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And these are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Jehovah spoke with Moses on mount Sinai.

And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, who were consecrated to exercise the priesthood.

And Nadab and Abihu died before Jehovah when they offered strange fire before Jehovah in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons; and Eleazar and Ithamar exercised the priesthood in the presence of Aaron their father.

And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him;

and they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole assembly, before the tent of meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle.

And they shall keep all the utensils of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

And thou shalt give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given to him out of the children of Israel.

10 And Aaron and his sons shalt thou appoint that they may attend to their priest's office; and the stranger that cometh near shall be put to death.

11 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn that breaketh open the womb among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine;

13 for every firstborn is mine. On the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both of man and beast; mine shall they be: I am Jehovah.

14 And Jehovah spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,

15 Number the sons of Levi according to their fathers' houses, after their families; every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.

16 And Moses numbered them, according to the commandment of Jehovah,—as he had been commanded.

17 And these are the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.

18 And these are the names of the sons of Gershon according to their families: Libni and Shimei.

19 And the sons of Kohath according to their families: Amram and Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.

20 And the sons of Merari according to their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers' houses.

21 Of Gershon, the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.

22 Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, those that were numbered of them were seven thousand five hundred.

23 The families of the Gershonites encamped behind the tabernacle westward.

24 And the prince of the father's house of the Gershonites was Eliasaph the son of Lael.

25 And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting was: the tabernacle and the tent, its covering, and the curtain of the entrance to the tent of meeting.

26 And the hangings of the court, and the curtain of the entrance to the court, which surrounds the tabernacle and the altar, and the cords thereof for all its service.

27 And of Kohath, the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.

28 According to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, there were eight thousand six hundred, who kept the charge of the sanctuary.

29 The families of the sons of Kohath encamped on the side of the tabernacle southward.

30 And the prince of the father's house of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.

31 And their charge was the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, and the curtain, and all that belongs to its service.

32 And the prince of princes of the Levites was Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest: he had the oversight of them that kept the charge of the sanctuary.

33 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.

34 And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand two hundred.

35 And the prince of the father's house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They encamped on the side of the tabernacle northward.

36 And the charge of the sons of Merari consisted in the oversight of the boards of the tabernacle, and its bars, and its pillars, and its bases, and all its furniture, and all that belongs to its service,

37 and the pillars of the court round about, and their bases, and their pegs, and their cords.

38 And those who encamped before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrising, were Moses, and Aaron and his sons, who kept the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh near shall be put to death.

39 All that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of Jehovah, according to their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand.

40 And Jehovah said to Moses, Number all the first-born males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

41 And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am Jehovah) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites, instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.

42 And Moses numbered, as Jehovah had commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.

43 And all the firstborn males, by the number of the names, from a month old and upward, according to their numbering, were twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three.

44 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

45 Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am Jehovah.

46 And for those that are to be ransomed, the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are in excess over the Levites,

47 thou shalt take five shekels apiece by the poll, according to the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them,—twenty gerahs the shekel;

48 and thou shalt give the money unto Aaron and unto his sons for those in excess among them who are to be ransomed.

49 And Moses took the ransom-money from them that were over and above those who were ransomed by the Levites;

50 of the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, a thousand three hundred and sixty-five [shekels], according to the shekel of the sanctuary.

51 And Moses gave the money of them that were ransomed to Aaron and to his sons, according to the commandment of Jehovah,—as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

And Jehovah spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, according to their fathers' houses,

from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, all that enter into the service, to do the work in the tent of meeting.

This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting: it is most holy.

And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron and his sons shall go in, and they shall take down the veil of separation and cover the ark of testimony with it;

and shall put thereon a covering of badgers' skin, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put its staves [to it].

And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue; and put thereon the dishes, and the cups, and the bowls, and goblets of the drink-offering; and the continual bread shall be thereon.

And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skin, and shall put its staves [to it].

And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and its lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff-trays, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they perform its service;

10 and they shall put it and all the utensils thereof within a covering of badgers' skin, and shall put it upon a pole.

11 And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skin, and shall put its staves [to it].

12 And they shall take all the instruments of service, wherewith they serve in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers' skin, and shall put them upon a pole.

13 And they shall cleanse the altar of the ashes, and spread a purple cloth thereon;

14 and they shall put upon it all the utensils thereof, wherewith they perform service about it: the firepans, the forks, and the shovels, and the bowls,—all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skin, and put its staves [to it].

15 And when Aaron and his sons have ended covering the sanctuary, and all the utensils of the sanctuary, when the camp setteth forward, then afterwards the sons of Kohath shall come to carry it; but they shall not touch the holy things, lest they die. This is what the sons of Kohath have to carry in the tent of meeting.

16 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall have the oversight of the oil for the light, and the fragrant incense, and the continual oblation, and the anointing oil,—the oversight of the whole tabernacle, and of all that is therein, over the sanctuary, and over its furniture.

17 And Jehovah spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

18 Ye shall not cut off the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites,

19 but this shall ye do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they draw near unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden;

20 but they shall not go in and see for a moment the holy things, lest they die.

