Numbers 3
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 3
Aaron’s Offspring.[a] 1 These are the descendants of Aaron and Moses on the day that the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. 2 These are the names of the sons of Aaron: the oldest was Nadab, and then there were Abihu and Eleazar and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed and consecrated to minister in the priesthood. 4 Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered unclean fire to the Lord in the Sinai Desert. They had no children. Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests in the presence of their father Aaron.
The Tribe of Levi. 5 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “Gather the tribe of Levi and have them stand before Aaron the priest so that they can minister to him. 7 They will serve him and serve the whole assembly standing before the tent of meeting, ministering to the needs of the tabernacle. 8 They will take care of all of the furnishings of the tent of meeting and attend to the needs of the people of Israel as they minister in the tabernacle. 9 You will give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are dedicated to him from among the people of Israel. 10 You will appoint Aaron and his sons, and they will serve as priests. Anyone else who draws near is to be put to death.”
11 [b]The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel as a substitute for the firstborn of the people of Israel, those who opened the womb. The Levites will be my own, 13 for every firstborn has belonged to me from the day that I slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. I have set apart all the firstborn as my own in Israel, both human and animal. They will be mine. I am the Lord.”
14 Counting the Levites. The Lord spoke to Moses in the Sinai Desert, saying, 15 “Count the sons of Levi by clan, by family. Count every male one month old and older.”
16 So Moses counted them, as the word of the Lord had commanded[c] him. 17 These are the names of the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.[d] 18 These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei. 19 The sons of Kohath by their families were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20 The sons of Merari by the families were Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their clan.
21 From Gershon came the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimeites. These are the families of the Gershonites. 22 They counted them, all males one month old and older, and they numbered seven thousand, five hundred. 23 The clan of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle to the west. 24 Eliasaph, the son of Lael, was the leader of the clan of the Gershonites. 25 In the tent of meeting the sons of Gershon had responsibility for the care of the tabernacle, the tent with its covering, 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 tabernacle and the altar, its cords, and everything that had to be done with these.
27 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 are the families of the Kohathites. 28 They counted them, all males one month old and older, and they numbered eight thousand, three hundred, ministering to the needs of the sanctuary. 29 The clan of the Kohathites were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle. 30 Elizaphan, the son of Uzziel, was the leader of the clan of the Kohathites. 31 Their responsibility was for the Ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary, the screen, and everything that had to be done with these.
32 Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, was to be the supervisor of the leaders of the Levites. He was to oversee those who had the responsibility to care for the needs of the sanctuary.
33 From Merari came the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites. These are the families of Merari. 34 They counted them, all males one month old and older, and they numbered six thousand, two hundred. 35 Zuriel, the son of Abihail, was the leader of the clan of Merari. They were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle. 36 Their responsibility was for the boards of the tabernacle, and its bars, its pillars, its sockets and all of their parts, 37 the pillars around the courtyard, and their pins, and their cords.
38 Finally, Moses, Aaron and his sons camped in front of the tabernacle on its east side, in front of the tent of meeting and eastward. They kept watch over the sanctuary, keeping the people of Israel and any other person from coming near, under penalty of death.
39 The total number of the Levites who were counted by Moses and Aaron at the command of the Lord, everyone in their families who was one month old and older, was twenty-two thousand.
40 Redemption of the Firstborn. The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn males of the people of Israel, those one month old and older, and make a list of their names. 41 The Levites will be a substitute for me in place of the firstborn of the people of Israel. I am the Lord. The cattle of the Levites will be a substitute for the firstborn of the cattle of the people of Israel.”
42 Moses counted all of the firstborn of the people of Israel as the Lord had commanded him 43 and he listed all the firstborn males by name, those one month old and older. They numbered twenty-two thousand, two hundred seventy-three.
44 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Take the Levites as a substitute for all the firstborn of the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites as a substitute for their cattle. The Levites are mine. I am the Lord.”
46 Those who were to be redeemed among the firstborn of the people of Israel, not counting the Levites, numbered two hundred seventy-three. 47 “You will take five shekels for each person according to the shekel of the sanctuary, that is, twenty gerahs for each shekel 48 and give the money to Aaron and his sons to redeem those who are in excess among them.”
49 Moses took the redemption money for those who were in excess, above the number of those redeemed by the Levites. 50 He received the money for the firstborn of the people of Israel, one thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 51 Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons as the Lord had commanded Moses by the word of the Lord.
Footnotes
- Numbers 3:1 In the tribe of Levi, which is to be at the spiritual service of the community, a distinction exists between the priests, whose office it is to offer sacrifice, and the “Levites,” who are to provide material services. Historically, however, this distinction dates only from the time of King Josiah (640–609 B.C.) and would become definitive only after the return from the Exile.
- Numbers 3:11 The Levites, being consecrated to the service of God, take the place of the firstborn of the entire people, those who have belonged to God ever since the Passover when the people were delivered from Egypt and the destroying angel spared their firstborn from slaughter (Ex 12:23).
- Numbers 3:16 As the word of the Lord had commanded: Moses’ commitment to the Lord is firm and without exception.
- Numbers 3:17 See Ex 6:16-25. By omitting mention of Aaron and his family, the editor, a priest, means to underscore the superiority of the priests, who are not to be numbered among the simple Levites.
