Numbers 3

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

This is the account concerning Aaron and Moses when the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai.

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

The names of the sons of Aaron were: Nadab (firstborn), Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

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

These were the names of Aaron's sons who were anointed and ordained to serve as priests.

4 Nadab 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.

Nadab and Abihu died in the Lord's presence when they offered forbidden fire before the Lord in the Sinai desert. Since they didn't have any sons, Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests while their father Aaron was alive.

5 Then the LORD said to Moses,

The Lord told Moses,

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

“Gather the tribe of Levi together and present them to Aaron the priest to help him with the ministry.

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

They are to carry out duties on his behalf and for all the Israelites at the Tent of Meeting, looking after the service of the Tabernacle.

8 They 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.

They are responsible for caring for all the furniture of the Tent of Meeting, serving the Israelites through what they do in the Tabernacle.

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

The Levites are to work exclusively for Aaron and his sons of because this is their assignment among the Israelites.

10 So 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.”

You are to appoint Aaron and his sons to have the responsibility of the priesthood. Anyone else who tries to act as a priest must be executed.”

11 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

The Lord told Moses,

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,

“I've taken the Levites from the Israelites in place of every one of their firstborn. The Levites belong to me

13 for 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.”

because all the firstborn are mine. When I killed every firstborn in Egypt I set apart as holy to me all the firstborn of Israel, human and animal. They are mine. I am the Lord.”

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

The Lord spoke to Moses in the Sinai desert. He told him,

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

“Register the Levites by their father's line and family. Count every male aged one month or older.”

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

So Moses registered them following the Lord's instructions, just as he had been told.

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

These were the names of Levi's sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

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

These were the names of the Gershon's sons by family: Libni and Shimei.

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

Kohath's sons by family were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

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

Merari's sons by family were Mahli and Mushi. These were the families of the Levites, according to their father's line.

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

The family of Libni and the family of Shimei came from Gershon. These were the families of Gershon.

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

The total of all males aged one month or older was 7,500.

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

The camp of families of Gerson was to the west, behind the Tabernacle.

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

The leader of the Gershon families was Eliasaph, son of Lael.

25 The 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,

Their assigned responsibility for the Tent of Meeting was to take care of the Tabernacle and tent, its covering, the curtain at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting,

26 the 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.

the courtyard curtains, the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the Tabernacle and altar, the ropes, and everything connected with their use.

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

The families of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel came from Kohath. These were the families of Kohath.

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

The total of all males aged one month or older was 8,600. Their assigned responsibility was to take care of the sanctuary.

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

The camp of families of Kohath was on the south side of the Tabernacle.

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

The leader of the Kohath families was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.

31 Their 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.

Their assigned responsibility was to care for the Ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used with them, the veil, and everything connected with these items.

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

The chief of the leaders of the Levites was Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest. He was in charge of those responsible for serving in the sanctuary.

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

The family of Mahli and the family of Mushi came from Merari. These were the families of Merari.

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

The total of all males aged one month or older was 6,200.

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

The leader of the Merari families was Zuriel, son of Abihail. Their camp was on the north side of the Tabernacle.

36 The 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,

Their assigned responsibility was to take care of the Tabernacle's frames, crossbars, posts, stands, all its equipment, and everything connected with their use,

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

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

38 Moses, 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.

The camp of Moses, Aaron, and Aaron's sons was to the east of the Tabernacle, in the direction of the sunrise, in front of the Tent of Meeting. They were responsible for the sanctuary on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who tried to act as a priest was to be executed.

39 The 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.

The sum total of Levites registered by Moses and Aaron as the Lord ordered was 22,000. This included all males aged one month or older.

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

The Lord told Moses, “Conduct a census of all the firstborn Israelite males aged one month or older, and register their names.

41 You 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.”

Assign the Levites to me. I am the Lord. They are in place of all of the Israelites' firstborn children. The livestock of the Levites are in place of all the Israelites' firstborn livestock.”

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

Moses conducted a census of all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the Lord had instructed him.

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

The sum total of the firstborn males a month old or more, registered by name, was 22,273.

44 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

The Lord spoke to Moses and told him,

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.

“You are to take the Levites in place of all the firstborn children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock, because the Levites belong to me. I am the Lord.

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

In order to buy back the 273 firstborn Israelites who are more than the number of Levites,

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

collect five shekels for each of them, (using the sanctuary shekel standard of twenty gerahs).

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

He handed the money over to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the extra Israelites.”

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

Moses collected the redemption money for those extra Israelites that were more than the number redeemed by the Levites.

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

He collected the money given on behalf of the Israelites' firstborn children. It came to 1,365 shekels, (using the sanctuary shekel standard).

51 And 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.

Moses gave this redemption money to Aaron and his sons as the Lord had told him to, following the Lord's instructions.