Numbers — Chapter 3

1This is the account of Aaron and Moses at the time the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.

2These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, then Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

3These were Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests.

4Nadab and Abihu, however, died in the presence of the LORD when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai. And since they had no sons, only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

5Then the LORD said to Moses,

6“Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.

7They are to perform duties for him and for the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, attending to the service of the tabernacle.

8They shall take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting and fulfill obligations for the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle.

9Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they have been given exclusively to him from among the Israelites.

10So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.”

11Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

12“Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb. The Levites belong to Me,

13for all the firstborn are Mine. On the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They are Mine; I am the LORD.”

14Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying,

15“Number the Levites by their families and clans. You are to count every male a month old or more.”

16So Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he had been commanded.

17These were the sons of Levi by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

18These were the names of the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei.

19The sons of Kohath by their clans were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

20And the sons of Merari by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites, according to their families.

21From Gershon came the Libnite clan and the Shimeite clan; these were the Gershonite clans.

22The number of all the males a month old or more was 7,500.

23The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle,

24and the leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael.

25The duties of the Gershonites at the Tent of Meeting were the tabernacle and tent, its covering, the curtain for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,

26the curtains of the courtyard, the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and altar, and the cords—all the service for these items.

27From Kohath came the clans of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites; these were the clans of the Kohathites.

28The number of all the males a month old or more was 8,600. They were responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.

29The clans of the Kohathites were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle,

30and the leader of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.

31Their duties were the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used with them, and the curtain—all the service for these items.

32The chief of the leaders of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest; he oversaw those responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.

33From Merari came the clans of the Mahlites and Mushites; these were the Merarite clans.

34The number of all the males a month old or more was 6,200.

35The leader of the families of the Merarites was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.

36The duties assigned to the sons of Merari were the tabernacle’s frames, crossbars, posts, bases, and all its equipment—all the service for these items,

37as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes.

38Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.

39The total number of Levites that Moses and Aaron counted by their clans at the LORD’s command, including all the males a month old or more, was 22,000.

40Then the LORD said to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the Israelites a month old or more, and list their names.

41You are to take the Levites for Me—I am the LORD—in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites.”

42So Moses numbered all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the LORD had commanded him.

43The total number of the firstborn males a month old or more, listed by name, was 22,273.

44Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

45“Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites belong to Me; I am the LORD.

46To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites,

47you are to collect five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel of twenty gerahs.

48Give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the excess among the Israelites.”

49So Moses collected the redemption money from those in excess of the number redeemed by the Levites.

50He collected the money from the firstborn of the Israelites: 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel.

51And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons in obedience to the word of the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.

1These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai.

2And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

3These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office.

4And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father.

5And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

6Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.

7And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.

8And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

9And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.

10And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’s office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

11And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

12And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;

13Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.

14And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,

15Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.

16And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.

17And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.

18And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei.

19And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

20And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.

21Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.

22Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred.

23The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.

24And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.

25And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,

26And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.

27And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.

28In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.

29The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.

30And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.

31And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.

32And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.

33Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.

34And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.

35And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward.

36And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto,

37And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.

38But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

39All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

40And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

41And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.

42And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.

43And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.

44And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

45Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.

46And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites;

47Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:)

48And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.

49And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:

50Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:

51And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.

1Now these are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Jehovah spake with Moses in mount Sinai.

2And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the first-born, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

3These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests that were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest`s office.

4And Nadab and Abihu died before Jehovah, when they offered strange fire before Jehovah, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children; and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest`s office in the presence of Aaron their father.

5And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

6Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.

7And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle.

8And they shall keep all the furniture of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

9And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him on the behalf of the children of Israel.

10And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

11And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

12And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the first-born that openeth the womb among the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be mine:

13for all the first-born are mine; on the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the first-born in Israel, both man and beast; mine they shall be: I am Jehovah.

14And Jehovah spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,

15Number the children of Levi by their fathers` houses, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.

