Numbers 3:1-39 (New International Version)

The Levites

1 This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses¹ at the time the LORD talked with Moses on Mount Sinai.² 2 The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn³ and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.⁴ 3 Those were the names of Aaron's sons, the anointed priests,⁵ who were ordained to serve as priests. 4 Nadab and Abihu, however, fell dead before the LORD⁶ when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai.⁷ They had no sons; so only Eleazar and Ithamar⁸ served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.⁹ 5 The LORD said to Moses, 6 "Bring the tribe of Levi¹⁰ and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.¹¹ 7 They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community¹² at the Tent of Meeting by doing the work¹³ of the tabernacle. 8 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. 9 Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons;¹⁴ they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.^a 10 Appoint Aaron¹⁵ and his sons to serve as priests;¹⁶ anyone else who approaches the sanctuary must be put to death."¹⁷ 11 The LORD also said to Moses, 12 "I have taken the Levites¹⁸ from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring¹⁹ of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,²⁰ 13 for all the firstborn are mine.²¹ When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether man or animal. They are to be mine. I am the LORD."²² 14 The LORD said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,²³ 15 "Count²⁴ the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more."²⁵ 16 So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the LORD. 17 These were the names of the sons of Levi:²⁶ Gershon,²⁷ Kohath²⁸ and Merari.²⁹ 18 These were the names of the Gershonite clans: Libni and Shimei.³⁰ 19 The Kohathite clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.³¹ 20 The Merarite clans:³² Mahli and Mushi.³³ These were the Levite clans, according to their families. 21 To Gershon³⁴ belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;³⁵ these were the Gershonite clans. 22 The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500. 23 The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle.³⁶ 24 The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. 25 At the Tent of Meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle³⁷ and tent, its coverings,³⁸ the curtain at the entrance³⁹ to the Tent of Meeting,⁴⁰ 26 the curtains of the courtyard⁴¹, the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,⁴² and the ropes⁴³--and everything⁴⁴ related to their use. 27 To Kohath⁴⁵ belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;⁴⁶ these were the Kohathite⁴⁷ clans. 28 The number of all the males a month old or more⁴⁸ was "8,600.^b The Kohathites were responsible⁴⁹ for the care of the sanctuary.⁵⁰ 29 The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side⁵¹ of the tabernacle. 30 The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan⁵² son of Uzziel. 31 They were responsible for the care of the ark,⁵³ the table,⁵⁴ the lampstand,⁵⁵ the altars,⁵⁶ the articles⁵⁷ of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,⁵⁸ and everything related to their use.⁵⁹ 32 The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar⁶⁰ son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible⁶¹ for the care of the sanctuary.⁶² 33 To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;⁶³ these were the Merarite clans.⁶⁴ 34 The number of all the males a month old or more⁶⁵ who were counted was 6,200. 35 The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.⁶⁶ 36 The Merarites were appointed⁶⁷ to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,⁶⁸ its crossbars,⁶⁹ posts,⁷⁰ bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,⁷¹ 37 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard⁷² with their bases, tent pegs⁷³ and ropes. 38 Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east⁷⁴ of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the Tent of Meeting.⁷⁵ They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary⁷⁶ on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.⁷⁷ 39 The total number of Levites counted⁷⁸ at the LORD's command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.⁷⁹