Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

The generations of Aaron and Moses were recorded on the day when the Lord spoke with Moses at Mount Sinai. The sons of Aaron are Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

These are the names of Aaron's sons who were anointed and consecrated to serve in the priestly office: Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered strange fire before Him in the wilderness of Sinai. It was then that Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the presence of Aaron their father.

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Bring near the tribe of Levi and set them before Aaron the priest so they may serve him." Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them before Aaron the priest. 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.

The Levites shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle and oversee the service of the congregation on behalf of the children of Israel. You shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons, who are wholly given to him out of the children of Israel. Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve in their priestly office, and anyone who approaches them will be put to death.

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "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, for all the firstborn are mine." For on the day I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both human and animal; they belong to me, for I am the Lord.

The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, "Count the children of Levi by their fathers' houses, by their families. Number the children of Levi after their fathers' households, counting every male from one month old and upward." Moses counted them according to the Lord's word, as he was commanded.

The sons of Levi are Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. The names of the sons of Gershon by their families are Libni and Shimei. The sons of Kohath by their families are Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. The sons of Merari by their families are Mahli and Mushi.

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

The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle to its west. The chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites is Eliasaph son of Lael. The charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, its tent, its covering, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

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

The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward. The chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites is Elizaphan son of Uzziel. The charge of those from the family of Merari shall be the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the sanctuary vessels with which they minister, the hanging, and all its service.

Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari. Those who were numbered among them, according to the number of all the males from a month old and upward, were six thousand two hundred.

The chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari is Zuriel son of Abihail, and they were to pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward. Under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari will be the boards, bars, pillars, sockets, and all the vessels of the tabernacle, along with everything that serves it.

The Lord said to Moses, "Count all the firstborn males of the Israelites from a month old and up, and record their names." You shall take the Levites in my place, 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.

Moses counted all the firstborn among the children of Israel, just as the Lord had commanded him. All the firstborn males, from a month old and upward, who were counted by name, totaled twenty-two thousand two hundred and sixty-three.

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Take 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." And in place of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen firstborn Israelites who are more than the Levites, those to be redeemed shall be taken from among the Levites.

You shall take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the sanctuary shekel of twenty gerahs. You shall give the money, with which the excess number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons. Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number of Levites, 1365 shekels according to the sanctuary shekel, and gave it to Aaron and his sons as the Lord had commanded.

Of the firstborn of the Israelites, he took 1,365 shekels after the sanctuary shekel. Moses gave the money from those who were redeemed to Aaron and his sons, in accordance with the word of the Lord as the Lord had commanded Moses.