And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel. ] Gave up his right in the firstborn, and instead of them took the Levites for his use and service: see ( Numbers 3:12 ) .
16
“Of all the people of Israel, the Levites are reserved for me. I have claimed them for myself in place of all the firstborn sons of the Israelites; I have taken the Levites as their substitutes.
17
For all the firstborn males among the people of Israel are mine, both of people and of animals. I set them apart for myself on the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians.
18
Yes, I have claimed the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons of Israel.
19
And of all the Israelites, I have assigned the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They will serve in the Tabernacle on behalf of the Israelites and make sacrifices to purify the people so no plague will strike them when they approach the sanctuary.”
20
So Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel dedicated the Levites, carefully following all the LORD ’s instructions to Moses.