Numbers 2:10-3:51

New International Version

³⁴ So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.

The Levites

3 This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses^(AB) at the time the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.^(AC)

² The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn^(AD) and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.^{(AE) 3} Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests,^(AF) who were ordained to serve as priests. ⁴ Nadab and Abihu, however, died before the Lord^(AG) when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai.^(AH) They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar^(AI) served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.^(AJ)

⁵ The Lord said to Moses, ⁶ “Bring the tribe of Levi^(AK) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.^{(AL) 7} They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community^(AM) at the tent of meeting by doing the work^(AN) 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;^(AO) they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.^{[b] 10} Appoint Aaron^(AP) and his sons to serve as priests;^(AQ) anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”^(AR)

¹¹ The Lord also said to Moses, ¹² “I have taken the Levites^(AS) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring^(AT) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,^{(AU) 13} for all the firstborn are mine.^(AV) 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.”^(AW)

¹⁴ The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,^{(AX) 15} “Count^(AY) the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”^{(AZ) 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^(BI) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;^(BJ) 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.^{(BK) 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^(BL) and tent, its coverings,^(BM) the curtain at the entrance^(BN) to the tent of meeting,^{(BO) 26} the curtains of the courtyard^(BP), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,^(BQ) and the ropes^(BR)—and everything^(BS) related to their use.

²⁷ To Kohath^(BT) belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;^(BU) these were the Kohathite^(BV) clans. ²⁸ The number of all the males a month old or more^(BW) was 8,600.^[c] The Kohathites were responsible^(BX) for the care of the sanctuary.^{(BY) 29} The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side^(BZ) of the tabernacle. ³⁰ The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan^(CA) son of Uzziel. ³¹ They were responsible for the care of the ark,^(CB) the table,^(CC) the lampstand,^(CD) the altars,^(CE) the articles^(CF) of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,^(CG) and everything related to their use.^{(CH) 32} The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar^(CI) son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible^(CJ) for the care of the sanctuary.^(CK)

³³ To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;^(CL) these were the Merarite clans.^{(CM) 34} The number of all the males a month old or more^(CN) 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.^{(CO) 36} The Merarites were appointed^(CP) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,^(CQ) its crossbars,^(CR) posts,^(CS) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,^{(CT) 37} as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard^(CU) with their bases, tent pegs^(CV) and ropes.

³⁸ Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east^(CW) of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting.^(CX) They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary^(CY) on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.^(CZ)

³⁹ The total number of Levites counted^(DA) at the Lord’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.^(DB)

⁴⁰ The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more^(DC) and make a list of their names.^{(DD) 41} Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites,^(DE) and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord.”^(DF)

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,^(DG) listed by name, was 22,273.^(DH)

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.^(DI) I am the Lord.^{(DJ) 46} To redeem^(DK) the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, ⁴⁷ collect five shekels^[d](DL) for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel,^(DM) which weighs twenty gerahs.^{(DN) 48} Give the money for the redemption^(DO) of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”^(DP)

⁴⁹ So Moses collected the redemption money^(DQ) from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. ⁵⁰ From the firstborn of the Israelites^(DR) he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels,^[e](DS) 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.