Numbers 3:1-13 ▼

1 These are the family records of Aaron and Moses at the time the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.

2 These are the names of Aaron’s sons: Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

3 These are the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests.

4 But Nadab and Abihu died in the LORD’s presence when they presented unauthorized fire before the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests under the direction of Aaron their father.

5 The LORD spoke to Moses:

6 “ Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.

7 They are to perform duties for him and the entire community before the tent of meeting by attending to the service of the tabernacle.

8 They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting and perform duties for the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle.

9 Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they have been assigned exclusively to him from the Israelites .

10 You are to appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out their priestly responsibilities, but any unauthorized person who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”

11 The LORD spoke to Moses:

12 “ See, I have taken the Levites from the Israelites in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb. The Levites belong to Me,

13 because every firstborn belongs to Me. At the time I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated every firstborn in Israel to Myself, both man and animal. They are Mine ; I am Yahweh.”