民数记 3
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
亞倫的後代
3 耶和華在西奈山上與摩西說話的日子，亞倫和摩西的後代如下。 2 亞倫的兒子的名字如下：長子是拿答，還有亞比戶、以利亞撒、以他瑪。 3 這就是亞倫的兒子的名字，他們是受膏的祭司，是摩西叫他們承受聖職擔任祭司的職分的。 4 拿答和亞比戶在西奈曠野把凡火獻在耶和華面前的時候，死在耶和華面前；他們沒有兒子；以利亞撒和以他瑪，就在他們的父親亞倫面前，擔任祭司的職分。
利未人的職責
5 耶和華對摩西說： 6 “你要叫利未支派近前來，使他們站在亞倫祭司面前，可以服事他。 7 他們要替亞倫和全體會眾，在會幕前盡上本分，辦理帳幕的事。 8 他們又要看守管理會幕裡的一切器具，也要替以色列人盡上本分，辦理帳幕的事。 9 你要把利未人派給亞倫和他的兒子，因為他們是從以色列人中選出來完全給他的。 10 你要委派亞倫和他的兒子，使他們謹守自己祭司的職分；外人走近，必被治死。”
利未人被選
11 耶和華告訴摩西： 12 “看哪，我從以色列人中，揀選了利未人，代替以色列人所有頭生的，就是他們的長子，所以利未人要歸我。 13 因為所有頭生的，都是我的；我在埃及地擊殺所有頭生的那天，就把以色列中所有頭生的，無論人畜，都分別為聖歸我；他們要歸我，我是耶和華。”
數點利未人的人口
14 耶和華在西奈曠野對摩西說： 15 “你要照著利未人的父家、宗族，數點他們；所有男丁，一個月及以上的，你都要數點。” 16 於是，摩西照著耶和華的命令，就是耶和華吩咐他的，數點了利未人。 17 利未眾子的名字是：革順、哥轄、米拉利。 18 革順兒子的名字，按著宗族，是立尼和示每。 19 哥轄的兒子，按著宗族，是暗蘭、以斯哈、希伯倫、烏薛。 20 米拉利的兒子，按著宗族，是抹利、母示。這些人按著他們的父家，都是利未人的宗族。
21 屬革順的，有立尼家族和示每家族；這是革順人的家族。 22 根據所有男丁的數目，一個月及以上，被數點的，共有七千五百人。 23 革順人的家族，要在帳幕的後面，就是西方安營； 24 革順人家族的領袖是拉伊勒的兒子以利雅薩。 25 革順的子孫在會幕中的職分，是看守帳幕、罩棚、罩棚的頂蓋和會幕門口的簾子， 26 還有院子的帷幔、院子門口的簾子（院子是環繞帳幕和祭壇的），以及院子使用的一切繩子。
27 屬哥轄的，有暗蘭家族、以斯哈家族、希伯倫家族和烏薛家族；這是哥轄人的家族。 28 根據所有男丁的數目，一個月及以上的，共有八千六百人；他們要盡看守聖所的職分。 29 哥轄子孫的家族要在帳幕的南方安營。 30 哥轄家族的領袖是烏薛的兒子以利撒反。 31 他們的職分是管理約櫃、桌子、燈臺、兩座壇，以及他們在聖所內使用的器具、簾子和帳幕裡使用的一切東西。 32 亞倫祭司的兒子以利亞撒要作利未人眾領袖中的領袖，要監察那些盡看守聖所職分的人。
33 屬米拉利的，有抹利家族和母示家族；這些是米拉利的家族。 34 根據所有男丁的數目，一個月及以上，被數點的，共有六千二百人。 35 米拉利二家族的領袖，是亞比亥的兒子蘇列；他們要在帳幕的北方安營。 36 米拉利子孫的職分，是看守帳幕的木板、門閂、柱子、插座、一切器具，以及負責一切有關的事務， 37 還有看守院子四周的柱子、插座、橛子和繩子。
38 在帳幕前面東邊，就是在會幕前向日出的方向安營的，是摩西、亞倫和亞倫的兒子；他們代替以色列人應盡的職責，看守聖所；外人近前來，必被治死。 39 摩西和亞倫照著耶和華的命令，數點了所有的利未人；按著家族，凡是男丁，一個月及以上被數點的，共有二萬二千人。
利未人代替以色列人頭生的
40 耶和華對摩西說：“以色列人中所有頭生的男子，一個月及以上的，你都要數點；登記他們的姓名。 41 我是耶和華，你要把利未人歸我，代替以色列人所有頭生的；也要把利未人的牲畜歸我，代替以色列人中一切頭生的牲畜。” 42 摩西就照著耶和華吩咐他的，把以色列人所有頭生的都數點了。 43 根據人名的數目，一個月及以上，凡是頭生的男子，被數點的，共有二萬二千二百七十三個。
44 耶和華對摩西說： 45 “你要揀選利未人代替以色列人所有頭生的，也要揀選利未人的牲畜代替以色列人的牲畜；利未人要歸我，我是耶和華。 46 至於那超過利未人總數的二百七十三個，需要贖回的以色列人的長子， 47 你要每人收取贖銀五十七克，要按照人數，根據聖所的秤收取，就是按照聖所的標準重量（“就是按照聖所的標準重量”，原文作“一舍客勒是二十季拉”）。 48 你要把那超額人數的贖銀，交給亞倫和他的兒子。” 49 於是，摩西就從那些被利未人贖回以外的人收取贖銀； 50 從頭生的以色列人收取的銀子，根據聖所的秤，共有約十五公斤。 51 摩西照著耶和華的吩咐，把這贖銀交給了亞倫和他的兒子，正如耶和華吩咐摩西的。
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.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
