47 The ancestral tribe of the Levites,(A) however, was not counted(B) along with the others. 48 The Lord had said to Moses: 49 “You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. 50 Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle(C) of the covenant law(D)—over all its furnishings(E) and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. 51 Whenever the tabernacle(F) is to move,(G) the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it.(H) Anyone else who approaches it is to be put to death.(I) 52 The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each of them in their own camp under their standard.(J) 53 The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle(K) of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall(L) on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law.(M)

54 The Israelites did all this just as the Lord commanded Moses.

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“Bring the tribe of Levi(A) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.(B) They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community(C) at the tent of meeting by doing the work(D) 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;(E) they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.[a] 10 Appoint Aaron(F) and his sons to serve as priests;(G) anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”(H)

11 The Lord also said to Moses, 12 “I have taken the Levites(I) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring(J) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,(K) 13 for all the firstborn are mine.(L) 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.”(M)

14 The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,(N) 15 “Count(O) the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”(P) 16 So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

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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

Isn’t it enough(A) for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them?(B)

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57 These were the Levites(A) who were counted by their clans:

through Gershon, the Gershonite clan;

through Kohath, the Kohathite clan;

through Merari, the Merarite clan.

58 These also were Levite clans:

the Libnite clan,

the Hebronite clan,

the Mahlite clan,

the Mushite clan,

the Korahite clan.

(Kohath was the forefather of Amram;(B) 59 the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed,(C) a descendant of Levi, who was born to the Levites[a] in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses(D) and their sister(E) Miriam.(F) 60 Aaron was the father of Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.(G) 61 But Nadab and Abihu(H) died when they made an offering before the Lord with unauthorized fire.)(I)

62 All the male Levites a month old or more numbered 23,000.(J) They were not counted(K) along with the other Israelites because they received no inheritance(L) among them.(M)

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 26:59 Or Jochebed, a daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi

At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi(A) to carry the ark of the covenant(B) of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister(C) and to pronounce blessings(D) in his name, as they still do today.(E)

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