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)

¹¹ The Lord also said to Moses, ¹² “I have taken the Levites^(R) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring^(S) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,^{(T) 13} for all the firstborn are mine.^(U) When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.”^(V)

¹⁴ The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,^{(W) 15} “Count^(X) the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”^{(Y) 16} So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

These were the Levite clans, according to their families.

²¹ To Gershon^(AH) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;^(AI) these were the Gershonite clans. ²² The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500. ²³ The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle.^{(AJ) 24} The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. ²⁵ At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle^(AK) and tent, its coverings,^(AL) the curtain at the entrance^(AM) to the tent of meeting,^{(AN) 26} the curtains of the courtyard^(AO), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,^(AP) and the ropes^(AQ)—and everything^(AR) related to their use.

²⁷ To Kohath^(AS) belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;^(AT) these were the Kohathite^(AU) clans. ²⁸ The number of all the males a month old or more^(AV) was 8,600.^[b] The Kohathites were responsible^(AW) for the care of the sanctuary.^{(AX) 29} The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side^(AY) of the tabernacle. ³⁰ The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan^(AZ) son of Uzziel. ³¹ They were responsible for the care of the ark,^(BA) the table,^(BB) the lampstand,^(BC) the altars,^(BD) the articles^(BE) of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,^(BF) and everything related to their use.^{(BG) 32} The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar^(BH) son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible^(BI) for the care of the sanctuary.^(BJ)

³³ To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;^(BK) these were the Merarite clans.^{(BL) 34} The number of all the males a month old or more^(BM) who were counted was 6,200. ³⁵ The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.^{(BN) 36} The Merarites were appointed^(BO) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,^(BP) its crossbars,^(BQ) posts,^(BR) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,^{(BS) 37} as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard^(BT) with their bases, tent pegs^(BU) and ropes.

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

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

⁴⁰ The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more^(CB) and make a list of their names.^{(CC) 41} Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites,^(CD) and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord.”^(CE)

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 more,^(CF) listed by name, was 22,273.^(CG)

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.^(CH) I am the Lord.^{(CI) 46} To redeem^(CJ) the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, ⁴⁷ collect five shekels^[c](CK) for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel,^(CL) which weighs twenty gerahs.^{(CM) 48} Give the money for the redemption^(CN) of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”^(CO)

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

Psalm 83^[a]

A song. A psalm of Asaph.

1 Paul, an apostle^(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,^(B) and Timothy^(C) our brother,

² To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters^[a] in Christ:

Grace^(D) and peace to you from God our Father.^[b](E)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³ We always thank God,^(F) the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴ because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love^(G) you have for all God’s people^(H)— ⁵ the faith and love that spring from the hope^(I) stored up for you in heaven^(J) and about which you have already heard in the true message^(K) of the gospel ⁶ that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit^(L) and growing throughout the whole world^(M)—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. ⁷ You learned it from Epaphras,^(N) our dear fellow servant,^[c] who is a faithful minister^(O) of Christ on our^[d] behalf, ⁸ and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.^(P)

⁹ For this reason, since the day we heard about you,^(Q) we have not stopped praying for you.^(R) We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will^(S) through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,^{[e](T) 10} so that you may live a life worthy^(U) of the Lord and please him^(V) in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,^{(W) 11} being strengthened with all power^(X) according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,^{(Y) 12} and giving joyful thanks to the Father,^(Z) who has qualified you^[f] to share in the inheritance^(AA) of his holy people in the kingdom of light.^{(AB) 13} For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness^(AC) and brought us into the kingdom^(AD) of the Son he loves,^{(AE) 14} in whom we have redemption,^(AF) the forgiveness of sins.^(AG)

The Supremacy of the Son of God

¹⁵ The Son is the image^(AH) of the invisible God,^(AI) the firstborn^(AJ) over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created:^(AK) things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;^(AL) all things have been created through him and for him.^{(AM) 17} He is before all things,^(AN) and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head^(AO) of the body, the church;^(AP) he is the beginning and the firstborn^(AQ) from among the dead,^(AR) so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased^(AS) to have all his fullness^(AT) dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile^(AU) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,^(AV) by making peace^(AW) through his blood,^(AX) shed on the cross.

²¹ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies^(AY) in your minds^(AZ) because of^[g] your evil behavior. ²² But now he has reconciled^(BA) you by Christ’s physical body^(BB) through death to present you^(BC) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation^(BD)— ²³ if you continue^(BE) in your faith, established^(BF) and firm, and do not move from the hope^(BG) held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,^(BH) and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.^(BI)

Paul’s Labor for the Church

²⁴ Now I rejoice^(BJ) in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions,^(BK) for the sake of his body, which is the church.^{(BL) 25} I have become its servant^(BM) by the commission God gave me^(BN) to present to you the word of God^(BO) in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery^(BP) that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known^(BQ) among the Gentiles the glorious riches^(BR) of this mystery, which is Christ in you,^(BS) the hope of glory.

²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing^(BT) and teaching everyone with all wisdom,^(BU) so that we may present everyone fully mature^(BV) in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I strenuously^(BW) contend^(BX) with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.^(BY)

2 I want you to know how hard I am contending^(BZ) for you and for those at Laodicea,^(CA) and for all who have not met me personally. ² My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart^(CB) and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery^(CC) of God, namely, Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.^{(CD) 4} I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.^{(CE) 5} For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit^(CF) and delight to see how disciplined^(CG) you are and how firm^(CH) your faith in Christ^(CI) is.

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,^(CJ) continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted^(CK) and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,^(CL) and overflowing with thankfulness.

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,^(CM) which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces^[h] of this world^(CN) rather than on Christ.

⁹ For in Christ all the fullness^(CO) of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰ and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head^(CP) over every power and authority.^{(CQ) 11} In him you were also circumcised^(CR) with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh^[i](CS) was put off when you were circumcised by^[j] Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism,^(CT) in which you were also raised with him^(CU) through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.^(CV)

¹³ When you were dead in your sins^(CW) and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you^[k] alive^(CX) with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,^{(CY) 14} having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness,^(CZ) which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.^{(DA) 15} And having disarmed the powers and authorities,^(DB) he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them^(DC) by the cross.^[l]

Freedom From Human Rules

¹⁶ Therefore do not let anyone judge you^(DD) by what you eat or drink,^(DE) or with regard to a religious festival,^(DF) a New Moon celebration^(DG) or a Sabbath day.^{(DH) 17} These are a shadow of the things that were to come;^(DI) the reality, however, is found in Christ. ¹⁸ Do not let anyone who delights in false humility^(DJ) and the worship of angels disqualify you.^(DK) Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. ¹⁹ They have lost connection with the head,^(DL) from whom the whole body,^(DM) supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.^(DN)

²⁰ Since you died with Christ^(DO) to the elemental spiritual forces of this world,^(DP) why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:^{(DQ) 21} “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? ²² These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish^(DR) with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.^{(DS) 23} Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility^(DT) and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.