Numbers 3

¹ This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses at the time the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.

² The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

³ These were the names of Aaron's sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests.

⁴ But Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD when they offered unauthorized fire before him in the Wilderness of Sinai. They had no sons, so only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

⁵ The LORD said to Moses:

⁶ "Bring the tribe of Levi forward and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.

⁷ They are to carry out duties for him and for the whole community at the tent of meeting, doing the work 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; they are the Israelites who are given wholly to him.

¹⁰ Appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out their priestly duties. Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death."

¹¹ The LORD also said to Moses:

¹² "I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of every firstborn male, the first to open the womb among the Israelites. The Levites are mine,

¹³ for every firstborn is mine. On the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are mine. I am the LORD."

¹⁴ The LORD said to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai:

¹⁵ "Count the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or older."

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: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

¹⁸ These were the names of the Gershonite clans: Libni and Shimei.

¹⁹ The Kohathite clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

²⁰ The Merarite clans: Mahli and Mushi. These were the Levite clans, listed by their families.

²¹ To Gershon belonged the clans of the Libnites and the Shimeites; these were the Gershonite clans.

²² The number of all the males a month old or older came to 7,500.

²³ The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle.

²⁴ The leader of the Gershonite families was Eliasaph son of Lael.

²⁵ At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the tabernacle and tent, its covering, the curtain at the entrance to the tent of meeting,

²⁶ the curtains of the courtyard, the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, and the ropes—everything needed for their service.

²⁷ To Kohath belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites; these were the Kohathite clans.

²⁸ The number of all the males a month old or older came to 8,600. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary.

²⁹ The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle.

³⁰ The leader of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.

³¹ They were responsible for the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain, and everything needed for their service.

³² The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He was appointed over those responsible for the care of the sanctuary.

³³ To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites; these were the Merarite clans.

³⁴ The number of all the males a month old or older came to 6,200.

³⁵ The leader of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail. They were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.

³⁶ The Merarites were appointed to care for the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts, bases, all its equipment, and everything needed for their service,

³⁷ as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes.

³⁸ Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who came near it was to be put to death.

³⁹ The total number of Levite males a month old or older, whom Moses and Aaron counted by their clans at the LORD's command, was 22,000.

⁴⁰ The LORD said to Moses, "Count every firstborn Israelite male a month old or older, and make a list of their names.

⁴¹ Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites' livestock. I am the LORD."

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 older, listed by name, was 22,273.

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. I am the LORD.

⁴⁶ To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites,

⁴⁷ collect five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs.

⁴⁸ Give the silver for the redemption of the extra ones to Aaron and his sons."

⁴⁹ So Moses collected the redemption silver from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites.

⁵⁰ From the firstborn of the Israelites he collected 1,365 shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel.

⁵¹ Moses gave the redemption silver to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the LORD.