Numbers 3

The Sons of Aaron

1 This is the family record of Aaron and Moses at the time the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai.

2 Aaron’s sons were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

3 They were anointed and set apart to serve as priests.

4 Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they brought unauthorized fire in the wilderness of Sinai. Since they had no sons, Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests under Aaron.

The Levites Belong to God

5 The Lord told Moses.

6 Bring the tribe of Levi forward and set them apart to help Aaron the priest.

7 They must assist him and the whole community in the work of the Tabernacle.

8 They are responsible for everything related to the Tabernacle and must serve as helpers for Aaron and his sons.

9 Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They are completely set apart for him from among the Israelites.

10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Anyone else who tries to do their work must be put to death.

The Levites Take the Place of Israel’s Firstborn

11 The Lord told Moses.

12 I have chosen the Levites from among the Israelites to take the place of every firstborn male in Israel. The Levites belong to Me.

13 When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for Myself every firstborn in Israel, both human and animal. They are Mine. I am the Lord.

Counting the Levites

14 The Lord told Moses in the wilderness of Sinai.

15 Count the Levites by their clans and families. Count every male one month old and older.

16 Moses obeyed the Lord and counted them as he was commanded.

The Three Families of Levi

17 Levi’s sons were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

18 The Gershonite clans were named after Libni and Shimei.

19 The Kohathite clans were named after Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

20 The Merarite clans were named after Mahli and Mushi. These were the families of the Levites.

The Gershonites’ Duties

21 The Gershonites had two clans, the Libnites and the Shimeites.

22 The total number of Gershonite males one month old and older was 7,500.

23 They camped on the west side of the Tabernacle.

24 Their leader was Eliasaph son of Lael.

25 They were responsible for taking care of the Tabernacle’s curtains, the tent covering,

26 The curtain at the entrance, the courtyard curtains, the ropes, and everything related to these things.

The Kohathites’ Duties

27 The Kohathite clans were the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites.

28 The total number of Kohathite males one month old and older was 8,600.

29 They camped on the south side of the Tabernacle.

30 Their leader was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.

31 They were responsible for carrying the Ark of the Covenant, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the sacred utensils, the curtain, and everything related to these items.

32 Eleazar, son of Aaron, was in charge of the Levites and their duties.

The Merarites’ Duties

33 The Merarite clans were the Mahlites and the Mushites.

34 The total number of Merarite males one month old and older was 6,200.

35 Their leader was Zuriel son of Abihail. They camped on the north side of the Tabernacle.

36 They were responsible for the frames of the Tabernacle, its crossbars, posts, bases, and everything related to these items.

37 They also took care of the posts around the courtyard, their bases, pegs, and ropes.

Moses, Aaron, and the Priests Camp on the East Side

38 Moses, Aaron, and his sons camped in front of the Tabernacle on the east side, toward the sunrise. They were responsible for the sanctuary. Anyone else who tried to approach it would be put to death.

The Total Number of Levites

39 The total number of Levites counted was 22,000 males one month old and older.

The Firstborn of Israel Are Counted

40 The Lord told Moses to count every firstborn male of the Israelites one month old and older and record their names.

41 The Levites will take the place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the Levites’ animals will take the place of the Israelites’ firstborn animals.

42 Moses counted the firstborn males of the Israelites as the Lord commanded.

43 The total number of firstborn males one month old and older was 22,273.

Redemption of the Extra Firstborn

44 The Lord told Moses.

45 Take the Levites to replace the firstborn of Israel, and the Levites’ livestock to replace the Israelites’ firstborn livestock. The Levites belong to Me. I am the Lord.

46 Since there are 273 more firstborn Israelites than Levites.

47 You must collect five shekels of silver for each extra firstborn.

48 Give this silver to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the extra firstborn.

49 Moses collected the silver from the extra firstborn Israelites.

50 The total amount was 1,365 shekels, measured by the sanctuary standard.

51 Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons as the Lord commanded.