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Also, these were the generations of Aaron and Moses, in the days that the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.

So these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab (the firstborn) and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed Priests, whom he consecrated to minister in the Priest’s office.

And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai and had no children. But Eleazar and Ithamar served in the Priest’s office in the sight of Aaron, their father.

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

“Bring the tribe of Levi and set them before Aaron the Priest, so that they may serve him

“and tend to him, even tend to the whole Congregation, before the Tabernacle of the Congregation, to do the service of the Tabernacle.

“They shall also maintain all the instruments of the Tabernacle of the Congregation and tend to the needs of the children of Israel, to do the service of the Tabernacle.

“And you shall give the Levites to Aaron, and to his sons. They are given to him freely from among the children of Israel.

10 “And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to execute their Priest’s office. And the stranger who comes near shall be killed.”

11 Also, the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

12 “Behold, I have even taken the Levites from among the children of Israel, for all the firstborn that open the womb among the children of Israel. And the Levites shall be Mine,

13 “because all the firstborn are Mine. For the same day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. Mine they shall be. I am the LORD.”

14 Moreover, the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,

15 “Number the children of Levi, after the Houses of their fathers, in their families. Every male from a month old and above shall you number.”

16 Then 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 Also these were the names of the sons of Gershon, by their families: Libni and Shimei.

19 Also 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 were the families of Levi, according to the Houses of their fathers.

21 From Gershon came the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimites. These were the families of the Gershonites,

22 the sum of which (after the number of all the males from a month old and above) was counted seven thousand five hundred.

23 The families of the Gershonites were to pitch behind the Tabernacle, westward.

24 The captain and ancient of the House of the Gershonites was Eliasaph, the son of Lael.

25 And the sons of Gershon in the Tabernacle of the Congregation were to be in charge of the Tabernacle and the Pavilion, its covering, and the Veil of the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation,

26 and the hanging of the court and the Veil of the door of the court which is near the Tabernacle, and near the Altar, all around, and the cords of it, for all its services.

27 And from Kohath came the family of the Amramites and the family of the Izharites and the family of the Hebronites and the family of the Uzzielites. These were the families of the Kohathites.

28 The number of all the males from a month old and above was eight thousand six hundred, keeping charge of the Sanctuary.

29 The families of the sons of Kohath were to pitch on the south side of the Tabernacle.

30 The captain and ancient of the House and families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan, the son of Uzziel.

31 And their charge was to be the Ark, the Table, the Candlestick, the Altars, the instruments of the Sanctuary with which they minister, the Veil, and all that serves them.

32 And Eleazar, the son of Aaron the Priest, was to be chief captain of the Levites, having oversight of those in 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 the sum of them, according to the number of all the males from a month old and above, was six thousand two hundred.

35 The captain and the ancient of the House of the families of Merari was Zuriel, the son of Abihail. They were to pitch on the Northside of the Tabernacle.

36 And the sons of Merari were in charge and custody of the boards of the Tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, and all its instruments, and all that serves them,

37 with the pillars of the court all around, with their sockets, and their pins and their cords.

38 Also, on the forefront of the Tabernacle, toward the east, before the Tabernacle of the Congregation, eastward, Moses and Aaron and his sons were to pitch, having charge of the Sanctuary and charge of the children of Israel. But the stranger who came near would be killed.

39 The whole sum 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 above, was twenty-two thousand.

40 And the LORD said to Moses, “Number all the firstborn who are males among the children of Israel from a month old and above and take the number of their names.

41 “And you shall take the Levites for Me instead of all the firstborn of the children of Israel—I am the LORD—and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the cattle of the children of Israel.”

42 And Moses numbered all the firstborn of the children of Israel, as the LORD Commanded him.

43 All the firstborn males by name (from a month old and above), according to their number, were twenty-two thousand two hundred seventy three.

44 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

45 “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn of 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 the redeeming of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel (which is more than the Levites),

47 “you shall also take five shekels for every person. You shall take it after the weight of the Sanctuary. The shekel contains twenty gerahs.

48 “And you shall give the money with which the excess number of them is redeemed to Aaron and to his sons.”

49 Thus Moses took the redemption of those who were redeemed in addition to the Levites.

50 He took the money from the firstborn of the children of Israel: one thousand three hundred sixty-five, after the shekel of the Sanctuary.

51 And Moses gave the money from those who were redeemed to Aaron and to his sons, according to the Word of the LORD, as the LORD had Commanded Moses.

The Levites

This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses(A) at the time the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.(B)

The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn(C) and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.(D) Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests,(E) who were ordained to serve as priests. Nadab and Abihu, however, died before the Lord(F) when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai.(G) They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar(H) served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.(I)

The Lord said to Moses, “Bring the tribe of Levi(J) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.(K) They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community(L) at the tent of meeting by doing the work(M) of the tabernacle. 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. Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons;(N) they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.[a] 10 Appoint Aaron(O) and his sons to serve as priests;(P) anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”(Q)

11 The Lord also said to Moses, 12 “I have taken the Levites(R) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring(S) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,(T) 13 for all the firstborn are mine.(U) 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.”(V)

14 The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,(W) 15 “Count(X) the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”(Y) 16 So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

17 These were the names of the sons of Levi:(Z)

Gershon,(AA) Kohath(AB) and Merari.(AC)

18 These were the names of the Gershonite clans:

Libni and Shimei.(AD)

19 The Kohathite clans:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.(AE)

20 The Merarite clans:(AF)

Mahli and Mushi.(AG)

These were the Levite clans, according to their families.

21 To Gershon(AH) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;(AI) 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.(AJ) 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(AK) and tent, its coverings,(AL) the curtain at the entrance(AM) to the tent of meeting,(AN) 26 the curtains of the courtyard(AO), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,(AP) and the ropes(AQ)—and everything(AR) related to their use.

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

33 To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;(BK) these were the Merarite clans.(BL) 34 The number of all the males a month old or more(BM) 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.(BN) 36 The Merarites were appointed(BO) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,(BP) its crossbars,(BQ) posts,(BR) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,(BS) 37 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard(BT) with their bases, tent pegs(BU) and ropes.

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

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

40 The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more(CB) and make a list of their names.(CC) 41 Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites,(CD) and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord.”(CE)

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,(CF) listed by name, was 22,273.(CG)

44 The Lord also said to Moses, 45 “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 to be mine.(CH) I am the Lord.(CI) 46 To redeem(CJ) the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, 47 collect five shekels[c](CK) for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel,(CL) which weighs twenty gerahs.(CM) 48 Give the money for the redemption(CN) of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”(CO)

49 So Moses collected the redemption money(CP) from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the firstborn of the Israelites(CQ) he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels,[d](CR) according to the sanctuary shekel. 51 Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 3:9 Most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint (see also 8:16) to me
  2. Numbers 3:28 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts 8,300
  3. Numbers 3:47 That is, about 2 ounces or about 58 grams
  4. Numbers 3:50 That is, about 35 pounds or about 16 kilograms