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Numbers 3
Lexham English Bible

Aaron’s Sons

3 These are the genealogies of Aaron and Moses at the time[a] when Yahweh spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. 2 These are the names of the descendants of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the descendants of Aaron, the priests, the anointed ones whom he consecrated as priests.[b] 4 Nadab and Abihu died before Yahweh[c] when they presented a strange fire before Yahweh[d] in the desert of Sinai, and they had no children.[e] Eleazar and Ithamar served as priest during the presence of Aaron their father.

5 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “Bring near the tribe of Levi, and set the tribe[f] before Aaron[g] the priest, and they will minister to him. 7 They shall observe his duties and the duties of the entire community before the tent of assembly, to do the work of the tabernacle. 8 And they will keep all the vessels of the tent of assembly and the responsibilities of the Israelites,[h] to do the work[i] of the tabernacle. 9 You will give the Levites to Aaron and to his descendants; they are surely assigned to him from among the Israelites.[j] 10 But you will count Aaron and his descendants; they will keep their priesthood, and the stranger[k] who approaches will be put to death.”

11 Yahweh spoke to Moses saying, 12 “I myself receive the Levites from the midst of the Israelites[l] in the place of all the firstborn of the offspring of the womb from the Israelites.[m] The Levites will be mine 13 because all the firstborn are mine; on the day of my killing all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both humankind and animal;[n] they will be mine. I am Yahweh.”

14 Yahweh spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai, saying, 15 “Muster[o] the descendants of Levi according to their families,[p] according to their clans. You will count every male from one month[q] and above.” 16 So Moses mustered[r] them according to the command of Yahweh,[s] just as he commanded. 17 These were the sons of Levi according to their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 18 And these are the names of the sons of Gershon according to their clans: Libni and Shimei. 19 And the sons of Kohath according to their clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 The sons of Merari according to their tribes: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their families.[t]

21 To Gershon belonged[u] the clan of the Libnites and the clan of the Shimeites; these are the clans of the Gershonites. 22 The ones counted[v] according to the number of every male from one month[w] and above were seven thousand five hundred. 23 The clans of the Gershonites will camp behind the tabernacle to the west, 24 and the leader of the family[x] of the Gershonites is Eliasaph son of Lael. 25 And the responsibility of the descendants of Gershon in the tent of assembly is the tabernacle, and the tent covering it and the curtain of the doorway of the tent of the assembly, 26 and the hangings of the courtyard and the curtain of the doorway of the courtyard that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and its ten cords, all of its use.

27 To Kohath belonged[y] the clan of Amramites,[z] the clan of the Izharites,[aa] the clan of the Hebronites,[ab] and the clan of the Uzzielites;[ac] these were the clans of the Kohathites.[ad] 28 According to the number of every male from one month[ae] and above there were eight thousand six hundred keeping the responsibility of the sanctuary. 29 The clan of the descendants of Kohath will encamp on the side of the tabernacle to the south. 30 The leader of his family[af] according to the clans of the Kohathites[ag] is Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31 Their responsibility was the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altar, and the vessels of the sanctuary, with which they ministered, and the curtain, and all of its use. 32 The chief of the leaders[ah] of the Levites[ai] was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest who had oversight of those keeping the responsibility of the sanctuary.

33 To Merari belonged[aj] the clan of Mahlites[ak] and the clan of the Mushites:[al] these are the clans of Merari. 34 The ones counted[am] according to the number of every male from one month[an] and above were six thousand two hundred. 35 The leader of the family[ao] according to the clans of Merari is Zuriel son of Abihail; they will encamp of the side of the tabernacle to the north. 36 The responsibility of the sons of Merari was the supervision of the frames of the tabernacle, its bars, pillars, bases, and all its vessels and all its service, 37 and the pillars around the courtyard, and their bases, pegs, and cords.

38 Those encamped before the tabernacle to the east—before the tent of assembly to the east—were Moses and Aaron and his sons; they will keep the responsibility of the sanctuary for the Israelites;[ap] and the stranger[aq] who approaches will be put to death. 39 All those counted from the Levites whom Moses and Aaron mustered[ar] according to the word of Yahweh,[as] according to their clans, every male from one month[at] and above were twenty-two thousand.

40 And Yahweh said to Moses, “Muster every firstborn male from the Israelites[au] from one month[av] and above and count[aw] their names. 41 And you will receive the Levites for me—I am Yahweh—in the place of all the firstborn among the Israelites,[ax] and the animals[ay] of the Levites in the place of all the firstborn among the animals[az] among the Israelites.”[ba] 42 So Moses mustered[bb] all the firstborn among the Israelites[bc] just as Yahweh commanded him. 43 And all the firstborn males[bd] among the number of names from one month[be] and above, the ones counted,[bf] were twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three.

