The Census of Israel’s Warriors

Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

just as the Lord had commanded Moses. So he counted them in the wilderness of Sinai.

Levite Priesthood Established

Now these are the records of the generations of Aaron and Moses at the time when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.

But Nadab and Abihu died in the presence of 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 in the lifetime of their father Aaron.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,

“Speak to the sons of Israel: ‘When a man or woman commits any of the sins of mankind, acting unfaithfully against the Lord, and that person is guilty,

then he shall confess his sin which he has committed, and he shall make restitution in full for his wrong and add to it a fifth of it, and give it to him whom he has wronged.

And the priest shall offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, and make atonement for him regarding his sin because of the dead person. And on that same day he shall consecrate his head,

And he shall present his offering to the Lord: one male lamb a year old without defect as a burnt offering, one ewe lamb a year old without defect as a sin offering, one ram without defect as a peace offering,

Then the priest shall present them before the Lord and offer his sin offering and his burnt offering.

one male goat as a sin offering;

one male goat as a sin offering;

one male goat as a sin offering;

one male goat as a sin offering;

one male goat as a sin offering;

one male goat as a sin offering;

one male goat as a sin offering;

one male goat as a sin offering;

one male goat as a sin offering;

one male goat as a sin offering;

one male goat as a sin offering;

one male goat as a sin offering;

All the oxen for the burnt offering totaled twelve bulls, all the rams, twelve, the male lambs one year old with their grain offering, twelve, and the male goats as a sin offering, twelve;

Then have them take a bull with its grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil; and you shall take a second bull as a sin offering.

Now the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls; then you are to offer the one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the Lord, to make atonement for the Levites.