16And Moses numbered them according to the word of Jehovah, as he was commanded.

17And these were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.

18And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei.

19And the sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, and Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

20And the sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers` houses.

21Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites: these are the families of the Gershonites.

22Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred.

23The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tabernacle westward.

24And the prince of the fathers` house of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.

25And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting shall be the tabernacle, and the Tent, the covering thereof, and the screen for the door of the tent of meeting,

26and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.

27And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.

28According to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, there were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.

29The families of the sons of Kohath shall encamp on the side of the tabernacle southward.

30And the prince of the fathers` house of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.

31And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the screen, and all the service thereof.

32And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be prince of the princes of the Levites, [and have] the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.

33Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.

34And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.

35And the prince of the fathers` house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: they shall encamp on the side of the tabernacle northward.

36And the appointed charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the instruments thereof, and all the service thereof,

37and the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.

38And those that encamp before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrising, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

39All that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of Jehovah, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

40And Jehovah said unto Moses, Number all the first-born males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

41And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am Jehovah) instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel:

42and Moses numbered, as Jehovah commanded him, all the first-born among the children of Israel.

43And all the first-born males according to the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.

44And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

45Take the Levites instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am Jehovah.

46And for the redemption of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the first-born of the children of Israel, that are over and above [the number of] the Levites,

47thou shalt take five shekels apiece by the poll; after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs):

48and thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.

49And Moses took the redemption-money from them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites;

50from the first-born of the children of Israel took he the money, a thousand three hundred and threescore and five [shekels], after the shekel of the sanctuary:

51and Moses gave the redemption-money unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of Jehovah, as Jehovah commanded Moses.

1Now these are the records of Aaron and Moses when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.

2These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

3These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he consecrated to minister as priests.

4Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered strange fire before the Lord in the desert of Sinai, and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests in the presence of Aaron their father.

5The Lord spoke to Moses:

6“Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him.

7They are responsible for his needs and the needs of the whole community before the tent of meeting, by attending to the service of the tabernacle.

8And they are responsible for all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and for the needs of the Israelites, as they serve in the tabernacle.

9You are to assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they will be assigned exclusively to him out of all the Israelites.

10So you are to appoint Aaron and his sons, and they will be responsible for their priesthood, but the unauthorized person who comes near must be put to death.”

11Then the Lord spoke to Moses:

12“Look, I myself have taken the Levites from among the Israelites instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the Israelites. So the Levites belong to me,

13because all the firstborn are mine. When I destroyed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They belong to me. I am the Lord.”

14Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai:

15“Number the Levites by their clans and their families; every male from a month old and upward you are to number.”

16So Moses numbered them according to the word of the Lord, just as he had been commanded.

17These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

18These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei.

19The sons of Kohath by their families were: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

20The sons of Merari by their families were Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their clans.

21From Gershon came the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimeites; these were the families of the Gershonites.

22Those of them who were numbered, counting every male from a month old and upward, were 7,500.

23The families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle toward the west.

24Now the leader of the clan of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael.

25And the responsibilities of the Gershonites in the tent of meeting included the tabernacle, the tent with its covering, the curtain at the entrance of the tent of meeting,

26the hangings of the courtyard, the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard that surrounded the tabernacle and the altar, and their ropes, plus all the service connected with these things.

27From Kohath came the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites; these were the families of the Kohathites.

28Counting every male from a month old and upward, there were 8,600. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary.

29The families of the Kohathites were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle.

30Now the leader of the clan of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.

31Their responsibilities included the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, and the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, the curtain, and all their service.

32Now the head of all the Levitical leaders was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible for the sanctuary.

33From Merari came the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites; these were the families of Merari.

34Those of them who were numbered, counting every male from a month old and upward, were 6,200.

35Now the leader of the clan of the families of Merari was Zuriel son of Abihail. These were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.

