Count(A) all the men from thirty to fifty years of age(B) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

“This is the work(C) of the Kohathites(D) at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.(E) When the camp is to move,(F) Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain(G) and put it over the ark of the covenant law.(H) Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,[a](I) spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles(J) in place.

“Over the table of the Presence(K) they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings;(L) the bread that is continually there(M) is to remain on it. They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles(N) in place.

“They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays,(O) and all its jars for the olive oil used to supply it. 10 Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of the durable leather and put it on a carrying frame.(P)

11 “Over the gold altar(Q) they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with the durable leather and put the poles(R) in place.

12 “They are to take all the articles(S) used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with the durable leather and put them on a carrying frame.(T)

13 “They are to remove the ashes(U) from the bronze altar(V) and spread a purple cloth over it. 14 Then they are to place on it all the utensils(W) used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans,(X) meat forks,(Y) shovels(Z) and sprinkling bowls.(AA) Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles(AB) in place.

15 “After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move,(AC) only then are the Kohathites(AD) to come and do the carrying.(AE) But they must not touch the holy things(AF) or they will die.(AG) The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

16 “Eleazar(AH) son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light,(AI) the fragrant incense,(AJ) the regular grain offering(AK) and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles.”

17 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 18 “See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not destroyed from among the Levites. 19 So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things,(AL) do this for them: Aaron and his sons(AM) are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.(AN) 20 But the Kohathites must not go in to look(AO) at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”

The Gershonites

21 The Lord said to Moses, 22 “Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans. 23 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age(AP) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

24 “This is the service of the Gershonite clans in their carrying and their other work: 25 They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle,(AQ) that is, the tent of meeting,(AR) its covering(AS) and its outer covering of durable leather, the curtains for the entrance to the tent of meeting, 26 the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,(AT) the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard,(AU) the ropes and all the equipment(AV) used in the service of the tent. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things. 27 All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons.(AW) You shall assign to them as their responsibility(AX) all they are to carry. 28 This is the service of the Gershonite clans(AY) at the tent of meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar(AZ) son of Aaron, the priest.

The Merarites

29 “Count(BA) the Merarites by their clans and families.(BB) 30 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting. 31 As part of all their service at the tent, they are to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases,(BC) 32 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes,(BD) all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry. 33 This is the service of the Merarite clans as they work at the tent of meeting under the direction of Ithamar(BE) son of Aaron, the priest.”

The Numbering of the Levite Clans

34 Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites(BF) by their clans and families. 35 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age(BG) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 36 counted by clans, were 2,750. 37 This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clans(BH) who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

38 The Gershonites(BI) were counted by their clans and families. 39 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 40 counted by their clans and families, were 2,630. 41 This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command.

42 The Merarites were counted by their clans and families. 43 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age(BJ) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 44 counted by their clans, were 3,200. 45 This was the total of those in the Merarite clans.(BK) Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

46 So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted(BL) all the Levites by their clans and families. 47 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age(BM) who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting 48 numbered 8,580.(BN) 49 At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.

Thus they were counted,(BO) as the Lord commanded Moses.

The Purity of the Camp

The Lord said to Moses, “Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone who has a defiling skin disease[b](BP) or a discharge(BQ) of any kind, or who is ceremonially unclean(BR) because of a dead body.(BS) Send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.(BT) The Israelites did so; they sent them outside the camp. They did just as the Lord had instructed Moses.

Restitution for Wrongs

The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any man or woman who wrongs another in any way[c] and so is unfaithful(BU) to the Lord is guilty(BV) and must confess(BW) the sin they have committed. They must make full restitution(BX) for the wrong they have done, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the person they have wronged. But if that person has no close relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the Lord and must be given to the priest, along with the ram(BY) with which atonement is made for the wrongdoer.(BZ) All the sacred contributions the Israelites bring to a priest will belong to him.(CA) 10 Sacred things belong to their owners, but what they give to the priest will belong to the priest.(CB)’”

The Test for an Unfaithful Wife

11 Then the Lord said to Moses, 12 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man’s wife goes astray(CC) and is unfaithful to him 13 so that another man has sexual relations with her,(CD) and this is hidden from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act), 14 and if feelings of jealousy(CE) come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure—or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure— 15 then he is to take his wife to the priest. He must also take an offering of a tenth of an ephah[d](CF) of barley flour(CG) on her behalf. He must not pour olive oil on it or put incense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy,(CH) a reminder-offering(CI) to draw attention to wrongdoing.

