ingresso della tenda di convegno, 26 delle tele del cortile e della portiera dell’ingresso del cortile, tutto intorno al tabernacolo e all’altare, e dei suoi cordami per tutto il servizio del tabernacolo.
27 Da Cheat discendono la famiglia degli Amramiti, la famiglia degli Iseariti, la famiglia degli Ebroniti e la famiglia degli Uzzieliti, che formano le famiglie dei Cheatiti. 28 Contando tutti i maschi dall’età di un mese in su, furono ottomilaseicento, incaricati della cura del santuario. 29 Le famiglie dei figli di Cheat avevano il campo al lato meridionale del tabernacolo. 30 Il capo della famiglia dei Cheatiti era Elisafan, figlio di Uzziel. 31 Alle loro cure erano affidati l’arca, la tavola, il candelabro, gli altari e gli utensili del santuario con i quali si fa il servizio, il velo e tutto ciò che si riferisce al servizio del santuario. 32 Il primo dei capi dei Leviti era Eleazar, figlio del sacerdote Aaronne; egli aveva la sorveglianza di quelli che erano incaricati della cura del santuario.
33 Da Merari discendono la famiglia dei Maliti e la famiglia dei Musiti, che formano le famiglie di Merari. 34 Quelli di cui si fece il censimento, contando tutti i maschi dall’età di un mese in su, furono seimiladuecento. 35 Il capo delle famiglie discendenti da Merari era Suriel, figlio di Abiail. Essi avevano il campo al lato settentrionale del tabernacolo. 36 Alle cure dei figli di Merari furono affidati le assi del tabernacolo, le sue traverse, le sue colonne e le loro basi, tutti i suoi utensili e tutto ciò che si riferisce al servizio del tabernacolo, 37 le colonne del cortile tutto intorno, le loro basi, i loro picchetti e il loro cordame.
38 Sul davanti del tabernacolo, a oriente, di fronte alla tenda di convegno, verso il sol levante, avevano l’accampamento Mosè, Aaronne e i suoi figli; essi avevano la cura del santuario per i figli d’Israele; l’estraneo che vi si fosse accostato sarebbe stato messo a morte.
39 Tutti i Leviti di cui Mosè e Aaronne fecero il censimento secondo le loro famiglie per ordine del Signore, tutti i maschi dall’età di un mese in su, furono ventiduemila.
Riscatto dei primogeniti
40 (D)Il Signore disse a Mosè: «Fa’ il censimento di tutti i primogeniti maschi tra i figli d’Israele dall’età di un mese in su e fa’ il conto dei loro nomi. 41 Prenderai i Leviti per me, io sono il Signore, invece di tutti i primogeniti dei figli d’Israele, e il bestiame dei Leviti al posto dei primi parti del bestiame degli Israeliti». 42 Mosè fece il censimento di tutti i primogeniti tra i figli d’Israele, secondo l’ordine che il Signore gli aveva dato. 43 Tutti i primogeniti maschi di cui si fece il censimento, contando i nomi dall’età di un mese in su, furono ventiduemiladuecentosettantatré.
44 Il Signore disse a Mosè: 45 «Prendi i Leviti al posto di tutti i primogeniti dei figli d’Israele e il bestiame dei Leviti al posto del loro bestiame; i Leviti saranno miei. Io sono il Signore. 46 Per il riscatto dei duecentosettantatré primogeniti dei figli d’Israele che superano il numero dei Leviti, 47 prenderai cinque sicli a testa; li prenderai secondo il siclo del santuario, che è di venti ghere. 48 Darai il denaro ad Aaronne e ai suoi figli per il riscatto di quelli che superano il numero dei Leviti». 49 Mosè prese il denaro per il riscatto di quelli che superavano il numero dei primogeniti riscattati dai Leviti; 50 prese il denaro dai primogeniti dei figli d’Israele: milletrecentosessantacinque sicli, secondo il siclo del santuario. 51 Mosè diede il denaro del riscatto ad Aaronne e ai suoi figli, secondo l’ordine del Signore, come il Signore aveva ordinato a Mosè.
Footnotes
- Numeri 3:13 Cfr. Es 13:2.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
Copyright © 2006 Società Biblica di Ginevra