Numbers 3-4

New International Version

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.

The Kohathites

4 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ² “Take a census^(CS) of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. ³ 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.

⁴ “This is the work^(CV) of the Kohathites^(CW) at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.^{(CX) 5} 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) 6} 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.

⁷ “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. ⁸ They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles^(DG) in place.

⁹ “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.