Numbers 3-4 - Prayer Tents

Levites Appointed for Service

3This is the family line of Aaron and Moses as it was recorded when the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai.H8435H175H4872H3117H3068H1696H4872H2022H5514 2The names of Aaron's sons were Nadab (the oldest), Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.H8034H1121H175H5070H1060H30H499H385 3These sons of Aaron were anointed and ordained to minister as priests.H8034H1121H175H3548H4886H4390H3027H3547 4But Nadab and Abihu died in the LORD's presence in the wilderness of Sinai when they burned before the LORD the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. Since they had no sons, this left only Eleazar and Ithamar to serve as priests with their father, Aaron.H5070H30H4191H6440H3068H7126H2114H784H6440H3068H4057H5514H1121H499H385H3547H6440H175H1 5Then the LORD said to Moses,H3068H1696H4872H559 6"Call forward the tribe of Levi, and present them to Aaron the priest to serve as his assistants.H7126H4294H3878H7126H5975H6440H175H3548H8334 7They will serve Aaron and the whole community, performing their sacred duties in and around the Tabernacle.H8104H4931H4931H5712H6440H168H4150H5647H5656H4908 8They will also maintain all the furnishings of the sacred tent, serving in the Tabernacle on behalf of all the Israelites.H8104H3627H168H4150H4931H1121H3478H5647H5656H4908 9Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They have been given from among all the people of Israel to serve as their assistants.H5414H3881H175H1121H5414H1121H3478 10Appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood. But any unauthorized person who goes too near the sanctuary must be put to death."H6485H175H1121H8104H3550H2114H7131H4191 11And the LORD said to Moses,H3068H1696H4872H559 12"Look, I have chosen the Levites from among the Israelites to serve as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. The Levites belong to me,H3947H3881H8432H1121H3478H1060H6363H7358H1121H3478H3881 13for all the firstborn males are mine. On the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both of people and of animals. They are mine; I am the LORD."H1060H3117H5221H1060H776H4714H6942H1060H3478H120H929H3068

Registration of the Levites

14The LORD spoke again to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. He said,H3068H1696H4872H4057H5514H559 15"Record the names of the members of the tribe of Levi by their families and clans. List every male who is one month old or older."H6485H1121H3878H1004H1H4940H2145H2320H1121H4605H6485 16So Moses listed them, just as the LORD had commanded.H4872H6485H6310H3068H6680 17Levi had three sons, whose names were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.H1121H3878H8034H1648H6955H4847 18The clans descended from Gershon were named after two of his descendants, Libni and Shimei.H8034H1121H1648H4940H3845H8096 19The clans descended from Kohath were named after four of his descendants, Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.H1121H6955H4940H6019H3324H2275H5816 20The clans descended from Merari were named after two of his descendants, Mahli and Mushi. These were the Levite clans, listed according to their family groups.H1121H4847H4940H4249H4187H1992H4940H3881H1004H1 21The descendants of Gershon were composed of the clans descended from Libni and Shimei.H1648H4940H3846H4940H8097H4940H1649 22There were 7,500 males one month old or older among these Gershonite clans.H6485H4557H2145H2320H1121H4605H6485H7651H505H2568H3967 23They were assigned the area to the west of the Tabernacle for their camp.H4940H1649H2583H310H4908H3220 24The leader of the Gershonite clans was Eliasaph son of Lael.H5387H1004H1H1649H460H1121H3815 25These two clans were responsible to care for the Tabernacle, including the sacred tent with its layers of coverings, the curtain at its entrance,H4931H1121H1648H168H4150H4908H168H4372H4539H6607H168H4150 26the curtains of the courtyard that surrounded the Tabernacle and altar, the curtain at the courtyard entrance, the ropes, and all the equipment related to their use.H7050H2691H4539H6607H2691H4908H4196H5439H4340H5656 27The descendants of Kohath were composed of the clans descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.H6955H4940H6020H4940H3325H4940H2276H4940H5817H4940H6956 28There were 8,600 males one month old or older among these Kohathite clans. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary,H4557H2145H2320H1121H4605H8083H505H8337H3967H8104H4931H6944 29and they were assigned the area south of the Tabernacle for their camp.H4940H1121H6955H2583H3409H4908H8486 30The leader of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.H5387H1004H1H4940H6956H469H1121H5816 31These four clans were responsible for the care of the Ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the various articles used in the sanctuary, the inner curtain, and all the equipment related to their use.H4931H727H7979H4501H4196H3627H6944H8334H4539H5656 32Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, was the chief administrator over all the Levites, with special responsibility for the oversight of the sanctuary.H499H1121H175H3548H5387H5387H3881H6486H8104H4931H6944 33The descendants of Merari were composed of the clans descended from Mahli and Mushi.H4847H4940H4250H4940H4188H4940H4847 34There were 6,200 males one month old or older among these Merarite clans.H6485H4557H2145H2320H1121H4605H8337H505H3967 35They were assigned the area north of the Tabernacle for their camp. The leader of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail.H5387H1004H1H4940H4847H6700H1121H32H2583H3409H4908H6828 36These two clans were responsible for the care of the frames supporting the Tabernacle, the crossbars, the pillars, the bases, and all the equipment related to their use.H6486H4931H1121H4847H7175H4908H1280H5982H134H3627H5656 37They were also responsible for the posts of the courtyard and all their bases, pegs, and ropes.H5982H2691H5439H134H3489H4340 38The area in front of the Tabernacle, in the east toward the sunrise, was reserved for the tents of Moses and of Aaron and his sons, who had the final responsibility for the sanctuary on behalf of the people of Israel. Anyone other than a priest or Levite who went too near the sanctuary was to be put to death.H2583H6440H4908H6924H6440H168H4150H4217H4872H175H1121H8104H4931H4720H4931H1121H3478H2114H7131H4191 39When Moses and Aaron counted the Levite clans at the LORD's command, the total number was 22,000 males one month old or older.H6485H3881H4872H175H6485H6310H3068H4940H2145H2320H1121H4605H6242H8147H505