21 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

22 Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, according to their fathers' houses, after their families.

23 From thirty years old and upward to fifty years old shalt thou number them; every one that cometh to labour in the work, to perform the service in the tent of meeting.

24 This shall be the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving, and in carrying:

25 they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tent of meeting, its covering, and the covering of badgers' skin that is above upon it, and the curtain of the entrance to the tent of meeting,

26 and the hangings of the court, and the curtain of the entrance, of the gate of the court, which surroundeth the tabernacle and the altar, and the cords thereof, and all the instruments of their service; and all that is to be done for these things shall they perform.

27 At the commandment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their carrying, and in all their service; and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their carrying.

28 This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting, and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

29 The sons of Merari: after their families, according to their fathers' houses shalt thou number them;

30 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the labour, to perform the service of the tent of meeting.

31 And this shall be the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tent of meeting: the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and bases thereof,

32 and the pillars of the court round about, and their bases, and their pegs, and their cords, all their instruments, according to all their service; and by name ye shall number to them the materials which are their charge to carry.

33 This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service in the tent of meeting, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

34 And Moses and Aaron and the princes of the assembly numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and according to their fathers' houses,

35 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one that entered into the labour, for service in the tent of meeting.

36 And those that were numbered of them according to their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty.

37 These are they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, every one that served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Jehovah through Moses.

38 And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, after their families, and according to their fathers' houses,

39 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one that entered into the labour, for service in the tent of meeting,

40 even those that were numbered of them, after their families, according to their fathers' houses, were two thousand six hundred and thirty.

41 These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, all that served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Jehovah.

42 And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, after their families, according to their fathers' houses,

43 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one that entered into the labour, for service in the tent of meeting,

44 even those that were numbered of them according to their families, were three thousand two hundred.

45 These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Jehovah through Moses.

46 All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel numbered, after their families and according to their fathers' houses,

47 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, every one that came to serve [in] the work of the service, and [in] the work of carrying, in the tent of meeting,

48 even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand five hundred and eighty.

49 According to the commandment of Jehovah they were numbered by Moses, every one for his service, and for his burden, and numbered by him, as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

The Levites

This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses(A) at the time the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.(B)

The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn(C) and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.(D) Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests,(E) who were ordained to serve as priests. 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)

The Lord said to Moses, “Bring the tribe of Levi(J) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.(K) 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. 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. 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.

17 These were the names of the sons of Levi:(Z)

Gershon,(AA) Kohath(AB) and Merari.(AC)

18 These were the names of the Gershonite clans:

Libni and Shimei.(AD)

19 The Kohathite clans:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.(AE)

20 The Merarite clans:(AF)

Mahli and Mushi.(AG)

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.

The Kohathites

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: “Take a census(CS) of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. Count(CT) all the men from thirty to fifty years of age(CU) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

“This is the work(CV) of the Kohathites(CW) at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.(CX) When the camp is to move,(CY) Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain(CZ) and put it over the ark of the covenant law.(DA) Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,[e](DB) spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles(DC) in place.

“Over the table of the Presence(DD) they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings;(DE) the bread that is continually there(DF) is to remain on it. They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles(DG) 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,(DH) 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.(DI)

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

12 “They are to take all the articles(DL) 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.(DM)

13 “They are to remove the ashes(DN) from the bronze altar(DO) and spread a purple cloth over it. 14 Then they are to place on it all the utensils(DP) used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans,(DQ) meat forks,(DR) shovels(DS) and sprinkling bowls.(DT) Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles(DU) 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,(DV) only then are the Kohathites(DW) to come and do the carrying.(DX) But they must not touch the holy things(DY) or they will die.(DZ) The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

16 “Eleazar(EA) son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light,(EB) the fragrant incense,(EC) the regular grain offering(ED) 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,(EE) do this for them: Aaron and his sons(EF) are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.(EG) 20 But the Kohathites must not go in to look(EH) 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(EI) 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,(EJ) that is, the tent of meeting,(EK) its covering(EL) 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,(EM) the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard,(EN) the ropes and all the equipment(EO) 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.(EP) You shall assign to them as their responsibility(EQ) all they are to carry. 28 This is the service of the Gershonite clans(ER) at the tent of meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar(ES) son of Aaron, the priest.

The Merarites

29 “Count(ET) the Merarites by their clans and families.(EU) 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,(EV) 32 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes,(EW) 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(EX) son of Aaron, the priest.”

The Numbering of the Levite Clans

34 Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites(EY) by their clans and families. 35 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age(EZ) 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(FA) who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

38 The Gershonites(FB) 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(FC) 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.(FD) Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

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

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

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 3:9 Most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint (see also 8:16) to me
  2. Numbers 3:28 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts 8,300
  3. Numbers 3:47 That is, about 2 ounces or about 58 grams
  4. Numbers 3:50 That is, about 35 pounds or about 16 kilograms
  5. Numbers 4:6 Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals; also in verses 8, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 25