Numbering the Levites and Their Jobs |
Numbers 3:1-51 The Fourth Book of Moses Called Numbers |
These are also the generations of Aaron & Moses, [when] the Lord spoke with Moses [on] Mount Sinai. These are the names of [Aaron’s] sons [who] were anointed as priests & consecrated to minister in the priest’s office: Nadab the firstborn, Abihu, Eleazar & Ithamar. |
Nadab & Abihu died before the Lord, when they offered strange fire before the Lord [that wasn’t of the holy fire of the altar,] in the Wilderness of Sinai. They had no children. [So] Eleazar & Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in their father [Aaron’s] sight. |
The Lord [spoke] to Moses & said, Bring the tribe of Levi near & present them before Aaron, the priest, [so] they may minister to him. They shall [assist] him & [perform the duties of] Aaron & [duties for] the whole congregation & do the service of the tabernacle. |
They shall [also care for] the instruments [things used in] the tabernacle of the congregation & do the service [in] the tabernacle [on behalf of the Israelites.] You shall [totally] give the Levites to Aaron & his sons [from] the children [people] of Israel [to assist them.] |
You shall appoint Aaron & his sons to [serve] in the priest’s office & any stranger [who] comes near [the sanctuary] shall be put to death. The Lord [spoke] to Moses, saying, I have taken the Levites from among the [Israelites in place of] the firstborn [sons of the Israelites.] |
Therefore, the Levites shall be Mine, [because of] the day I [struck] all the firstborn in the land of Egypt & I [sanctified to Myself] all the firstborn in Israel, [of] both man & [animals.] They shall be Mine. I am the Lord. |
The Lord [spoke] to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying, Number [count] the children [people] of Levi, [according] to their [father’s houses,] by their families. [Count] every male 1 year old & [older.] Moses [counted] them as he was commanded, according to the Word of the Lord. |
[Levi’s] sons were named; Gershon, Kohath & Merari. The names of [Gershon’s] sons by their families [were]: Libni & Shimei. [Kohath’s] sons by their families; Amram, Izehar, Hebron & Uzziel. [Merari’s] sons by their families; Mahli & Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their [father’s] house. |
Of Gershon [were the families of:] Libnites & Shimites, the families of the Gershonites & their males 1 month & [older] of [those counted] were 7,500. The families of the Gershonites shall pitch [their tents] behind the tabernacle westward & Eliasaph, [Lael’s] son, shall be [their] chief. |
[Gershon’s] sons are [in] charge [of] the tabernacle, tent & [its] covering & hanging [curtains] for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, the [decorative] hangings [for] the [courtyard] & the door of the court by the tabernacle & around the altar, the cords [ropes] of it & all [related to it.] |
Of Kohath [were the families of:] the Amramites, Izeharites, Hebronites & the Uzzielites, the families of the Kohathites & their males 1 month & [older] of [those counted] were 8,600, [taking care of] the sanctuary. |
The families of the Kohathies shall pitch [their tents] on the south side of the tabernacle & Elizaphan, [Uzziel’s] son, shall be [their] chief. [They are in] charge [of the:] Ark, the table, candlestick, altars, vessels [articles] of the sanctuary [used to] minister, the [hangings] & all the service [of it.] |
Eleazar, [Aaron’s] son, the priest, shall be chief [administrator] over [all] the chief Levites & have the oversight of [those in] charge of the sanctuary. Of Merari [were the families of:] Mahlites & Mushites & the families of the Merari & their males 1 month & [older] of [those counted] were 6,200. |
Zuriel, [Abihail’s] son, shall be chief of the families of Merari & they shall pitch [their tents on] the north [side] of the tabernacle. [Merari’s] sons [are in] charge [of:] the boards, bars, pillars, [& pillars around the courtyard,] sockets, pins & cords [to set up/take down the tabernacle] & all the vessels [furniture] [of it] & all [that relates to it.] |
Moses & Aaron & his sons shall pitch [their tents] before the tabernacle of the congregation on the east [side.] [They are in] charge of the sanctuary, the children [people] of Israel & [any] stranger [who come near the sanctuary who] shall be put to death. |
Moses & Aaron [counted,] at the Lord’s [command] all the male Levites 1 month & [older] throughout their families [which totaled:] 22,000. The Lord said to Moses, [Count] all the firstborn males of the [people] of Israel 1 month & [older] & [record] the number of their names. |
(I am the Lord.) You shall take the Levites for Me, instead of all the firstborn [of] the children [people] of Israel. [Take] the cattle of the Levites instead of all the [firstborn] cattle of the [people] of Israel. |
Moses [counted] all the firstborn males [of] the [people] of Israel 1 month & [older,] as the Lord commanded him & there were 22,273. The Lord [spoke] to Moses, saying, Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn [of] the [people] of Israel & the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. The Levites shall be Mine. I am the Lord. |
For those [who] are to be redeemed of the 273 of the first born Israelites [22,273-22,200=273] which [exceeds] the [amount] of Levites, you shall take 5 shekels for [each person] according to the shekel of the sanctuary: (the shekel is 20 gerahs). |
You shall give the money for [redeeming the extra 273 Israelites] to Aaron & his sons. Moses took the redemption money of the [273 who] exceeded the [amount of] Levites. |
[Moses collected] 1,365 shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, of the [273] firstborn of the [people] of Israel. Moses gave the money of [those] redeemed to Aaron & his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses. |