1This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses at the time the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.2The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.3Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests.4Nadab and Abihu, however, died before the Lord when they made an offering with unauthorised fire before him in the Desert of Sinai. They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.5The Lord said to Moses,6‘Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.7They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the tent of meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle.8They 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.9Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.[1]10Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.’11The Lord also said to Moses,12‘I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,13for all the firstborn are mine. 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.’14The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,15‘Count the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.’16So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.17These were the names of the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari.18These were the names of the Gershonite clans: Libni and Shimei.19The Kohathite clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.20The Merarite clans: Mahli and Mushi. These were the Levite clans, according to their families.21To Gershon belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites; these were the Gershonite clans.22The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500.23The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle.24The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael.25At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle and tent, its coverings, the curtain at the entrance to the tent of meeting,26the curtains of the courtyard, the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, and the ropes – and everything related to their use.27To Kohath belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites; these were the Kohathite clans.28The number of all the males a month old or more was 8,600.[2] The Kohathites were responsible for the care of the sanctuary.29The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle.30The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.31They were responsible for the care of the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain, and everything related to their use.32The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible for the care of the sanctuary.33To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites; these were the Merarite clans.34The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 6,200.35The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail. They were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.36The Merarites were appointed to take care of the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts, bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,37as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs and ropes.38Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, towards 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 approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.39The total number of Levites counted at the Lord’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.40The Lord said to Moses, ‘Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more and make a list of their names.41Take 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 livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord.’42So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him.43The total number of firstborn males a month old or more, listed by name, was 22,273.44The 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.46To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites,47collect five shekels[3] for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs.48Give the money for the redemption of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.’49So Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites.50From the firstborn of the Israelites he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels,[4] according to the sanctuary shekel.51Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.
Numbers 3
English Standard Version
The Sons of Aaron
1These are the generations of Aaron and Moses at the time when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.2These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. (Ex 6:23)3These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he ordained to serve as priests. (Ex 28:41)4But Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of Aaron their father. (Le 10:1; Nu 26:61; 1Ch 24:2)
Duties of the Levites
5And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,6“Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him. (Nu 1:50; Nu 8:6; Nu 18:2)7They shall keep guard over him and over the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, as they minister at the tabernacle. (Nu 8:11; Nu 8:15; Nu 8:24; Nu 8:26)8They shall guard all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and keep guard over the people of Israel as they minister at the tabernacle.9And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are wholly given to him from among the people of Israel. (Nu 8:16; Nu 8:19; Nu 18:6)10And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood. But if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death.” (Nu 1:51; Nu 3:38; Nu 18:7; Ro 12:7)11And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,12“Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the people of Israel. The Levites shall be mine, (Nu 3:41; Nu 8:16; Nu 18:6)13for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for my own all the firstborn in Israel, both of man and of beast. They shall be mine: I am the Lord.” (Ex 13:2; Ex 13:12; Ex 13:15; Nu 8:17)14And the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,15“List the sons of Levi, by fathers’ houses and by clans; every male from a month old and upward you shall list.” (Nu 1:47; Nu 3:39; Nu 26:62)16So Moses listed them according to the word of the Lord, as he was commanded.17And these were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon and Kohath and Merari. (Ge 46:11; Ex 6:16; Nu 26:57; 1Ch 6:1; 1Ch 6:16; 1Ch 23:6)18And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei. (Ex 6:17; 1Ch 6:17; 1Ch 23:7)19And the sons of Kohath by their clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. (Ex 6:18; 1Ch 6:2; 1Ch 6:18; 1Ch 23:12)20And the sons of Merari by their clans: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites, by their fathers’ houses. (Ex 6:19; 1Ch 6:19; 1Ch 23:21)21To Gershon belonged the clan of the Libnites and the clan of the Shimeites; these were the clans of the Gershonites.22Their listing according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward was[1] 7,500.23The clans of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle on the west, (Nu 1:53)24with Eliasaph, the son of Lael as chief of the fathers’ house of the Gershonites.25And the guard duty of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting involved the tabernacle, the tent with its covering, the screen for the entrance of the tent of meeting, (Ex 25:9; Ex 26:7; Ex 26:14; Ex 26:36; Ex 36:14; Nu 4:24)26the hangings of the court, the screen for the door of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and its cords—all the service connected with these. (Ex 27:9; Ex 27:16; Ex 35:18; Ex 39:40; Nu 3:37)27To Kohath belonged the clan of the Amramites and the clan of the Izharites and the clan of the Hebronites and the clan of the Uzzielites; these are the clans of the Kohathites. (1Ch 26:23)28According to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, there were 8,600, keeping guard over the sanctuary.29The clans of the sons of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle,30with Elizaphan the son of Uzziel as chief of the fathers’ house of the clans of the Kohathites. (Ex 6:22; Le 10:4)31And their guard duty involved the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which the priests minister, and the screen; all the service connected with these. (Ex 25:10; Ex 25:23; Ex 25:31; Ex 26:36; Ex 27:1; Ex 30:1)32And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the chiefs of the Levites, and to have oversight of those who kept guard over the sanctuary.33To Merari belonged the clan of the Mahlites and the clan of the Mushites: these are the clans of Merari.34Their listing according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward was 6,200.35And the chief of the fathers’ house of the clans of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.36And the appointed guard duty of the sons of Merari involved the frames of the tabernacle, the bars, the pillars, the bases, and all their accessories; all the service connected with these; (Ex 26:15; Ex 26:26; Ex 26:32; Ex 26:37; Nu 4:31)37also the pillars around the court, with their bases and pegs and cords. (Ex 27:10; Ex 27:19; Nu 3:26)38Those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons, guarding the sanctuary itself, to protect[2] the people of Israel. And any outsider who came near was to be put to death. (Nu 1:53)39All those listed among the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron listed at the commandment of the Lord, by clans, all the males from a month old and upward, were 22,000. (Nu 3:22; Nu 3:28; Nu 3:34; Nu 3:46)
Redemption of the Firstborn
40And the Lord said to Moses, “List all the firstborn males of the people of Israel, from a month old and upward, taking the number of their names.41And you shall take the Levites for me—I am the Lord—instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the people of Israel.” (Nu 3:12; Nu 3:45)42So Moses listed all the firstborn among the people of Israel, as the Lord commanded him.43And all the firstborn males, according to the number of names, from a month old and upward as listed were 22,273.44And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,45“Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. The Levites shall be mine: I am the Lord. (Nu 3:12; Nu 3:41)46And as the redemption price for the 273 of the firstborn of the people of Israel, over and above the number of the male Levites, (Ex 13:13; Nu 18:15)47you shall take five shekels[3] per head; you shall take them according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel of twenty gerahs[4]), (Ex 30:13; Le 27:6; Nu 18:16)48and give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for those who are over.”49So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those redeemed by the Levites.50From the firstborn of the people of Israel he took the money, 1,365 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary. (Nu 3:46)51And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses. (Nu 3:48)