12 “Now behold, aI Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be bMine,
13 because aall the firstborn are Mine. bOn the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the Lord.”
Census of the Levites Commanded
14 Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying:
15 “Number the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families; you shall number aevery male from a month old and above.”
16 So Moses numbered them according to the1 word of the Lord, as he was commanded.
17aThese were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
18 And these are the names of the sons of aGershon by their families: bLibni and Shimei.
19 And the sons of aKohath by their families: bAmram, Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
20aAnd the sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their fathers’ houses.
21 From Gershon came the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimites; these were the families of the Gershonites.
22 Those who were numbered, according to the number of all the males from a month old and above—of those who were numbered therewere seven thousand five hundred.
23aThe families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle westward.
24 And the leader of the father’s house of the Gershonites was Eliasaph the son of Lael.
25aThe duties of the children of Gershon in the tabernacle of meeting includedbthe tabernacle, cthe tent with dits covering, the escreen for the door of the tabernacle of meeting,
26athe screen for the door of the court, bthe hangings of the court which are around the tabernacle and the altar, and ctheir cords, according to all the work relating to them.
27aFrom Kohath came the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites; these were the families of the Kohathites.
28 According to the number of all the males, from a month old and above, therewere eight thousand1 six hundred keeping charge of the sanctuary.
29aThe families of the children of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle.
30 And the leader of the fathers’ house of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan the son of aUzziel.
31aTheir duty includedbthe ark, cthe table, dthe lampstand, ethe altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, fthe screen, and all the work relating to them.
32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest wastobe chief over the leaders of the Levites, with oversight of those who kept charge of the sanctuary.
33 From Merari came the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites; these were the families of Merari.
NUMBERS. This book is so called because it contains an account of the enumeration and arrangement of the Israelites. The early part of it, from the first through the tenth chapters, appears to be a supplement to Leviticus, being occupied with relating the appointment of the Levites to the sacred offices. The journal of the march through the wilderness is then given as far as Numbers 21:20; after which the early incidents of the invasion are narrated. One direct quotation only from this book (Numbers 16:5) is made in the New Testament (II Timothy 2:19); but indirect references to it by the later sacred writers are very numerous.
Join 137,262+ readers
A Verse and a Thought, Every Morning
Consistent Bible study is hard to start.
The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.
Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.
