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Numbers 3
New King James Version

The Sons of Aaron(A)

3 Now these are the (B)records[a] of Aaron and Moses when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. 2 And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab, the (C)firstborn, and (D)Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, (E)the anointed priests, [b]whom he consecrated to minister as priests. 4 (F)Nadab and Abihu had died before the Lord when they offered profane fire before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests in the presence of Aaron their father.

The Levites Serve in the Tabernacle

5 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 6 (G)“Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him. 7 And they shall attend to his needs and the needs of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of meeting, to do (H)the work of the tabernacle. 8 Also they shall attend to all the furnishings of the tabernacle of meeting, and to the needs of the children of Israel, to do the work of the tabernacle. 9 And (I)you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are given entirely to [c]him from among the children of Israel. 10 So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, (J)and they shall attend to their priesthood; (K)but the outsider who comes near shall be put to death.”

11 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 12 “Now behold, (L)I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be (M)Mine, 13 because (N)all the firstborn are Mine. (O)On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the Lord.”

Census of the Levites Commanded(P)

14 Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying: 15 “Number the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families; you shall number (Q)every male from a month old and above.”

16 So Moses numbered them according to the [d]word of the Lord, as he was commanded. 17 (R)These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 18 And these are the names of the sons of (S)Gershon by their families: (T)Libni and Shimei. 19 And the sons of (U)Kohath by their families: (V)Amram, Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 (W)And the sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their fathers’ houses.

21 From Gershon came the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimites; these were the families of the Gershonites. 22 Those who were numbered, according to the number of all the males from a month old and above—of those who were numbered there were seven thousand five hundred. 23 (X)The families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle westward. 24 And the leader of the father’s house of the Gershonites was Eliasaph the son of Lael. 25 (Y)The duties of the children of Gershon in the tabernacle of meeting included (Z)the tabernacle, (AA)the tent with (AB)its covering, (AC)the screen for the door of the tabernacle of meeting, 26 (AD)the screen for the door of the court, (AE)the hangings of the court which are around the tabernacle and the altar, and (AF)their cords, according to all the work relating to them.

27 (AG)From Kohath came the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites; these were the families of the Kohathites. 28 According to the number of all the males, from a month old and above, there were eight thousand [e]six hundred [f]keeping charge of the sanctuary. 29 (AH)The families of the children of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle. 30 And the leader of the fathers’ house of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan the son of (AI)Uzziel. 31 (AJ)Their duty included (AK)the ark, (AL)the table, (AM)the lampstand, (AN)the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, (AO)the screen, and all the work relating to them.

32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the leaders of the Levites, with oversight of those who kept charge of the sanctuary.

33 From Merari came the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites; these were the families of Merari. 34 And those who were numbered, according to the number of all the males from a month old and above, were six thousand two hundred. 35 The leader of the fathers’ house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. (AP)These were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle. 36 And (AQ)the appointed duty of the children of Merari included the boards of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, its utensils, all the work relating to them, 37 and the pillars of the court all around, with their sockets, their pegs, and their cords.

38 (AR)Moreover those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tabernacle of meeting, were Moses, Aaron, and his sons, (AS)keeping charge of the sanctuary, (AT)to meet the needs of the children of Israel; but (AU)the outsider who came near was to be put to death. 39 (AV)All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the Lord, by their families, all the males from a month old and above, were twenty-two thousand.

Levites Dedicated Instead of the Firstborn

40 Then the Lord said to Moses: (AW)“Number[g] all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and above, and take the number of their names. 41 (AX)And you shall take the Levites for Me—I am the Lord—instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the children of Israel.” 42 So Moses numbered all the firstborn among the children of Israel, as the Lord commanded him. 43 And all the firstborn males, according to the number of names from a month old and above, of those who were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three.

44 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 45 (AY)“Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. The Levites shall be Mine: I am the Lord. 46 And for (AZ)the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, (BA)who are more than the number of the Levites, 47 you shall take (BB)five shekels for each one (BC)individually; you shall take them in the currency of the shekel of the sanctuary, (BD)the shekel of twenty gerahs. 48 And you shall give the money, with which the excess number of them is redeemed, to Aaron and his sons.”

