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The Lord said to Moses,
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"The Levites are now to be mine. When I killed all the first-born of the Egyptians, I consecrated as my own the oldest son of each Israelite family and the first-born of every animal. Now, instead of having the first-born sons of Israel as my own, I have the Levites; they will belong to me. I am the Lord."
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In the Sinai Desert the Lord commanded Moses
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to register the Levites by clans and families, enrolling every male a month old or older,
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Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, who were the ancestors of the clans that bear their names. Gershon had two sons: Libni and Shimei; Kohath had four sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel; and Merari had two sons: Mahli and Mushi. They were the ancestors of the families that bear their names.
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The clan of Gershon was composed of the families of Libni and Shimei.
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The total number of males one month old or older that were enrolled was 7,500.
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This clan was to camp on the west behind the Tent,
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with Eliasaph son of Lael as chief of the clan.
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They were responsible for the Tent, its inner cover, its outer cover, the curtain for the entrance,
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the curtains for the court which is around the Tent and the altar, and the curtain for the entrance of the court. They were responsible for all the service connected with these items.
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The clan of Kohath was composed of the families of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
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The total number of males one month old or older that were enrolled was 8,600.
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This clan was to camp on the south side of the Tent,
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with Elizaphan son of Uzziel as chief of the clan.
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They were responsible for the Covenant Box, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the utensils the priests use in the Holy Place, and the curtain at the entrance to the Most Holy Place. They were responsible for all the service connected with these items.
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The chief of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He was in charge of those who carried out the duties in the Holy Place.
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The clan of Merari was composed of the families of Mahli and Mushi.
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The total number of males one month old or older that were enrolled was 6,200.
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This clan was to camp on the north side of the Tent, with Zuriel son of Abihail as chief of the clan.
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They were assigned responsibility for the frames for the Tent, its bars, posts, bases, and all its fittings. They were responsible for all the service connected with these items.
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They were also responsible for the posts, bases, pegs, and ropes for the outer court.
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Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp in front of the Tent on the east. They were responsible for carrying out the services performed in the Holy Place for the people of Israel. Anyone else who tried to do so was to be put to death.