Numbers Chapter 3
1 The Generations of Aaron and Moses
When the LORD Spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai
Duties of Levites
2 The sons of Aaron were Nadab, the firstborn, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar— 3 anointed and ordained as priests. 4 In the Wilderness of Sinai, Nadab and Abihu died from offering before the LORD, fire different from what he’d commanded. They didn’t have any children, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during Aaron’s lifetime.
Num 3:1-4
5 The LORD told Moses,
6 “Set the tribe of Levi aside to serve Aaron. 7 They’ll perform duties for him and the whole community at the Tent of Meeting. They’ll service the Tabernacle 8 and keep the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting in assisting with the duties of the people. 9 Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. 10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; execute any layman that tries to come near.”
11 Again the LORD told Moses,
12 “I’ve taken the Levites from the people in place of the firstborn. 13 The firstborn belong to me. When I struck down the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart to myself the firstborn people and animals in Israel. The Levites belong to me; I’m the LORD.” Num 3:5-13
14 The LORD told Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, 15 “Count the descendants of Levi by families—every male a month old and up.” 16 Moses counted them:
17 the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
18 the clans descended from Gershon: Libni and Shimei.
19 the clans descended from Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
20 the clans descended from Merari: Mahli and Mushi.
Num 3:14-20
21 The Libnites and Shimeites descended from Gershon. 22 Their males a month old and up numbered 7,500. 23 They camped west of the Tabernacle, behind it. 24 Eliasaph son of Lael was family leader among the Gershonites. 25 The sons of Gershon serviced the Tent of Meeting, including the Tabernacle and tent, its covering, the screen for the door to the Tent of Meeting, 26 the hangings around the court, and the screen for the door to the court around the Tabernacle, the altar, and its cords.
Num 3:21-26
27 The Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites descended from Kohath. 28 Their males a month old and up numbered 8,600; they serviced the sanctuary. 29 They camped south of the Tabernacle. 30 Elizaphan son of Uzziel was family leader among the Kohathites. 31 The sons of Kohath serviced the Ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary they perform service with, and the screen.
32 Eleazar son of Aaron, the chief leader from Levi, oversaw the ones that performed duties in the sanctuary.
Num 3:27-32
33 The Mahlites and Mushites descended from Merari. 34 Their males a month old and up numbered 6,200. 35 Zuriel son of Abihail was family of Merari. They camped north of the Tabernacle. 36 The sons of Merari serviced the frames of the Tabernacle, its bars, posts, bases, equipment, 37 together with the posts around the court with their bases, pegs, and cords.
38 Moses, Aaron, and his sons camped east of the Tabernacle and performed duties in the sanctuary for the obligation of Israel. Any layman that would come near was to be executed. 39 The Levites that Moses and Aaron counted a month old and up numbered 22,000.
Num 3:33-39
Redemption of the Firstborn
40 The LORD told Moses,
“Count by name every male firstborn in Israel a month old and up. 41 Take the Levites for me in place of Israel’s firstborn sons, and take the Levites’ livestock in place of the nation’s firstborn livestock.”
42 Moses counted Israel’s firstborn: 43 22,273 males a month old and up.
44 The LORD told Moses,
45 “The Levites belong to me; I’m the LORD. 46 For the ransom of the 273 firstborn in Israel above the number of Levites, 47 take 2 oz 5 shekels per head, shekels of the sanctuary (20 gerahs to a shekel). 48 Give the ransom money to Aaron and his sons.”
49 Moses took the ransom money from the ones above the number ransomed by the Levites. 50 From the firstborn he took the money in shekels of the sanctuary (1,365 shekels 34 lbs) 51 and gave it to Aaron and his sons.
Num 3:40-51