49 So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those who were redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, (BE)one thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 51 And Moses (BF)gave their redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 3:1 Lit. generations
  2. Numbers 3:3 Lit. whose hands he filled
  3. Numbers 3:9 Sam., LXX Me
  4. Numbers 3:16 Lit. mouth
  5. Numbers 3:28 Some LXX mss. three
  6. Numbers 3:28 taking care of
  7. Numbers 3:40 Take a census of
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Numbers 3
English Standard Version

The Sons of Aaron

3 These are the generations of Aaron and Moses at the time when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. 2 These are the names of the sons of Aaron: (A)Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, (B)the anointed priests, (C)whom he ordained to serve as priests. 4 (D)But Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of Aaron their father.

Duties of the Levites

5 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 6 (E)“Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him. 7 They shall keep guard over him and over the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, (F)as they minister at the tabernacle. 8 They shall guard all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and keep guard over the people of Israel as they minister at the tabernacle. 9 And (G)you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are (H)wholly given to him from among the people of Israel. 10 And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and (I)they shall guard their priesthood. But if (J)any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death.”

11 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “Behold, (K)I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the people of Israel. The Levites shall be mine, 13 for (L)all the firstborn are mine. (M)On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for my own all the firstborn in Israel, both of man and of beast. They shall be mine: I am the Lord.”

14 And the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15 “List the sons of Levi, by fathers' houses and by clans; (N)every male from a month old and upward you shall list.” 16 So Moses listed them according to the word of the Lord, as he was commanded. 17 (O)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 clans: (P)Libni and Shimei. 19 And the sons of Kohath by their clans: (Q)Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 And the sons of Merari by their clans: (R)Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites, by their fathers' houses.

21 To Gershon belonged the clan of the Libnites and the clan of the Shimeites; these were the clans of the Gershonites. 22 Their listing according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward was[a] 7,500. 23 (S)The clans of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle on the west, 24 with Eliasaph, the son of Lael as chief of the fathers' house of the Gershonites. 25 And the (T)guard duty of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting involved (U)the tabernacle, (V)the tent with (W)its covering, (X)the screen for the entrance of the tent of meeting, 26 (Y)the hangings of the court, (Z)the screen for the door of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and (AA)its cords—all the service connected with these.

27 To Kohath belonged the clan of the (AB)Amramites and the clan of the Izharites and the clan of the Hebronites and the clan of the Uzzielites; these are the clans of the Kohathites. 28 According to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, there were 8,600, keeping guard over the sanctuary. 29 The clans of the sons of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle, 30 with (AC)Elizaphan the son of Uzziel as chief of the fathers' house of the clans of the Kohathites. 31 And their guard duty involved (AD)the ark, (AE)the table, (AF)the lampstand, (AG)the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which the priests minister, and (AH)the screen; all the service connected with these. 32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the chiefs of the Levites, and to have oversight of those who kept guard over the sanctuary.

33 To Merari belonged the clan of the Mahlites and the clan of the Mushites: these are the clans of Merari. 34 Their listing according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward was 6,200. 35 And the chief of the fathers' house of the clans of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle. 36 (AI)And the appointed guard duty of the sons of Merari involved the (AJ)frames of the tabernacle, (AK)the bars, (AL)the pillars, the bases, and all their accessories; all the service connected with these; 37 also (AM)the pillars around the court, with their bases and (AN)pegs and (AO)cords.

38 Those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons, (AP)guarding the sanctuary itself, to protect[b] the people of Israel. And any outsider who came near was to be put to death. 39 All those listed among the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron listed at the commandment of the Lord, by clans, all the males from a month old and upward, were (AQ)22,000.

Redemption of the Firstborn

40 And the Lord said to Moses, “List all the firstborn males of the people of Israel, from a month old and upward, taking the number of their names. 41 (AR)And you shall take the Levites for me—I am the Lord—instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the people of Israel.” 42 So Moses listed all the firstborn among the people of Israel, as the Lord commanded him. 43 And all the firstborn males, according to the number of names, from a month old and upward as listed were 22,273.