44 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Receive the Levites in the place of all the firstborn among the Israelites,[bg] and the animals of the Levites in the place of their animals; the Levites will be mine. I am Yahweh. 46 And the ransom of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the Israelites[bh] who are excessive over the Levites, 47 you will receive five shekels a person, in the sanctuary shekel; you will collect twenty gerahs[bi] per shekel. 48 You will give the money to Aaron, and to his sons the ransom of the ones who are excessive among them.” 49 And Moses received the money of the redemption from the ones who were excessive from those redeemed of the Levites. 50 From the firstborn of the Israelites[bj] he took the money, one thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels, in the sanctuary shekel. 51 And Moses gave the money of the ransom to Aaron and to his sons according to the word[bk] of Yahweh just as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 3:1 Literally “on a day”
  2. Numbers 3:3 Literally “he filled their hands to serve as a priest”
  3. Numbers 3:4 Literally “before the face of Yahweh”
  4. Numbers 3:4 Literally “before the face of Yahweh”
  5. Numbers 3:4 Literally “sons were not for them”
  6. Numbers 3:6 Literally “cause it to stand”
  7. Numbers 3:6 Literally “in the presence of Aaron”
  8. Numbers 3:8 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  9. Numbers 3:8 Or “service”
  10. Numbers 3:9 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  11. Numbers 3:10 Or “outsider”
  12. Numbers 3:12 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  13. Numbers 3:12 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  14. Numbers 3:13 Literally “from humankind to animal”
  15. Numbers 3:15 Or “count,” or “summon,” or “enroll”
  16. Numbers 3:15 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  17. Numbers 3:15 Literally “the son of a month”
  18. Numbers 3:16 Or “counted,” or “summoned,” or “enrolled”
  19. Numbers 3:16 Literally “mouth of Yahweh”
  20. Numbers 3:20 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  21. Numbers 3:21 Literally “To Gershon was”
  22. Numbers 3:22 Literally “the ones counted of them,” or “the ones mustered of them”
  23. Numbers 3:22 Literally “the son of a month and above”
  24. Numbers 3:24 Literally “the house of his father”
  25. Numbers 3:27 Literally “For Kohath was”
  26. Numbers 3:27 Hebrew “Amramite”
  27. Numbers 3:27 Hebrew “Izharite”
  28. Numbers 3:27 Hebrew “Hebronite”
  29. Numbers 3:27 Hebrew “Uzzielite”
  30. Numbers 3:27 Hebrew “Kohathite”
  31. Numbers 3:28 Literally “the son of a month”
  32. Numbers 3:30 Literally “the house of his father”
  33. Numbers 3:30 Hebrew “Kohathite”
  34. Numbers 3:32 Literally “the leader of leaders”
  35. Numbers 3:32 Hebrew “Levite”
  36. Numbers 3:33 Literally “for Merari was”
  37. Numbers 3:33 Hebrew “Mahlite”
  38. Numbers 3:33 Hebrew “Mushite”
  39. Numbers 3:34 Literally “the ones counted of them,” or “the ones mustered of them”
  40. Numbers 3:34 Literally “the son of a month”
  41. Numbers 3:35 Literally “the house of his father”
  42. Numbers 3:38 Literally “for the responsibility of the children of Israel”
  43. Numbers 3:38 Or “outsider”
  44. Numbers 3:39 Or “counted,” or “summoned,” or “enrolled”
  45. Numbers 3:39 Literally “the mouth of Yahweh”
  46. Numbers 3:39 Literally “the son of a month”
  47. Numbers 3:40 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  48. Numbers 3:40 Literally “the son of a month”
  49. Numbers 3:40 Literally “and lift up the number of”
  50. Numbers 3:41 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  51. Numbers 3:41 Hebrew “animal”
  52. Numbers 3:41 Hebrew “animal”
  53. Numbers 3:41 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  54. Numbers 3:42 Or “counted” or “summoned” or “enrolled”
  55. Numbers 3:42 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  56. Numbers 3:43 Hebrew “male”
  57. Numbers 3:43 Literally “the son of a month”
  58. Numbers 3:43 Literally “the ones counted of them,” or “the ones mustered of them”
  59. Numbers 3:45 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  60. Numbers 3:46 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  61. Numbers 3:47 Hebrew “gerah”
  62. Numbers 3:50 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  63. Numbers 3:51 Literally “mouth”
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Numbers 3
Names of God Bible

The Tribe of Levi Is Registered and Assigned Duties

3 This is the list of Aaron and Moses’ descendants at the time when Yahweh spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai.