Redeeming the Firstborn Sons

40Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now count all the firstborn sons in Israel who are one month old or older, and make a list of their names.H3068H559H4872H6485H1060H2145H1121H3478H2320H1121H4605H5375H4557H8034 41The Levites must be reserved for me as substitutes for the firstborn sons of Israel; I am the LORD. And the Levites' livestock must be reserved for me as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the whole nation of Israel."H3947H3881H3068H1060H1121H3478H929H3881H1060H929H1121H3478 42So Moses counted the firstborn sons of the people of Israel, just as the LORD had commanded.H4872H6485H3068H6680H1060H1121H3478 43The number of firstborn sons who were one month old or older was 22,273.H1060H2145H4557H8034H2320H1121H4605H6485H6242H8147H505H3967H7657H7969 44Then the LORD said to Moses,H3068H1696H4872H559 45"Take the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. And take the livestock of the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the people of Israel. The Levites belong to me; I am the LORD.H3947H3881H1060H1121H3478H929H3881H929H3881H3068 46There are 273 more firstborn sons of Israel than there are Levites. To redeem these extra firstborn sons,H6302H3967H7657H7969H1060H1121H3478H5736H5921H3881 47collect five pieces of silver for each of them (each piece weighing the same as the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs).H3947H2568H8255H1538H8255H6944H3947H8255H6242H1626 48Give the silver to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the extra firstborn sons."H5414H3701H5736H6302H175H1121 49So Moses collected the silver for redeeming the firstborn sons of Israel who exceeded the number of Levites.H4872H3947H6306H3701H5736H6302H3881 50He collected 1,365 pieces of silver on behalf of these firstborn sons of Israel (each piece weighing the same as the sanctuary shekel).H1060H1121H3478H3947H3701H505H7969H3967H8346H2568H8255H6944 51And Moses gave the silver for the redemption to Aaron and his sons, just as the LORD had commanded.H4872H5414H3701H6302H6306H175H1121H6310H3068H3068H6680H4872

