Numbers 8:5-13

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Consecration and Service of the Levites

⁵ The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ⁶ “Take the Levites from among the Israelites and cleanse them. ⁷ Thus you shall do to them, to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of purification on them; have them shave their whole body with a razor and wash their clothes and so cleanse themselves.^{(A) 8} Then let them take a young bull and its grain offering of choice flour mixed with oil, and you shall take another young bull for a purification offering.^{(B) 9} You shall bring the Levites before the tent of meeting and assemble the whole congregation of the Israelites.^{(C) 10} When you bring the Levites before the Lord, the Israelites shall lay their hands on the Levites, ¹¹ and Aaron shall present the Levites before the Lord as an elevation offering from the Israelites, that they may do the service of the Lord. ¹² The Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and he shall offer the one for a purification offering and the other for a burnt offering to the Lord, to make atonement for the Levites.^{(D) 13} Then you shall have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons, and you shall present them as an elevation offering to the Lord.