44 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 45 (AS)“Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. The Levites shall be mine: I am the Lord. 46 And (AT)as the redemption price for the 273 of the firstborn of the people of Israel, over and above the number of the male Levites, 47 you shall take (AU)five shekels[c] per head; you shall take them according to (AV)the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel of twenty gerahs[d]), 48 and give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for those who are over.” 49 So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the firstborn of the people of Israel he took the money, (AW)1,365 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary. 51 And Moses (AX)gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 3:22 Hebrew their listing was
  2. Numbers 3:38 Hebrew guard
  3. Numbers 3:47 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
  4. Numbers 3:47 A gerah was about 1/50 ounce or 0.6 gram
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Números 3
La Biblia de las Américas

Censo de los levitas

3 Y estos son los registros de los descendientes[a] de Aarón y Moisés(A), el día en que el Señor habló con Moisés en el monte Sinaí. 2 Estos son los nombres de los hijos de Aarón: Nadab, el primogénito, Abiú, Eleazar e Itamar(B). 3 Estos son los nombres de los hijos de Aarón, los sacerdotes ungidos, a quienes él ordenó[b] para que ministraran como sacerdotes(C). 4 Pero Nadab y Abiú murieron delante del Señor cuando ofrecieron fuego extraño ante el Señor en el desierto de Sinaí(D); y no tuvieron hijos. Y Eleazar e Itamar ejercieron el sacerdocio[c] durante la vida[d] de su padre Aarón.

5 Entonces habló el Señor a Moisés, diciendo: 6 Haz que se acerque la tribu de Leví y ponlos delante del sacerdote Aarón, para que le sirvan(E). 7 Y se encargarán de las obligaciones para con él y para con[e] toda la congregación delante de la tienda de reunión, para cumplir con el servicio del tabernáculo(F). 8 Y guardarán también todos los utensilios de la tienda de reunión, junto con las obligaciones de los hijos de Israel, para cumplir con el servicio del tabernáculo. 9 Darás, pues, los levitas a Aarón y a sus hijos; le son dedicados por completo de entre los hijos de Israel(G). 10 Y designarás a Aarón y a sus hijos para que se encarguen de su sacerdocio(H); pero el extraño[f] que se acerque será muerto(I).

11 El Señor habló además a Moisés, diciendo: 12 Mira, yo he tomado a los levitas de entre los hijos de Israel en lugar de todos los primogénitos, los que abren el seno materno de entre los hijos de Israel(J). Los levitas, pues, serán míos(K). 13 Porque mío es todo primogénito; el día en que herí a todos los primogénitos en la tierra de Egipto, consagré para mí a todos los primogénitos en Israel, desde el hombre hasta el animal. Míos serán(L); yo soy el Señor.

14 Después el Señor habló a Moisés en el desierto de Sinaí(M), diciendo: 15 Cuenta[g] los hijos de Leví por sus casas paternas, por sus familias(N); contarás todo varón de un mes arriba. 16 Entonces los contó[h] Moisés conforme a la orden[i] del Señor, tal como se le había ordenado. 17 Estos, pues, son los hijos de Leví por sus nombres: Gersón, Coat y Merari(O). 18 Y estos son los nombres de los hijos de Gersón por sus familias: Libni y Simei(P); 19 y los hijos de Coat, por sus familias: Amram, Izhar, Hebrón y Uziel; 20 y los hijos de Merari, por sus familias: Mahli y Musi. Estas son las familias de los levitas conforme a sus casas paternas.

21 De Gersón era la familia de Libni y la familia de Simei; estas eran las familias de los gersonitas. 22 Los enumerados[j] en la cuenta de todos los varones de un mes arriba, los enumerados de ellos fueron siete mil quinientos. 23 Las familias de los gersonitas habían de acampar detrás del tabernáculo[k], al occidente; 24 el jefe de las casas paternas de los gersonitas era Eliasaf, hijo de Lael. 25 Las responsabilidades de los hijos de Gersón(Q) en la tienda de reunión incluían el tabernáculo y la tienda, su cubierta(R), el velo[l] de la entrada de la tienda de reunión(S), 26 las cortinas del atrio(T), el velo para la entrada del atrio que está alrededor del tabernáculo y del altar(U), y sus cuerdas, conforme a todo su servicio.

27 Y de Coat eran la familia de los amramitas, la familia de los izharitas, la familia de los hebronitas y la familia de los uzielitas; estas eran las familias de los coatitas. 28 Según el censo[m] de todos los varones de un mes arriba, había ocho mil seiscientos[n], que desempeñaban los deberes del santuario. 29 Las familias de los hijos de Coat habían de acampar al lado sur del tabernáculo; 30 el jefe de las casas paternas de las familias coatitas era Elizafán[o], hijo de Uziel. 31 A cargo de ellos(V) estaban el arca[p](W), la mesa(X), el candelabro(Y), los altares(Z), los utensilios del santuario con que ministran, el velo y todo su servicio. 32 El principal de los jefes de Leví era Eleazar, hijo del sacerdote Aarón, encargado de los guardas que cuidaban el santuario.