Duties of the Kohathite Clan

4Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,H3068H1696H4872H175H559 2"Record the names of the members of the clans and families of the Kohathite division of the tribe of Levi.H5375H7218H1121H6955H8432H1121H3878H4940H1004H1 3List all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are eligible to serve in the Tabernacle.H7970H8141H1121H4605H2572H8141H1121H935H6635H6213H4399H168H4150 4"The duties of the Kohathites at the Tabernacle will relate to the most sacred objects.H5656H1121H6955H168H4150H6944H6944 5When the camp moves, Aaron and his sons must enter the Tabernacle first to take down the inner curtain and cover the Ark of the Covenant with it.H4264H5265H175H935H1121H3381H4539H6532H3680H727H5715 6Then they must cover the inner curtain with fine goatskin leather and spread over that a single piece of blue cloth. Finally, they must put the carrying poles of the Ark in place.H5414H3681H8476H5785H6566H4605H899H3632H8504H7760H905 7"Next they must spread a blue cloth over the table where the Bread of the Presence is displayed, and on the cloth they will place the bowls, pans, jars, pitchers, and the special bread.H7979H6440H6566H899H8504H5414H7086H3709H4518H7184H5262H8548H3899 8They must spread a scarlet cloth over all of this, and finally a covering of fine goatskin leather on top of the scarlet cloth. Then they must insert the carrying poles into the table.H6566H899H8438H8144H3680H4372H8476H5785H7760H905 9"Next they must cover the lampstand with a blue cloth, along with its lamps, lamp snuffers, trays, and special jars of olive oil.H3947H899H8504H3680H4501H3974H5216H4457H4289H8081H3627H8334 10Then they must cover the lampstand and its accessories with fine goatskin leather and place the bundle on a carrying frame.H5414H3627H4372H8476H5785H5414H4132 11"Next they must spread a blue cloth over the gold incense altar and cover this cloth with fine goatskin leather. Then they must attach the carrying poles to the altar.H2091H4196H6566H899H8504H3680H4372H8476H5785H7760H905 12They must take all the remaining furnishings of the sanctuary and wrap them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine goatskin leather, and place them on the carrying frame.H3947H3627H8335H8334H6944H5414H899H8504H3680H4372H8476H5785H5414H4132 13"They must remove the ashes from the altar for sacrifices and cover the altar with a purple cloth.H1878H4196H6566H713H899 14All the altar utensils—the firepans, meat forks, shovels, basins, and all the containers—must be placed on the cloth, and a covering of fine goatskin leather must be spread over them. Finally, they must put the carrying poles in place.H5414H3627H8334H4289H4207H3257H4219H3627H4196H6566H3681H8476H5785H7760H905 15The camp will be ready to move when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the sacred articles. The Kohathites will come and carry these things to the next destination. But they must not touch the sacred objects, or they will die. So these are the things from the Tabernacle that the Kohathites must carry.H175H1121H3615H3680H6944H3627H6944H4264H5265H310H1121H6955H935H5375H5060H6944H4191H4853H1121H6955H168H4150 16"Eleazar son of Aaron the priest will be responsible for the oil of the lampstand, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. In fact, Eleazar will be responsible for the entire Tabernacle and everything in it, including the sanctuary and its furnishings."H6486H499H1121H175H3548H8081H3974H5561H7004H8548H4503H4888H8081H6486H4908H6944H3627 17Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,H3068H1696H4872H175H559 18"Do not let the Kohathite clans be destroyed from among the Levites!H3772H7626H4940H6956H8432H3881 19This is what you must do so they will live and not die when they approach the most sacred objects. Aaron and his sons must always go in with them and assign a specific duty or load to each person.H6213H2421H4191H5066H6944H6944H175H1121H935H7760H376H376H5656H4853 20The Kohathites must never enter the sanctuary to look at the sacred objects for even a moment, or they will die."H935H7200H6944H1104H4191

