Numbers 3
New American Standard Bible 1995
Levites to Be Priesthood
3 (A)Now these are the records of the generations of Aaron and Moses at the time when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. 2 (B)These then 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 (C)anointed priests, whom he [a]ordained to serve as priests. 4 (D)But 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. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests [b]in the lifetime of their father Aaron.
5 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “(E)Bring the tribe of Levi near and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him. 7 They shall perform the duties for [c]him and for the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, to do the (F)service of the tabernacle. 8 They shall also keep all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, along with the duties of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. 9 You shall thus (G)give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons; they are wholly given to him from among the sons of Israel. 10 So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons that (H)they may keep their priesthood, but (I)the [d]layman who comes near shall be put to death.”
11 Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “Now, behold, I (J)have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of every (K)firstborn, the first issue of the womb among the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall be Mine. 13 For (L)all the firstborn are Mine; on the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, from man to beast. They shall be Mine; I am the Lord.”
14 Then the Lord spoke to Moses (M)in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15 “[e](N)Number the sons of Levi by their fathers’ households, by their families; every male from a month old and upward you shall number.” 16 So Moses numbered them according to the [f]word of the Lord, just as he had been commanded. 17 (O)These then are the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon and Kohath and Merari. 18 These are the names of the (P)sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei; 19 and the sons of Kohath by their families: Amram and Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel; 20 and the sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers’ households.
21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimeites; these were the families of the Gershonites. 22 Their numbered men, in the numbering of every male from a month old and upward, even their numbered men were 7,500. 23 The families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the [g]tabernacle westward, 24 and the leader of the fathers’ households of the Gershonites was Eliasaph the son of Lael.
Duties of the Priests
25 Now (Q)the duties of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting involved the tabernacle and (R)the tent, its covering, and (S)the screen for the doorway of the tent of meeting, 26 and (T)the hangings of the court, and (U)the screen for the doorway of the court which is around the tabernacle and the altar, and its cords, according to all the service [h]concerning them.
27 Of Kohath was 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 In the numbering of every male from a month old and upward, there were 8,600, performing the duties of the sanctuary. 29 The families of the sons of Kohath were to camp on the southward side of the tabernacle, 30 and the leader of the fathers’ households of the Kohathite families was [i]Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31 Now (V)their duties involved (W)the ark, (X)the table, (Y)the lampstand, (Z)the altars, and the utensils of the sanctuary with which they minister, and the screen, and all the service [j]concerning them; 32 and Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was the chief of the leaders of Levi, and had the oversight of those who perform the duties of the sanctuary.
33 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites; these were the families of Merari. 34 Their numbered men in the numbering of every male from a month old and upward, were 6,200. 35 The leader of the fathers’ households of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They were to (AA)camp on the northward side of the tabernacle. 36 Now the appointed duties of the sons of Merari involved the frames of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its equipment, and the service concerning them, 37 and the pillars around the court with their sockets and their pegs and their cords.
38 Now those who were to (AB)camp before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, are Moses and Aaron and his sons, performing the duties of the sanctuary for the obligation of the sons of Israel; but (AC)the [k]layman coming near was to be put to death. 39 All the numbered men of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the [l]command of the Lord by their families, every male from a month old and upward, were (AD)22,000.
Firstborn Redeemed
40 Then the Lord said to Moses, “(AE)Number every firstborn male of the sons of Israel from a month old and upward, and [m]make a list of their names. 41 You (AF)shall take the Levites for Me, I am the Lord, instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the sons of Israel.” 42 So Moses numbered all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, just as the Lord had commanded him; 43 and all the firstborn males by the number of names from a month old and upward, for their numbered men were (AG)22,273.
44 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “(AH)Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel and the cattle of the Levites. And the Levites shall be Mine; I am the Lord. 46 (AI)For the ransom of the 273 of the firstborn of the sons of Israel who are in excess beyond the Levites, 47 you shall take (AJ)five shekels apiece, per head; you shall take them in (AK)terms of the shekel of the sanctuary ((AL)the shekel is twenty [n]gerahs), 48 and give the money, the ransom of those who are in excess among them, to Aaron and to his sons.” 49 So Moses took the ransom money from those who were in excess, beyond those ransomed by the Levites; 50 from the firstborn of the sons of Israel he took the money in terms of the shekel of the sanctuary, 1,365. 51 Then Moses gave the ransom money to Aaron and to his sons, at the [o]command of the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Footnotes
- Numbers 3:3 Lit filled their hand
- Numbers 3:4 Lit before the face
- Numbers 3:7 Lit him and the duties of the whole congregation
- Numbers 3:10 Lit stranger
- Numbers 3:15 Lit muster, and so throughout the ch
- Numbers 3:16 Lit mouth
- Numbers 3:23 Lit dwelling place, and so throughout the ch
- Numbers 3:26 Lit of it
- Numbers 3:30 In Ex 6:22, Elzaphan
- Numbers 3:31 Lit of it
- Numbers 3:38 Lit stranger
- Numbers 3:39 Lit word
- Numbers 3:40 Lit take the number
- Numbers 3:47 I.e. A gerah equals approx one-fortieth oz
- Numbers 3:51 Lit mouth
Mga Bilang 3
Ang Biblia, 2001
Ang mga Pari at Levita ay Ibinukod
3 Ito ang mga salinlahi nina Aaron at Moises, nang araw na magsalita ang Panginoon kay Moises sa bundok ng Sinai.
2 Ito(A) ang mga pangalan ng mga anak ni Aaron: si Nadab ang panganay, kasunod sina Abihu, Eleazar, at Itamar.
3 Ito ang mga pangalan ng mga anak ni Aaron, na mga paring binuhusan ng langis, na kanyang itinalaga upang maglingkod bilang mga pari.
