This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses at the time the LORD spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai

The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar

Those were the names of Aaron's sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests

Nadab and Abihu, however, died before the LORD when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai. They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron

The LORD said to Moses

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

They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the tent of meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle

They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle

Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him

Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death

The LORD also said to Moses

I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine

for every firstborn is mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the LORD

The LORD said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai

Count the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more

So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the LORD

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

These were the names of the Gershonite clans: Libni and Shimei

The Kohathite clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel

The Merarite clans: Mahli and Mushi. These were the Levite clans, according to their families

To Gershon belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites; these were the Gershonite clans

The number of males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500

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

The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael

At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle and tent, its coverings, the curtain at the entrance to the tent of meeting

the curtains of the courtyard, the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, and the ropes—and everything related to their use

To Kohath belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites; these were the Kohathite clans

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

The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle

The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel

They were responsible for the care of the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain, and everything related to their use

The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible for the care of the sanctuary

To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites; these were the Merarite clans

The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 6,200

The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle

The Merarites were appointed to take care of the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts, bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use

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

Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death

The total number of Levites counted at the LORD's command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000

The LORD said to Moses: Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more and make a list of their names

Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the LORD

So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the LORD commanded him

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

The LORD also said to Moses

Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be mine. I am the LORD

To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites

collect five shekels per person, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs

Give the money for the redemption of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons

So Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites

From the firstborn of the Israelites he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel

Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the LORD