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The LORD said to Aaron, "You will have no land or property of your own as the other Israelites will have. I am your possession and your property among the Israelites.
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"I am giving the Levites one-tenth of every Israelite's income. This is in return for the work they do at the tent of meeting.
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The other Israelites must never again come near the tent of meeting. Otherwise, they'll suffer the consequences of their sin and die.
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Only the Levites will do the work at the tent of meeting. They will be responsible for their own sins. This is a permanent law for future generations. They will own no property as the other Israelites will.
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Instead, I will give the Levites what the Israelites contribute to the LORD--one-tenth of the Israelites' income. This is why I said about them, 'They will own no property as the other Israelites do.'"
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The LORD said to Moses,
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"Speak to the Levites and say to them: You will take one-tenth of the Israelites' income which I'm giving you as your property. When you do, you must contribute one-tenth of that income as your contribution to the LORD.
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Your contribution will be considered to be grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress.
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So you, too, will contribute one-tenth of your income to the LORD out of all that you receive from the Israelites' income. You will give the LORD's contribution to the priest Aaron.
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Out of all the gifts you receive, you must contribute the best and holiest parts to the LORD.
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"Also tell them: When you contribute the best part, your contribution will be considered to be produce from the threshing floor or winepress.