Numbers 8:16-26 ▼

16 For they are wholly given to me as a gift from among the children of Israel; instead of all that open the womb, even instead of the first-born of all the children of Israel, have I taken them to me.

17 For all the first-born of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast; on the day that I smote every first-born in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.

18 And I have taken the Levites for all the first-born of the children of Israel.

19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation and to make an atonement for the children of Israel, that there be no plague among the children of Israel when they come near to the sanctuary.

20 And Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel did to the Levites according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites; so did the children of Israel to them.

21 And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them and cleansed them.

22 And after that the Levites went in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron and before his sons; as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did unto them the children of Israel.

23 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

24 This shall be the law for the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall go in to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation;

25 And from the age of fifty years they shall cease from the service and shall serve no more,

26 But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation to keep guard, and shall do no service. Thus shall you do to the Levites concerning their charge.