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Aaron’s Family, the Priests

This is the family history of Aaron and Moses. This was at the time the Lord talked to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Aaron had four sons. Nadab was the oldest. Then Aaron had Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. Those were the names of Aaron’s sons. They were appointed to serve as priests. But Nadab and Abihu died when they sinned in the presence of the Lord. They made an offering to the Lord in the Desert of Sinai. But they used the wrong kind of fire. They had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

The Lord said to Moses, “Bring the tribe of Levi to Aaron the priest. They must help him. They will help him and all the Israelites at the Meeting Tent. They will do the work of the Holy Tent. The Levites must take care of everything in the Meeting Tent. They will serve the people of Israel by doing the work in the Holy Tent. Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. Of all the Israelites, the Levites are given completely to him. 10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Anyone else who comes near the holy things must be put to death.”

11 The Lord also said to Moses, 12 “I am choosing the Levites from all the Israelites. They will take the place of all the firstborn children of Israel. The Levites will be mine. 13 All the firstborn are mine. When you were in Egypt, I killed all the firstborn children of the Egyptians. I took all the firstborn of Israel to be mine. Firstborn animals and children are mine. I am the Lord.”

14 The Lord again talked to Moses in the Desert of Sinai. The Lord said, 15 “Count the Levites by families and family groups. Count every male one month old or older.” 16 So Moses obeyed the Lord and counted them all.

17 Levi had three sons. Their names were Gershon, Kohath and Merari.

18 The Gershonite family groups were Libni and Shimei.

19 The Kohathite family groups were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.

20 The Merarite family groups were Mahli and Mushi.

These were the family groups that belonged to the Levites.

21 The family groups of Libni and Shimei belonged to Gershon. They were all the Gershonite family groups. 22 They had 7,500 males one month or older. 23 The Gershonite family groups camped on the west side, behind the Holy Tent. 24 The leader of the families of Gershon was Eliasaph son of Lael. 25 In the Meeting Tent the Gershonites were responsible for taking care of these things: the Holy Tent, its covering, the curtain at the entrance to the Meeting Tent, 26 the curtains in the courtyard, the curtain at the entry to the courtyard around the Holy Tent and the altar, the ropes and all the work connected with these things.

27 The family groups of Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel belonged to Kohath. They were all the Kohathite family groups. 28 They had 8,600 males one month old or older. They were responsible for taking care of the Holy Place. 29 The Kohathite family groups camped south of the Holy Tent. 30 The leader of the Kohathite families was Elizaphan son of Uzziel. 31 They were responsible for the Ark of the Covenant, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the tools of the holy place, the curtain and all the work connected with these things. 32 The main leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest. Eleazar was in charge of all those responsible for the Holy Place.

33 The family groups of Mahli and Mushi belonged to Merari. They were all the Merarite family groups. 34 They had 6,200 males one month old or older. 35 The leader of the Merari families was Zuriel son of Abihail. They were to camp north of the Holy Tent. 36 The Merarites were responsible for the frame of the Holy Tent, the braces, the posts, the bases and all the work connected with these things. 37 They were also responsible for the posts in the courtyard around the Holy Tent and their bases, tent pegs and ropes.

38 Moses, Aaron and his sons camped east of the Holy Tent. They were in front of the Meeting Tent. They were responsible for the Holy Place. They did this for the Israelites. Anyone else who came near the Holy Place was to be put to death.

39 Moses and Aaron counted the Levite men. The Lord commanded this. There were 22,000 males one month old or older.

Levites Take the Place of the Firstborn Sons

40 The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn sons in Israel one month old or older. List their names. 41 Take the Levites for me instead of the firstborn sons of Israel. Take the animals of the Levites instead of the firstborn animals from the rest of Israel. I am the Lord.”

42 So Moses did what the Lord commanded. Moses counted all the firstborn sons of the Israelites. 43 He listed all the firstborn sons one month old or older. There were 22,273 names.