36The appointed responsibilities of the Merarites included the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, its posts, its sockets, its utensils, plus all the service connected with these things,

37and the pillars of the courtyard all around, with their sockets, their pegs, and their ropes.

38But those who were to camp in front of the tabernacle on the east, in front of the tent of meeting, were Moses, Aaron, and his sons. They were responsible for the needs of the sanctuary and for the needs of the Israelites, but the unauthorized person who approached was to be put to death.

39All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered by the word of the Lord, according to their families, every male from a month old and upward, were 22,000.

40Then the Lord said to Moses, “Number all the firstborn males of the Israelites from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

41And take the Levites for me—I am the Lord—instead of all the firstborn males among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites.”

42So Moses numbered all the firstborn males among the Israelites, as the Lord had commanded him.

43And all the firstborn males, by the number of the names from a month old and upward, totaled 22,273.

44Then the Lord spoke to Moses:

45“Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn males among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. And the Levites will be mine. I am the Lord.

46And for the redemption of the 273 firstborn males of the Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites,

47collect five shekels for each one individually; you are to collect this amount in the currency of the sanctuary shekel (this shekel is 20 gerahs).

48And give the money for the redemption of the excess number of them to Aaron and his sons.”

49So Moses took the redemption money from those who were in excess of those redeemed by the Levites.

50From the firstborn males of the Israelites he collected the money, 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel.

51Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

1Now this is the history of the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Yahweh spoke with Moses in Mount Sinai.

2These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

3These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office.

4Nadab and Abihu died before Yahweh, when they offered strange fire before Yahweh, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the presence of Aaron their father.

5Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

6“Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.

7They shall keep his requirements, and the requirements of the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle.

8They shall keep all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, and the obligations of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

9You shall give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons. They are wholly given to him on the behalf of the children of Israel.

10You shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.”

11Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

12“Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be mine:

13for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I made holy to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal. They shall be mine. I am Yahweh.”

14Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,

15“Count the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families. You shall count every male from a month old and upward.”

16Moses counted them according to Yahweh’s word, as he was commanded.

17These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.

18These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei.

19The sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, and Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

20The sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers’ houses.

21Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites: these are the families of the Gershonites.

22Those who were counted of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those who were counted of them were seven thousand five hundred.

23The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tabernacle westward.

24The prince of the fathers’ house of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.

25The duty of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, its covering, and the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting,

26and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and around the altar, and its cords for all of its service.

27Of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.

28According to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, there were eight thousand six hundred, keeping the requirements of the sanctuary.

29The families of the sons of Kohath shall encamp on the south side of the tabernacle.

30The prince of the fathers’ house of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.

31Their duty shall be the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, and the screen, and all its service.

32Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be prince of the princes of the Levites, with the oversight of those who keep the requirements of the sanctuary.

33Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites. These are the families of Merari.

34Those who were counted of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand two hundred.

35The prince of the fathers’ house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They shall encamp on the north side of the tabernacle.

36The appointed duty of the sons of Merari shall be the tabernacle’s boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its instruments, all its service,

37the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, and their cords.

38Those who encamp before the tabernacle eastward, in front of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the requirements of the sanctuary for the duty of the children of Israel. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.

39All who were counted of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the commandment of Yahweh, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand.

40Yahweh said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

41You shall take the Levites for me (I am Yahweh) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the children of Israel.”

42Moses counted, as Yahweh commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.

43All the firstborn males according to the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those who were counted of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred seventy-three.

44Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

45“Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock; and the Levites shall be mine. I am Yahweh.

46For the redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who exceed the number of the Levites,

47you shall take five shekels apiece for each one; after the shekel of the sanctuary you shall take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs):

48and you shall give the money, with which their remainder is redeemed, to Aaron and to his sons.”

49Moses took the redemption money from those who exceeded the number of those who were redeemed by the Levites;

50from the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred sixty-five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:

51and Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and to his sons, according to Yahweh’s word, as Yahweh commanded Moses.