Numbers 3:1-13 ▼

1 And these [are] the generations of Aaron and Moses, in the day of YHWH’s speaking with Moses in Mount Sinai.

2 And these [are] the names of the sons of Aaron: the firstborn Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar;

3 these [are] the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whose hand he has consecrated for acting as priest.

4 And Nadab dies—Abihu also—before YHWH, in their bringing strange fire near before YHWH, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they did not have sons; and Eleazar—Ithamar also—acts as priest in the presence of their father Aaron.

5 And YHWH speaks to Moses, saying,

6 “Bring the tribe of Levi near, and you have caused it to stand before Aaron the priest, and they have served him,

7 and kept his charge, and the charge of all the congregation before the Tent of Meeting, to do the service of the Dwelling Place;

8 and they have kept all the vessels of the Tent of Meeting, and the charge of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the Dwelling Place;

9 and you have given the Levites to Aaron and to his sons; they are surely given to him out of the sons of Israel.

10 And you appoint Aaron and his sons, and they have kept their priesthood, and the stranger who comes near is put to death.”

11 And YHWH speaks to Moses, saying,

12 “And I, behold, have taken the Levites from the midst of the sons of Israel instead of every firstborn opening a womb among the sons of Israel, and the Levites have been Mine;

13 for every firstborn [is] Mine, in the day of My striking every firstborn in the land of Egypt I have sanctified to Myself every firstborn in Israel, from man to beast; they are Mine; I [am] YHWH.”