44 The Lord also said to Moses, 45 “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn sons of the Israelites. And take the animals of the Levites instead of the animals of the other people. The Levites are mine. I am the Lord. 46 There are 273 more firstborn sons than Levites. 47 So collect two ounces of silver for each of the 273 sons. Use the measure as set by the Holy Place. It weighs two-fifths of an ounce. 48 Give the silver to Aaron and his sons. It is the payment for the 273 Israelites.”

49 So Moses collected the money for the people the Levites could not replace. 50 Moses collected the silver from the firstborn of the Israelites. He collected 35 pounds of silver, using the measure set by the Holy Place. 51 So Moses obeyed the Lord. He gave the silver to Aaron and his sons.

These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the Lord spake with Moses in mount Sinai.

And 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 priests which were anointed, 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 they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.

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.

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.

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.

Det levitiska prästämbetet

Detta är berättelsen om Arons och Moses släkt vid den tid då Herren talade med Mose på Sinai berg. (A) Arons söner hette Nadab, den förstfödde, och Abihu, Eleasar och Itamar. (B) Detta var namnen på Arons söner, de smorda prästerna, som hade invigts till att vara präster. (C) Men Nadab och Abihu dog[a] inför Herrens ansikte när de bar fram främmande eld inför Herren i Sinai öken, och de hade inga söner. Därför var Eleasar och Itamar präster under sin far Aron.

Herren talade till Mose. Han sade: ”Levi stam ska du föra hit och låta dem stå inför prästen Aron för att betjäna honom. De ska utföra det som åligger honom och hela församlingen inför uppenbarelsetältet genom att göra tjänst vid tabernaklet. Och de ska ha vården om uppenbarelsetältets alla tillbehör och iaktta det som åligger Israels barn genom att tjänstgöra vid tabernaklet. (D) Du ska ge leviterna åt Aron och hans söner. De ska ges åt honom[b] som en gåva från Israels barn. 10 (E) Men Aron och hans söner ska du sätta till att ansvara för prästtjänsten. Om någon främmande inkräktar på den ska han dödas.”

11 Herren sade till Mose: 12 (F) ”Se, jag har själv bland Israels barn tagit ut leviterna i stället för alla förstfödda bland Israels barn, alla som öppnar moderlivet. Leviterna ska tillhöra mig, 13 (G) för alla förstfödda tillhör mig. Den dag jag slog allt förstfött i Egyptens land helgade jag åt mig allt förstfött i Israel, både bland människor och boskap. De tillhör mig. Jag är Herren.”

14 Herren talade till Mose i Sinai öken. Han sade: 15 ”Mönstra Levi barn efter deras familjer och släkter. Alla av manligt kön som är en månad eller äldre ska du räkna.” 16 Mose mönstrade dem enligt Herrens ord så som han hade blivit befalld.

17 (H) Och detta är Levis söner, de hette: Gershon, Kehat och Merari.

18 Detta är namnen på Gershons söner efter sina släkter: Libni och Shimei.

19 Kehats söner efter sina släkter var Amram och Jishar, Hebron och Ussiel.

20 Meraris söner efter sina släkter var Mahli och Mushi. Dessa var leviternas släkter efter deras familjer.

21 Från Gershon härstammade libniternas släkt och shimeiternas släkt. Dessa var gershoniternas släkter. 22 De som mönstrades, när man räknat in alla av manligt kön från en månad och uppåt, var 7 500. 23 Gershoniternas släkter hade sitt läger bakom tabernaklet, västerut. 24 Furste för gershoniternas stamfamilj var Eljasaf, Laels son. 25 Gershons barn skulle vid uppenbarelsetältet ansvara för tabernaklet och tältet med dess överdrag, och för draperiet framför ingången till uppenbarelsetältet, 26 förgårdens omhängen och draperiet framför ingången till förgården som omgav tabernaklet och altaret, dessutom för alla tältlinor och allt arbete som hörde till detta.