Duties of the Gershonite Clan

21And the LORD said to Moses,H3068H1696H4872H559 22"Record the names of the members of the clans and families of the Gershonite division of the tribe of Levi.H5375H7218H1121H1648H1004H1H4940 23List all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are eligible to serve in the Tabernacle.H7970H8141H1121H4605H2572H8141H1121H6485H935H6633H6635H5647H5656H168H4150 24"These Gershonite clans will be responsible for general service and carrying loads.H5656H4940H1649H5647H4853 25They must carry the curtains of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle itself with its coverings, the outer covering of fine goatskin leather, and the curtain for the Tabernacle entrance.H5375H3407H4908H168H4150H4372H4372H8476H4605H4539H6607H168H4150 26They are also to carry the curtains for the courtyard walls that surround the Tabernacle and altar, the curtain across the courtyard entrance, the ropes, and all the equipment related to their use. The Gershonites are responsible for all these items.H7050H2691H4539H6607H8179H2691H4908H4196H5439H4340H3627H5656H6213H5647 27Aaron and his sons will direct the Gershonites regarding all their duties, whether it involves moving the equipment or doing other work. They must assign the Gershonites responsibility for the loads they are to carry.H6310H175H1121H5656H1121H1649H4853H5656H6485H4931H4853 28So these are the duties assigned to the Gershonite clans at the Tabernacle. They will be directly responsible to Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.H5656H4940H1121H1649H168H4150H4931H3027H385H1121H175H3548

Duties of the Merarite Clan

29"Now record the names of the members of the clans and families of the Merarite division of the tribe of Levi.H1121H4847H6485H4940H1004H1 30List all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are eligible to serve in the Tabernacle.H7970H8141H1121H4605H2572H8141H1121H6485H935H6635H5647H5656H168H4150 31"Their only duty at the Tabernacle will be to carry loads. They will carry the frames of the Tabernacle, the crossbars, the posts, and the bases;H4931H4853H5656H168H4150H7175H4908H1280H5982H134 32also the posts for the courtyard walls with their bases, pegs, and ropes; and all the accessories and everything else related to their use. Assign the various loads to each man by name.H5982H2691H5439H134H3489H4340H3627H5656H8034H6485H3627H4931H4853 33So these are the duties of the Merarite clans at the Tabernacle. They are directly responsible to Ithamar son of Aaron the priest."H5656H4940H1121H4847H5656H168H4150H3027H385H1121H175H3548

Summary of the Registration

34So Moses, Aaron, and the other leaders of the community listed the members of the Kohathite division by their clans and families.H4872H175H5387H5712H6485H1121H6956H4940H1004H1 35The list included all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle,H7970H8141H1121H4605H2572H8141H1121H935H6635H5656H168H4150 36and the total number came to 2,750.H6485H4940H505H7651H3967H2572 37So this was the total of all those from the Kohathite clans who were eligible to serve at the Tabernacle. Moses and Aaron listed them, just as the LORD had commanded through Moses.H6485H4940H6956H5647H168H4150H4872H175H6485H6310H3068H3027H4872 38The Gershonite division was also listed by its clans and families.H6485H1121H1648H4940H1004H1 39The list included all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle,H7970H8141H1121H4605H2572H8141H1121H935H6635H5656H168H4150 40and the total number came to 2,630.H6485H4940H1004H1H505H8337H3967H7970 41So this was the total of all those from the Gershonite clans who were eligible to serve at the Tabernacle. Moses and Aaron listed them, just as the LORD had commanded.H6485H4940H1121H1648H5647H168H4150H4872H175H6485H6310H3068 42The Merarite division was also listed by its clans and families.H6485H4940H1121H4847H4940H1004H1 43The list included all the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle,H7970H8141H1121H4605H2572H8141H1121H935H6635H5656H168H4150 44and the total number came to 3,200.H6485H4940H7969H505H3967 45So this was the total of all those from the Merarite clans who were eligible for service. Moses and Aaron listed them, just as the LORD had commanded through Moses.H6485H4940H1121H4847H4872H175H6485H6310H3068H3027H4872 46So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel listed all the Levites by their clans and families.H6485H3881H4872H175H5387H3478H6485H4940H1004H1 47All the men between thirty and fifty years of age who were eligible for service in the Tabernacle and for its transportationH7970H8141H1121H4605H2572H8141H1121H935H5647H5656H5656H4853H168H4150 48numbered 8,580.H6485H8083H505H2568H3967H8084 49When their names were recorded, as the LORD had commanded through Moses, each man was assigned his task and told what to carry. And so the registration was completed, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.H6310H3068H6485H3027H4872H376H376H5656H4853H6485H3068H6680H4872