2 The names of Aaron’s sons are Nadab (the firstborn), Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests. 4 Nadab and Abihu died in Yahweh’s presence because they offered unauthorized fire in Yahweh’s presence in the Desert of Sinai. They had no children. So only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

5 Yahweh said to Moses, 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi, and have them stand in front of the priest Aaron to assist him. 7 They will work for him and the whole community in front of the tent of meeting, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent. 8 They will take care of all the furnishings in the tent of meeting and work for the Israelites, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent. 9 Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. The Levites will be the only Israelites given to them. 10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Anyone else who tries to do the priests’ duties must be put to death.”

11 Yahweh said to Moses, 12 “Out of all the Israelites, I have taken the Levites to be substitutes for every firstborn male offspring among them. The Levites are mine, 13 because every firstborn is mine. The day I killed every firstborn male in Egypt, I set apart as holy every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They will be mine. I am Yahweh.”

14 Yahweh said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai, 15 “Count the Levites by households and families. Count every male who is at least one month old.” 16 So Moses did what Yahweh said and registered them as he had been commanded.

17 Gershon, Kohath, and Merari were the sons of Levi.

18 Libni and Shimei were the sons of Gershon. Their families were named after them.

19 Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel were the sons of Kohath. Their families were named after them.

20 Mahli and Mushi were the sons of Merari. Their families were named after them.

These were the households of Levite families.

21 To Gershon belonged the families descended from Libni and Shimei. These were the families descended from Gershon. 22 The total number of all the males at least one month old was 7,500. 23 The families descended from Gershon put up their tents on the west side behind the tent of meeting. 24 The leader of the Gershonite households was Eliasaph, son of Lael. 25 At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were in charge of the inner tent, the outer tent and cover, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting, 26 the curtains for the courtyard, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard that surrounds the inner tent and the altar, and the ropes. They took care of all these things.

27 To Kohath belonged the families descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. These were the families descended from Kohath. 28 The number of all the males at least one month old was 8,600. They were in charge of the holy place. 29 The families descended from Kohath put up their tents on the south side of the tent of meeting. 30 The leader of the Kohathite families and households was Elizaphan, son of Uzziel. 31 They were in charge of the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the utensils used in the holy place, and the screen. They took care of all these things.

32 The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron. It was Eleazar’s duty to supervise those who were in charge of the holy place.

33 To Merari belonged the families descended from Mahli and Mushi. These were the families descended from Merari. 34 The total number of all the males at least one month old was 6,200. 35 The leader of the Merarite families and households was Zuriel, son of Abihail. They put up their tents on the north side of the tent of meeting. 36 It was the duty of the Merarites to be in charge of the framework of the inner tent, the crossbars, posts, sockets, and all the equipment. They took care of all these things. 37 They also took care of the posts for the surrounding courtyard, the bases, pegs, and ropes.

38 Moses, Aaron, and his sons put up their tents on the east side in front of the tent of meeting. They were in charge of the holy place on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who tried to do the Levites’ duties had to be put to death.

39 The grand total of Levites that Moses and Aaron counted at Yahweh’s command, by families, every male who was at least one month old, was 22,000.

40 Yahweh said to Moses, “Register every firstborn male of the Israelites who is at least one month old, and make a list of their names. 41 I am Yahweh. Take the Levites for me to be substitutes for all firstborn Israelites. Also take the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for all firstborn animals of the Israelites.”

42 So Moses registered all the firstborn Israelites as Yahweh commanded him. 43 The total of all the firstborn males at least one month old was 22,273. They were listed by name.

44 Yahweh said to Moses, 45 “Take the Levites to be substitutes for all the firstborn Israelites and the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for their animals. The Levites will be mine. I am Yahweh. 46 There are 273 more firstborn male Israelites than there are Levites. 47 It will cost you two ounces of silver per person (using the standard weight of the holy place) to buy them back. 48 Give the silver to Aaron and his sons. It will buy back those Israelites who outnumber the Levites.”

49 So Moses took this ransom money from the Israelites who outnumbered the Levites. 50 The silver Moses collected for the firstborn Israelites weighed 34 pounds, using the standard weight of the holy place. 51 Then Moses did what Yahweh said and gave Aaron and his sons this ransom money as he had been commanded.

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Numbers 3
New International Version

The Levites

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

2 The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn(C) and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.(D) 3 Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests,(E) who were ordained to serve as priests. 4 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)

5 The Lord said to Moses, 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi(J) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.(K) 7 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. 8 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. 9 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
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