27 Från Kehat härstammade amramiternas släkt, jishariternas släkt, hebroniternas släkt och ussieliternas släkt. Dessa var kehatiternas släkter. 28 När man räknade alla av manligt kön från en månad och uppåt var de 8 600. Dessa skulle ansvara för de heliga föremålen.

29 Kehatiternas släkter hade sitt läger vid södra sidan av tabernaklet. 30 Ledare för de kehatitiska släkternas stamfamilj var Elisafan, Ussiels son. 31 De skulle ansvara för arken, bordet, ljusstaken, altarna och de tillbehör till de heliga föremålen som användes vid tjänsten, likaså draperiet och allt arbete med det. 32 Men högste ledare för alla leviterna var Eleasar, prästen Arons son. Han hade tillsyn över dem som ansvarade för helgedomen och dess skötsel.

33 Från Merari härstammade mahliternas släkt och mushiternas släkt. Dessa var merariternas släkter. 34 De mönstrade, när man räknat in alla av manligt kön från en månad och uppåt, var 6 200. 35 Ledare för de meraritiska släkternas stamfamilj var Suriel, Abihails son. De hade sitt läger vid norra sidan av tabernaklet. 36 Och Meraris barn fick till uppgift att ha vården om brädorna till tabernaklet, dess tvärstänger, stolpar och fotstycken och om alla dess tillbehör – allt arbete med dessa föremål, 37 likaså om stolparna till förgården runt omkring med deras fotstycken, pluggar och linor.

38 Mitt för tabernaklet på framsidan, mitt för uppenbarelsetältet österut, hade Mose och Aron och hans söner sitt läger. På Israels barns vägnar var de ansvariga för vården av helgedomen. Men om någon främmande kom nära det heliga, skulle han dödas.

39 De mönstrade leviterna, som Mose och Aron på Herrens befallning mönstrade efter deras släkter, alla av manligt kön som var en månad eller äldre, utgjorde tillsammans 22 000.

40 Herren sade till Mose: ”Mönstra alla förstfödda av manligt kön bland Israels barn, alla som är en månad eller äldre, och räkna antalet namn. 41 Och ta ut åt mig leviterna – för jag är Herren – i stället för alla förstfödda bland Israels barn, och leviternas boskap i stället för allt förstfött bland Israels barns boskap.”

42 Mose mönstrade alla förstfödda bland Israels barn, så som Herren hade befallt honom. 43 Och de förstfödda av manligt kön, varje namn räknat av de mönstrade från en månad och uppåt, var 22 273.

44 Och Herren sade till Mose: 45 ”Ta ut leviterna i stället för allt förstfött bland Israels barn och leviternas boskap i stället för deras boskap. Leviterna ska tillhöra mig. Jag är Herren.

46 (I) Men för att lösa de 273 personer av Israels barns förstfödda som överstiger leviternas antal, 47 ska du ta fem siklar silver[c] per person. Du ska ta upp dem efter helgedomssikelns[d] vikt, sikeln räknad till tjugo gera. 48 Dessa pengar ska du ge åt Aron och hans söner till lösen för de övertaliga bland dem.”

49 Mose tog lösensumman från de övertaliga, när man räknade dem som var lösta genom leviterna. 50 Av Israels barns förstfödda tog han emot pengarna, 1 365 siklar[e] efter helgedomssikelns vikt. 51 Och Mose gav lösensumman åt Aron och hans söner, efter Herrens ord och befallning till Mose.

Footnotes

  1. 3:4 Nadab och Abihu dog   Se 3 Mos 10.
  2. 3:9 honom   Andra handskrifter: ”mig”.
  3. 3:47 fem siklar silver   Ca 50 gram, en halv årslön (jfr Dom 17:10).
  4. 3:47 helgedomssikeln   Troligen en gällande auktoritativ vikt i templet (jfr 3 Mos 19:36). Dess exakta vikt är inte känd men uppskattas till mellan 10-11,5 gram.
  5. 3:50 1365 siklar   Ca 14 kg silver.

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