33 De Merari eran la familia de los mahlitas y la familia de los musitas; estas eran las familias de Merari. 34 Los enumerados en el censo de todos los varones de un mes arriba eran seis mil doscientos. 35 Y el jefe de las casas paternas de las familias de Merari era Zuriel, hijo de Abihail. Habían de acampar al lado norte del tabernáculo(AA). 36 A cargo[q] de los hijos de Merari estaban el maderaje del tabernáculo, sus barras, sus columnas, sus basas, todos sus enseres y el servicio relacionado con ellos, 37 las columnas alrededor del atrio con sus basas, sus estacas y sus cuerdas.

38 Los que habían de acampar delante del tabernáculo al oriente(AB), delante de la tienda de reunión hacia la salida del sol, eran Moisés, Aarón y sus hijos, desempeñando los deberes del santuario para cumplir la obligación de los hijos de Israel; pero el extraño[r] que se acercara, moriría(AC). 39 Todos los enumerados de los levitas, que Moisés y Aarón contaron[s] por sus familias por mandato[t] del Señor, todos los varones de un mes arriba, eran veintidós mil(AD).

Redención de los primogénitos

40 Entonces el Señor dijo a Moisés: Cuenta[u] a todos los primogénitos varones de los hijos de Israel de un mes arriba(AE), y haz una lista[v] de sus nombres. 41 Y tomarás a los levitas para mí(AF), yo soy el Señor, en lugar de todos los primogénitos entre los hijos de Israel, y el ganado de los levitas en lugar de todos los primogénitos del ganado de los hijos de Israel. 42 Y contó[w] Moisés a todos los primogénitos de los hijos de Israel, tal como el Señor le había ordenado; 43 y todos los primogénitos varones conforme al número de sus nombres de un mes arriba, los enumerados, eran veintidós mil doscientos setenta y tres(AG).

44 Entonces habló el Señor a Moisés, diciendo: 45 Toma a los levitas en lugar de todos los primogénitos entre los hijos de Israel, y el ganado de los levitas. Los levitas serán míos(AH); yo soy el Señor. 46 Y como precio de rescate por los doscientos setenta y tres de los primogénitos(AI) de los hijos de Israel que exceden a los levitas, 47 tomarás cinco siclos[x](AJ) por cada uno, por cabeza; los tomarás conforme al siclo del santuario(AK) (el siclo tiene veinte geras[y](AL)), 48 y da el dinero, el rescate de los que hay en exceso entre ellos, a Aarón y a sus hijos. 49 Moisés, pues, tomó el dinero de rescate de los que excedían el número de los redimidos por los levitas; 50 de los primogénitos de los hijos de Israel tomó el dinero conforme al siclo del santuario, mil trescientos sesenta y cinco siclos. 51 Entonces Moisés dio a Aarón y a sus hijos el dinero del rescate, por mandato[z] del Señor, tal como el Señor había ordenado a Moisés.

Footnotes

  1. Números 3:1 Lit., las generaciones
  2. Números 3:3 Lit., llenó su mano
  3. Números 3:4 Lit., ministraron como sacerdotes
  4. Números 3:4 Lit., delante del rostro
  5. Números 3:7 Lit., para con él y de las obligaciones de
  6. Números 3:10 I.e., el que no era de los levitas
  7. Números 3:15 Lit., Alista
  8. Números 3:16 Lit., alistó
  9. Números 3:16 Lit., boca
  10. Números 3:22 Lit., Sus alistados, y así en el resto del cap.
  11. Números 3:23 O, de la morada, y así en el resto del cap.
  12. Números 3:25 Lit., la cortina
  13. Números 3:28 Lit., En la cuenta
  14. Números 3:28 Algunos mss. de la versión gr. (sept.) dicen: 8,300
  15. Números 3:30 En Ex. 6:22, Elzafán
  16. Números 3:31 Lit., Y sus deberes, el arca
  17. Números 3:36 Lit., Los deberes asignados
  18. Números 3:38 I.e., el que no era de los levitas
  19. Números 3:39 Lit., alistaron
  20. Números 3:39 Lit., palabra
  21. Números 3:40 Lit., Alista
  22. Números 3:40 Lit., toma el número
  23. Números 3:42 Lit., alistó
  24. Números 3:47 Un siclo equivale aprox. a 11.4 gramos
  25. Números 3:47 Una gera equivale aprox. a 0.57 gramos
  26. Números 3:51 Lit., boca
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