16 “‘The priest shall bring her and have her stand before the Lord. 17 Then he shall take some holy water in a clay jar and put some dust from the tabernacle floor into the water. 18 After the priest has had the woman stand before the Lord, he shall loosen her hair(CJ) and place in her hands the reminder-offering, the grain offering for jealousy,(CK) while he himself holds the bitter water that brings a curse.(CL) 19 Then the priest shall put the woman under oath and say to her, “If no other man has had sexual relations with you and you have not gone astray(CM) and become impure while married to your husband, may this bitter water that brings a curse(CN) not harm you. 20 But if you have gone astray(CO) while married to your husband and you have made yourself impure by having sexual relations with a man other than your husband”— 21 here the priest is to put the woman under this curse(CP)—“may the Lord cause you to become a curse[e] among your people when he makes your womb miscarry and your abdomen swell. 22 May this water(CQ) that brings a curse(CR) enter your body so that your abdomen swells or your womb miscarries.”

“‘Then the woman is to say, “Amen. So be it.(CS)

23 “‘The priest is to write these curses on a scroll(CT) and then wash them off into the bitter water. 24 He shall make the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and this water that brings a curse and causes bitter suffering will enter her. 25 The priest is to take from her hands the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the Lord(CU) and bring it to the altar. 26 The priest is then to take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial[f] offering(CV) and burn it on the altar; after that, he is to have the woman drink the water. 27 If she has made herself impure and been unfaithful to her husband, this will be the result: When she is made to drink the water that brings a curse and causes bitter suffering, it will enter her, her abdomen will swell and her womb will miscarry, and she will become a curse.(CW) 28 If, however, the woman has not made herself impure, but is clean, she will be cleared of guilt and will be able to have children.

29 “‘This, then, is the law of jealousy when a woman goes astray(CX) and makes herself impure while married to her husband, 30 or when feelings of jealousy(CY) come over a man because he suspects his wife. The priest is to have her stand before the Lord and is to apply this entire law to her. 31 The husband will be innocent of any wrongdoing, but the woman will bear the consequences(CZ) of her sin.’”

The Nazirite

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow(DA), a vow of dedication(DB) to the Lord as a Nazirite,(DC) they must abstain from wine(DD) and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar(DE) made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes(DF) or raisins. As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.

“‘During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor(DG) may be used on their head.(DH) They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the Lord is over; they must let their hair grow long.

“‘Throughout the period of their dedication to the Lord, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body.(DI) Even if their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make themselves ceremonially unclean(DJ) on account of them, because the symbol of their dedication to God is on their head. Throughout the period of their dedication, they are consecrated to the Lord.

“‘If someone dies suddenly in the Nazirite’s presence, thus defiling the hair that symbolizes their dedication,(DK) they must shave their head on the seventh day—the day of their cleansing.(DL) 10 Then on the eighth day(DM) they must bring two doves or two young pigeons(DN) to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting.(DO) 11 The priest is to offer one as a sin offering[g](DP) and the other as a burnt offering(DQ) to make atonement(DR) for the Nazirite because they sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. That same day they are to consecrate their head again. 12 They must rededicate themselves to the Lord for the same period of dedication and must bring a year-old male lamb(DS) as a guilt offering.(DT) The previous days do not count, because they became defiled during their period of dedication.

13 “‘Now this is the law of the Nazirite when the period of their dedication is over.(DU) They are to be brought to the entrance to the tent of meeting.(DV) 14 There they are to present their offerings to the Lord: a year-old male lamb without defect(DW) for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering,(DX) a ram(DY) without defect for a fellowship offering,(DZ) 15 together with their grain offerings(EA) and drink offerings,(EB) and a basket of bread made with the finest flour and without yeast—thick loaves with olive oil mixed in, and thin loaves brushed with olive oil.(EC)

16 “‘The priest is to present all these(ED) before the Lord(EE) and make the sin offering and the burnt offering.(EF) 17 He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering(EG) to the Lord, together with its grain offering(EH) and drink offering.(EI)

18 “‘Then at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that symbolizes their dedication.(EJ) They are to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.

