Numbers 3

1 Now this is the history of the descendants of Aaron and Moses when Yahweh spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.

Now these are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Jehovah spoke with Moses in mount Sinai:

2 The names of Aaron's sons were Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

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

3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed and who were ordained to serve as priests.

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

4 But Nadab and Abihu fell dead before Yahweh when they offered to him unacceptable fire in the wilderness of Sinai. Nadab and Abihu had no children, so just Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests with Aaron their father.

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

5 Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,

And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

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

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

7 They must perform the duties on behalf of Aaron and the whole community before the tent of meeting. They must serve in the tabernacle.

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

8 They must care for all the furnishings in the tent of meeting, and they must help the tribes of Israel to carry out the tabernacle service.

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

9 You must give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They are wholly given to help him serve the people of Israel.

And thou shall give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons. They are wholly given to him on the behalf of the sons of Israel.

10 You must appoint Aaron and his sons as priests, but any foreigner who comes near must be put to death.”

And thou shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood. And the stranger who comes near shall be put to death.

11 Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,

And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

12 “Look, I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel. I have done this instead of taking each firstborn male who is born among the people of Israel. The Levites belong to me.

And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of all the firstborn who opens the womb among the sons of Israel. And the Levites shall be mine,

13 All the firstborn belong to me. On the day that I attacked all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both people and animals. They belong to me. I am Yahweh.”

for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be mine. I am Jehovah.

14 Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. He said,

And Jehovah spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,

15 “Count the descendants of Levi in each family, in their clans. Count every male who is one month old and older.”

Number the sons of Levi by their fathers' houses, by their families. Thou shall number them, every male from a month old and upward.

16 Moses counted them, following the word of Yahweh, just as he was commanded to do.

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

17 The names of Levi's sons were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

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

18 The clans coming from Gershon's sons were Libni and Shimei.

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

19 The clans coming from Kohath's sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

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

20 The clans coming from Merari's sons were Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites, listed clan by clan.

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

21 The clans of the Libnites and the Shimeites come from Gershon. These are the clans of the Gershonites.

Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites. These are the families of the Gershonites.

22 All the males from a month old and older were counted, totaling 7,500.

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

23 The clans of the Gershonites must camp on the west side of the tabernacle.

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

24 Eliasaph son of Lael must lead the clans of the descendants of the Gershonites.

And the ruler of the fathers' house of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.

25 The family of Gershon must care for the tent of meeting including the tabernacle. They must care for the tent, its covering, and the curtain used as the entrance to the tent of meeting.

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

26 They must care for the courtyard hangings, the curtain at the courtyard entrance—the courtyard that surrounds the sanctuary and the altar. They must care for the ropes of the tent of meeting and for everything in it.

and 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.

27 These clans come from Kohath: the clan of the Amramites, the clan of the Izharites, the clan of the Hebronites, and the clan of the Uzzielites. These clans belong to the Kohathites.

And 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.

28 8,600 males have been counted aged one month old and older to take care of the things that belong to Yahweh.

According 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.

29 The Kohath clans must camp on the south side of the tabernacle.

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

30 Elizaphan son of Uzziel must lead the clans of the Kohathites.

And the ruler of the fathers' house of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.

31 They must care for the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the holy things that are used in their service, the curtain, and all the work around it.

And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the lampstand, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, and the screen, and all the service thereof.

32 Eleazar son of Aaron the priest must lead the men who lead the Levites. He must supervise the men who care for the holy place.

And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be ruler of the rulers of the Levites, with the oversight of those who keep the charge of the sanctuary.

33 Two clans have come from Merari: the clan of the Mahlites and the clan of the Mushites. These clans have come from Merari.

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

34 6,200 males have been counted aged one month old and older.

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

35 Zuriel son of Abihail must lead the clans of Merari. They must camp on the north side of the tabernacle.

And the ruler 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.

36 The descendants of Merari must care for the framing of the tabernacle, the crossbars, posts, bases, all the hardware, and everything related to them, including

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

37 the pillars and posts of the courtyard that surround the tabernacle, with their sockets, pegs, and ropes.

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

38 Moses and Aaron and his sons must camp on the east side of the tabernacle, in front of the tent of meeting, toward the sunrise. They are responsible for the fulfillment of the duties of the sanctuary and the duties of the people of Israel. Any foreigner who approaches the sanctuary must be put to death.

And those who encamp before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the sons of Israel. And the stranger that comes near shall be put to death.

39 Moses and Aaron counted all the males in the clans of Levi who were aged one month old and older, just as Yahweh commanded. They counted twenty-two thousand men.

All who 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-two thousand.

40 Yahweh said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn males of the people of Israel who are aged one month old and older. List their names.

And Jehovah said to Moses, Number all the firstborn males of the sons of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

41 You must take the Levites for me—I am Yahweh—instead of all the firstborn of the people of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of the firstborn of the livestock of the descendants of Israel.”

And thou shall take the Levites for me (I am Jehovah) instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the sons of Israel.

42 Moses counted all the firstborn people of Israel as Yahweh had commanded him to do.

And Moses numbered, as Jehovah commanded him, all the firstborn among the sons of Israel.

43 He counted all the firstborn males by name, aged one month old and older. He counted 22,273 men.

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

44 Again, Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said,

And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

45 “Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and take the Levites' livestock instead of the people's livestock. The Levites belong to me—I am Yahweh.

Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. And the Levites shall be mine. I am Jehovah.

46 You must collect five shekels for the redemption of each of the 273 firstborn people of Israel who exceed the number of the Levites.

And for the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the sons of Israel, who are over and above the number of the Levites,

47 You must use the shekel of the sanctuary as your standard weight. The shekel equals twenty gerahs.

thou shall take five shekels apiece by the poll. According to the shekel of the sanctuary thou shall take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs),

48 You must give the price of redemption that you paid to Aaron and his sons.”

and thou shall give the money, with which the odd number of them is redeemed, to Aaron and to his sons.

49 So Moses collected the payment of redemption from those who exceeded the number of those redeemed by the Levites.

And Moses took the redemption-money from those who were over and above those who were redeemed by the Levites.

50 Moses collected the money from the firstborn of the people of Israel. He collected 1,365 shekels, weighing with the shekel of the sanctuary.

He took the money from the firstborn of the sons of Israel, a thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.

51 Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and to his sons. Moses did everything he was told to do by Yahweh's word, as Yahweh had commanded him.

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