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)

³² The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar^(A) son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible^(B) for the care of the sanctuary.^(C)

³⁸ Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east^(A) of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting.^(B) They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary^(C) on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.^(D)

³⁹ The total number of Levites counted^(E) at the Lord’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.^(F)

⁴⁸ Give the money for the redemption^(A) of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”^(B)

⁴⁹ So Moses collected the redemption money^(C) from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. ⁵⁰ From the firstborn of the Israelites^(D) he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels,^[a](E) 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.