19 “‘After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair that symbolizes their dedication, the priest is to place in their hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and one thick loaf and one thin loaf from the basket, both made without yeast.(EK) 20 The priest shall then wave these before the Lord as a wave offering;(EL) they are holy(EM) and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented.(EN) After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.(EO)

21 “‘This is the law of the Nazirite(EP) who vows offerings to the Lord in accordance with their dedication, in addition to whatever else they can afford. They must fulfill the vows(EQ) they have made, according to the law of the Nazirite.’”

The Priestly Blessing

22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless(ER) the Israelites. Say to them:

24 “‘“The Lord bless you(ES)
    and keep you;(ET)
25 the Lord make his face shine on you(EU)
    and be gracious to you;(EV)
26 the Lord turn his face(EW) toward you
    and give you peace.(EX)”’

27 “So they will put my name(EY) on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Offerings at the Dedication of the Tabernacle

When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle,(EZ) he anointed(FA) and consecrated it and all its furnishings.(FB) He also anointed and consecrated the altar and all its utensils.(FC) Then the leaders of Israel,(FD) the heads of families who were the tribal leaders in charge of those who were counted,(FE) made offerings. They brought as their gifts before the Lord six covered carts(FF) and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle.

The Lord said to Moses, “Accept these from them, that they may be used in the work at the tent of meeting. Give them to the Levites as each man’s work requires.”

So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites,(FG) as their work required, and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites,(FH) as their work required. They were all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites,(FI) because they were to carry on their shoulders(FJ) the holy things, for which they were responsible.

10 When the altar was anointed,(FK) the leaders brought their offerings for its dedication(FL) and presented them before the altar. 11 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Each day one leader is to bring his offering for the dedication of the altar.”

12 The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nahshon(FM) son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah.

13 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels[h] and one silver sprinkling bowl(FN) weighing seventy shekels,[i](FO) both according to the sanctuary shekel,(FP) each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;(FQ) 14 one gold dish(FR) weighing ten shekels,[j](FS) filled with incense;(FT) 15 one young bull,(FU) one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;(FV) 16 one male goat for a sin offering[k];(FW) 17 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering.(FX) This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.(FY)

18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar,(FZ) the leader of Issachar, brought his offering.

19 The offering he brought was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 20 one gold dish(GA) weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 21 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 22 one male goat for a sin offering; 23 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

24 On the third day, Eliab son of Helon,(GB) the leader of the people of Zebulun, brought his offering.

25 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 26 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 27 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 28 one male goat for a sin offering; 29 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur,(GC) the leader of the people of Reuben, brought his offering.

31 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 32 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 33 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 34 one male goat for a sin offering; 35 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai,(GD) the leader of the people of Simeon, brought his offering.

37 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 38 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 39 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 40 one male goat for a sin offering; 41 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

42 On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel,(GE) the leader of the people of Gad, brought his offering.

43 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 44 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 45 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 46 one male goat for a sin offering; 47 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

48 On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud,(GF) the leader of the people of Ephraim, brought his offering.

49 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 50 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 51 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 52 one male goat for a sin offering; 53 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.(GG)

54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur,(GH) the leader of the people of Manasseh, brought his offering.

55 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 56 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 57 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 58 one male goat for a sin offering; 59 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni,(GI) the leader of the people of Benjamin, brought his offering.

61 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 62 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 63 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 64 one male goat for a sin offering; 65 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

66 On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai,(GJ) the leader of the people of Dan, brought his offering.

67 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 68 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 69 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 70 one male goat for a sin offering; 71 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Okran,(GK) the leader of the people of Asher, brought his offering.

73 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 74 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 75 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 76 one male goat for a sin offering; 77 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Okran.

78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan,(GL) the leader of the people of Naphtali, brought his offering.