4 Subalit(B) sina Nadab at Abihu ay namatay sa harap ng Panginoon nang sila'y maghandog ng kakaibang apoy sa harap ng Panginoon sa ilang ng Sinai, at sila'y walang anak. Kaya't sina Eleazar at Itamar ay nanungkulan bilang mga pari sa harap ni Aaron na kanilang ama.
5 Nagsalita ang Panginoon kay Moises, na sinasabi,
6 “Ilapit mo ang lipi ni Levi, at ilagay mo sila sa harap ng paring si Aaron upang sila'y maglingkod sa kanya.
7 Kanilang gaganapin ang katungkulan para sa kanya, at sa buong sambayanan sa harap ng toldang tipanan habang sila'y naglilingkod sa tabernakulo.
8 At kanilang iingatan ang lahat ng kasangkapan ng toldang tipanan at ang katungkulan ng mga anak ni Israel habang sila'y naglilingkod sa tabernakulo.
9 Iyong ibibigay ang mga Levita kay Aaron at sa kanyang mga anak. Sila'y lubos na ibinigay sa kanya mula sa mga anak ni Israel.
10 Iyong itatalaga si Aaron at ang kanyang mga anak, at kanilang gaganapin ang kanilang pagkapari; at ang ibang lalapit ay papatayin.”
11 Nagsalita ang Panginoon kay Moises, na sinasabi,
12 “Kinuha ko ang mga Levita mula sa mga anak ni Israel sa halip na ang mga panganay na nagbubukas ng bahay-bata sa mga anak ni Israel. Ang mga Levita ay magiging akin.
13 Lahat(C) ng mga panganay ay akin, nang araw na aking lipulin ang lahat ng mga panganay sa lupain ng Ehipto ay aking itinalaga para sa akin ang lahat ng mga panganay sa Israel, maging tao at hayop man. Sila'y magiging akin; ako ang Panginoon.”
Ang Bilang at Katungkulan ng mga Levita
14 Nagsalita ang Panginoon kay Moises sa ilang ng Sinai, na sinasabi,
15 “Bilangin mo ang mga anak ni Levi, ayon sa mga sambahayan ng kanilang mga ninuno, at mga angkan; bawat lalaki mula isang buwang gulang pataas ay bibilangin mo.”
16 Kaya't sila'y binilang ni Moises ayon sa salita ng Panginoon, gaya ng iniutos sa kanya.
17 Ito ang mga naging anak ni Levi ayon sa kanilang mga pangalan: sina Gershon, Kohat, at Merari.
18 Ito ang mga pangalan ng mga anak ni Gershon ayon sa kanilang mga angkan: si Libni at si Shimei.
19 Ang mga anak ni Kohat ayon sa kanilang mga angkan ay sina Amram, Izar, Hebron, at Uziel.
20 Ang mga anak ni Merari ayon sa kanilang mga angkan ay sina Mahli at Musi. Ito ang mga angkan ng mga Levita ayon sa mga sambahayan ng kanilang mga ninuno.
21 Kay Gershon galing ang angkan ng mga Libnita, at ang angkan ng mga Shimeita; ito ang mga angkan ng mga Gershonita.
22 Ang nabilang sa kanila, ayon sa bilang ng lahat ng mga lalaki, mula sa isang buwang gulang pataas, ay pitong libo at limang daan.
23 Ang mga angkan ng mga Gershonita ay magkakampo sa likuran ng tabernakulo sa dakong kanluran.
24 Ang magiging pinuno sa sambahayan ng mga ninuno ng mga Gershonita ay si Eliasaf na anak ni Lael.
25 Ang magiging katungkulan ng mga anak ni Gershon sa toldang tipanan ay ang tabernakulo, ang tolda at ang takip nito at ang tabing sa pintuan ng toldang tipanan,
26 ang mga tabing ng bulwagan at ng pintuan ng bulwagan na nasa palibot ng tabernakulo at ng dambana, at ang mga tali niyon na nauukol sa buong paglilingkod doon.
27 Mula kay Kohat ang angkan ng mga Amramita at mga Izarita, at mga Hebronita, at mga Uzielita. Ito ang mga angkan ng mga Kohatita.
28 Ayon sa bilang ng lahat na mga lalaki, mula sa isang buwang gulang pataas ay walong libo at animnaraang gumaganap ng katungkulan sa santuwaryo.
