Numbers 3:1-34 ▼

1 This is the list of Aaron and Moses' descendants at the time when the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai.

2 The names of Aaron's sons are Nadab (the firstborn), Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

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

4 Nadab and Abihu died in the LORD's presence because they offered unauthorized fire in his presence in the Desert of Sinai. They had no children. So only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

5 The LORD said to Moses,

6 |Bring the tribe of Levi, and have them stand in front of the priest Aaron to assist him.

7 They will work for him and the whole community in front of the tent of meeting, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent.

8 They will take care of all the furnishings in the tent of meeting and work for the Israelites, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent.

9 Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. The Levites will be the only Israelites given to them.

10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Anyone else who tries to do the priests' duties must be put to death.|

11 The LORD said to Moses,

12 |Out of all the Israelites, I have taken the Levites to be substitutes for every firstborn male offspring among them. The Levites are mine,

13 because every firstborn is mine. The day I killed every firstborn male in Egypt, I set apart as holy every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They will be mine. I am the LORD.|

14 The LORD said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,

15 |Count the Levites by households and families. Count every male who is at least one month old.|

16 So Moses did what the LORD said and registered them as he had been commanded.

17 Gershon, Kohath, and Merari were the sons of Levi.

18 Libni and Shimei were the sons of Gershon. Their families were named after them.

19 Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel were the sons of Kohath. Their families were named after them.

20 Mahli and Mushi were the sons of Merari. Their families were named after them. These were the households of Levite families.

21 To [Gershon] belonged the families descended from Libni and Shimei. These were the families descended from Gershon.

22 The total number of all the males at least one month old was 7,500.

23 The families descended from Gershon put up their tents on the west side behind the tent of meeting.

24 The leader of the Gershonite households was Eliasaph, son of Lael.

25 At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were in charge of the inner tent, the outer tent and cover, the screen for the entrance to the tent of meeting,

26 the curtains for the courtyard, the screen for the entrance to the courtyard that surrounds the inner tent and the altar, and the ropes. They took care of all these things.

27 To [Kohath] belonged the families descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. These were the families descended from Kohath.

28 The number of all the males at least one month old was 8,600. They were in charge of the holy place.

29 The families descended from Kohath put up their tents on the south side of the tent of meeting.

30 The leader of the Kohathite families and households was Elizaphan, son of Uzziel.

31 They were in charge of the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the utensils used in the holy place, and the screen. They took care of all these things.

32 The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar, son of the priest Aaron. It was Eleazar's duty to supervise those who were in charge of the holy place.

33 To [Merari] belonged the families descended from Mahli and Mushi. These were the families descended from Merari.

34 The total number of all the males at least one month old was 6,200.