79 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 80 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 81 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 82 one male goat for a sin offering; 83 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

84 These were the offerings of the Israelite leaders for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed:(GM) twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls(GN) and twelve gold dishes.(GO) 85 Each silver plate weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each sprinkling bowl seventy shekels. Altogether, the silver dishes weighed two thousand four hundred shekels,[l] according to the sanctuary shekel.(GP) 86 The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel.(GQ) Altogether, the gold dishes weighed a hundred and twenty shekels.[m] 87 The total number of animals for the burnt offering(GR) came to twelve young bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering.(GS) Twelve male goats were used for the sin offering.(GT) 88 The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering(GU) came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs(GV) a year old. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.(GW)

89 When Moses entered the tent of meeting(GX) to speak with the Lord,(GY) he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover(GZ) on the ark of the covenant law.(HA) In this way the Lord spoke to him.

Setting Up the Lamps

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the lamps, see that all seven light up the area in front of the lampstand.(HB)’”

Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the Lord commanded Moses. This is how the lampstand was made: It was made of hammered gold(HC)—from its base to its blossoms. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern(HD) the Lord had shown Moses.

The Setting Apart of the Levites

The Lord said to Moses: “Take the Levites from among all the Israelites and make them ceremonially clean.(HE) To purify them, do this: Sprinkle the water of cleansing(HF) on them; then have them shave their whole bodies(HG) and wash their clothes.(HH) And so they will purify themselves.(HI) Have them take a young bull with its grain offering of the finest flour mixed with olive oil;(HJ) then you are to take a second young bull for a sin offering.[n](HK) Bring the Levites to the front of the tent of meeting(HL) and assemble the whole Israelite community.(HM) 10 You are to bring the Levites before the Lord, and the Israelites are to lay their hands on them.(HN) 11 Aaron is to present the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering(HO) from the Israelites, so that they may be ready to do the work of the Lord.

12 “Then the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls,(HP) using one for a sin offering(HQ) to the Lord and the other for a burnt offering,(HR) to make atonement(HS) for the Levites. 13 Have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons and then present them as a wave offering(HT) to the Lord. 14 In this way you are to set the Levites apart from the other Israelites, and the Levites will be mine.(HU)

15 “After you have purified the Levites and presented them as a wave offering,(HV) they are to come to do their work at the tent of meeting.(HW) 16 They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me. I have taken them as my own in place of the firstborn,(HX) the first male offspring(HY) from every Israelite woman. 17 Every firstborn male in Israel, whether human or animal,(HZ) is mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set them apart for myself.(IA) 18 And I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons in Israel.(IB) 19 From among all the Israelites, I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons(IC) to do the work at the tent of meeting on behalf of the Israelites(ID) and to make atonement for them(IE) so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the sanctuary.”

20 Moses, Aaron and the whole Israelite community did with the Levites just as the Lord commanded Moses. 21 The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes.(IF) Then Aaron presented them as a wave offering before the Lord and made atonement(IG) for them to purify them.(IH) 22 After that, the Levites came to do their work(II) at the tent of meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons. They did with the Levites just as the Lord commanded Moses.

23 The Lord said to Moses, 24 “This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more(IJ) shall come to take part in the work at the tent of meeting,(IK)

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 4:6 Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals; also in verses 8, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 25
  2. Numbers 5:2 The Hebrew word for defiling skin disease, traditionally translated “leprosy,” was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  3. Numbers 5:6 Or woman who commits any wrong common to mankind
  4. Numbers 5:15 That is, probably about 3 1/2 pounds or about 1.6 kilograms
  5. Numbers 5:21 That is, may he cause your name to be used in cursing (see Jer. 29:22); or, may others see that you are cursed; similarly in verse 27.
  6. Numbers 5:26 Or representative
  7. Numbers 6:11 Or purification offering; also in verses 14 and 16
  8. Numbers 7:13 That is, about 3 1/4 pounds or about 1.5 kilograms; also elsewhere in this chapter
  9. Numbers 7:13 That is, about 1 3/4 pounds or about 800 grams; also elsewhere in this chapter
  10. Numbers 7:14 That is, about 4 ounces or about 115 grams; also elsewhere in this chapter
  11. Numbers 7:16 Or purification offering; also elsewhere in this chapter
  12. Numbers 7:85 That is, about 60 pounds or about 28 kilograms
  13. Numbers 7:86 That is, about 3 pounds or about 1.4 kilograms
  14. Numbers 8:8 Or purification offering; also in verse 12

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