29 Ang mga angkan ng mga anak ni Kohat ay magkakampo sa tagiliran ng tabernakulo, sa gawing timog.
30 Ang magiging pinuno sa sambahayan ng mga ninuno ng mga angkan ng mga Kohatita ay si Elisafan na anak ni Uziel.
31 Ang pangangasiwaan nila ay ang kaban, hapag, ilawan, mga dambana, mga kasangkapan ng santuwaryo na kanilang ginagamit sa paglilingkod, at tabing—lahat ng paglilingkod na may kinalaman sa mga ito.
32 Si Eleazar na anak ng paring si Aaron ay siyang magiging pinuno ng mga pinuno ng mga Levita at mamamahala sa mga may tungkulin sa santuwaryo.
33 Mula kay Merari ang angkan ng mga Mahlita at angkan ng mga Musita: ito ang mga angkan ni Merari.
34 Ang nabilang sa kanila ayon sa bilang ng lahat na mga lalaki, mula sa isang buwang gulang pataas ay anim na libo at dalawandaan.
35 Ang magiging pinuno sa sambahayan ng mga ninuno ng mga angkan ni Merari ay si Suriel na anak ni Abihail. Sila'y magkakampo sa tagiliran ng tabernakulo sa gawing hilaga.
36 Ang pangangasiwaan ng mga anak ni Merari ay ang mga balangkas ng tabernakulo, ang mga biga, ang mga haligi, ang mga patungan, at ang lahat ng kasangkapan—lahat ng paglilingkod doon na may kinalaman sa mga ito;
37 gayundin ang mga haligi sa palibot ng bulwagan, mga patungan, mga tulos, at mga tali ng mga iyon.
38 Ang lahat ng magkakampo sa harap ng tabernakulo sa gawing silangan, sa harap ng toldang tipanan, sa dakong sinisikatan ng araw ay sina Moises at Aaron, at ang kanyang mga anak na mamamahala ng katungkulan sa santuwaryo, upang gampanan ang anumang dapat gawin para sa mga anak ni Israel, at ang sinumang ibang lalapit ay papatayin.
39 Ang lahat ng nabilang sa mga Levita na binilang nina Moises at Aaron sa utos ng Panginoon ayon sa kanilang mga angkan, lahat ng lalaki mula sa isang buwang gulang pataas ay dalawampu't dalawang libo.
40 At sinabi ng Panginoon kay Moises, “Bilangin mo ang lahat ng mga lalaking panganay sa mga anak ni Israel mula sa isang buwang gulang pataas, at kunin mo ang kanilang bilang ng ayon sa kanilang mga pangalan.
41 Iuukol mo sa akin ang mga Levita (ako ang Panginoon) sa halip na ang lahat ng mga panganay sa mga anak ni Israel; at ang mga hayop ng mga Levita sa halip na ang lahat ng mga panganay sa mga hayop ng mga anak ni Israel.”
42 Kaya't binilang ni Moises ang lahat ng mga panganay sa mga anak ni Israel, gaya ng iniutos sa kanya ng Panginoon.
43 Lahat ng mga panganay na lalaki ayon sa bilang ng mga pangalan, mula sa isang buwang gulang pataas, doon sa nabilang sa kanila ay dalawampu't dalawang libo dalawandaan at pitumpu't tatlo.
Pantubos sa mga Panganay
44 At nagsalita ang Panginoon kay Moises, na sinasabi,
45 “Kunin mo ang mga Levita sa halip ng lahat na mga panganay sa mga anak ni Israel, at ang mga hayop ng mga Levita sa halip ng kanilang mga hayop, at ang mga Levita ay magiging akin; ako ang Panginoon.
46 Bilang pantubos sa dalawandaan at pitumpu't tatlong panganay ng mga anak ni Israel na higit sa bilang ng mga lalaking Levita,
47 ay kukuha ka ng limang siklo[a] para sa bawat isa ayon sa ulo; ayon sa siklo ng santuwaryo ay kukunin mo (ang isang siklo ay dalawampung gera[b]).
48 Ibibigay mo kay Aaron at sa kanyang mga anak ang salapi bilang pantubos sa humigit sa bilang.”
49 At kinuha ni Moises ang salaping pantubos sa mga hindi natubos ng mga Levita,
50 mula sa mga panganay ng mga anak ni Israel kinuha niya ang salapi; isang libo tatlong daan at animnapu't limang siklo, ayon sa siklo ng santuwaryo.
51 At ibinigay ni Moises kay Aaron at sa kanyang mga anak ang salaping pantubos ayon sa salita ng Panginoon, gaya ng iniutos ng Panginoon kay Moises.
Footnotes
- Mga Bilang 3:47 Tingnan sa Talaan ng mga Timbang at Sukat.
- Mga Bilang 3:47 Tingnan sa Talaan ng mga Timbang at Sukat.
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.
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
- Numbers 3:1 Lit. generations
- Numbers 3:3 Lit. whose hands he filled
- Numbers 3:9 Sam., LXX Me
- Numbers 3:16 Lit. mouth
- Numbers 3:28 Some LXX mss. three
- Numbers 3:28 taking care of
- Numbers 3:40 Take a census of
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
