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Numbers 2:33
But the Levites weren’t counted along with the other men of Israel. That’s what the Lord had commanded Moses.
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Numbers 26:57-62
Here are the names of the Levites. They are listed by their families. The Gershonite family came from Gershon. The Kohathite family came from Kohath. The Merarite family came from Merari.Here are the names of the other Levite families. They are the Libnite family, the Hebronite family, the Mahlite family, the Mushite family, the Korahite family. Amram came from the Kohathite family.The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed. She was from the family line of Levi. She was born to the Levites in Egypt. Aaron, Moses and their sister Miriam were born in the family line of Amram and Jochebed.Aaron was the father of Nadab and Abihu. He was also the father of Eleazar and Ithamar.But Nadab and Abihu made an offering to the Lord by using fire that wasn’t allowed. So they died.The number of male Levites a month old or more was 23,000. They weren’t listed along with the other men of Israel. That’s because they didn’t receive a share among them.
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Numbers 3:1-4:49
Here is the story of the family line of Aaron and Moses. It belongs to the time when the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.Aaron’s oldest son was Nadab. Aaron’s other sons were Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.Those were the names of Aaron’s sons. They were the anointed priests. They were given authority to serve the Lord as priests.But Nadab and Abihu made an offering to the Lord by using fire that wasn’t allowed. So they died in front of him. That happened in the Desert of Sinai. They didn’t have any sons. Only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests while their father Aaron was living.The Lord spoke to Moses. He said,“ Bring the men of the tribe of Levi to Aaron the priest. They will help him.They must work at the tent of meeting for Aaron and for the whole community. They must do what needs to be done at the holy tent.They must take care of everything connected with the tent of meeting. When they do, they are acting for all the Israelites.Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They are the men of Israel who must be given completely to him.Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Anyone else who approaches the sacred tent must be put to death.”The Lord also said to Moses,“ I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites. I have taken them in place of the son born first to each woman in Israel. The Levites belong to me.That’s because every male born first to a mother is mine. In Egypt I struck down all the males born first. I did it when I set apart for myself every male born first to a mother in Israel. That is true for men and animals alike. They belong to me. I am the Lord.”The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai. He said,“ Count the Levites by their family groups. Count every male a month old or more.”So Moses counted them. He did just as the word of the Lord had commanded him.The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath and Merari.The major families from Gershon were Libni and Shimei.The major families from Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.The major families from Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the major families of the Levites.The families of Libni and Shimei belonged to the family of Gershon.All the males a month old or more were counted. There were 7,500 of them.The families of Gershon had to camp on the west side. They had to camp behind the holy tent.The leader of the families of Gershon was Eliasaph, the son of Lael.Here are the duties of the families of Gershon at the tent of meeting. They were responsible for taking care of the holy tent and its coverings. They took care of the curtain at the entrance to the tent of meeting.They took care of the curtains of the courtyard. And they took care of the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. The courtyard was all around the holy tent and altar. The families of Gershon also took care of the ropes. In fact, they had to take care of everything connected with the use of all those things.The families of Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel belonged to the family of Kohath.All the males a month old or more were counted. There were 8,600 of them. The families of Kohath were responsible for taking care of the sacred tent.They had to camp on the south side of the holy tent.The leader of the families of Kohath was Elizaphan, the son of Uzziel.They were responsible for taking care of the ark of the covenant law. They took care of the table for the holy bread. They took care of the lampstand and the two altars. They took care of the things used for serving in the sacred tent. They also took care of the inner curtain. In fact, they had to take care of everything connected with the use of all those things.The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar. He was the son of Aaron the priest. Eleazar was appointed over those responsible for taking care of the sacred tent.The families of Mahli and Mushi belonged to the family of Merari.All the males a month old or more were counted. There were 6,200 of them.The leader of the families of Merari was Zuriel, the son of Abihail. The families of Merari had to camp on the north side of the holy tent.They were responsible for taking care of the frames of the tent. They took care of its crossbars, posts and bases. They took care of all its supplies. In fact, they had to take care of everything connected with the use of all those things.They also took care of the posts of the courtyard around the holy tent. And they took care of the bases, tent stakes and ropes.Moses, Aaron and Aaron’s sons had to camp to the east of the holy tent. They had to camp toward the sunrise in front of the tent of meeting. They were responsible for taking care of the sacred tent. They had to do it for the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the tent would be put to death.The total number of the Levite males was 22,000. They were counted family by family. Every male a month old or more was counted. Moses and Aaron counted them, just as the Lord had commanded.The Lord said to Moses,“ Count all the Israelite males born first in their families. Count all those a month old or more. Make a list of their names.Take the Levites for me in their place. And take the livestock of the Levites in place of all the male animals in Israel born first to their mothers. I am the Lord.”So Moses counted all the oldest sons in Israel. He did just as the Lord had commanded him.There were 22,273 of those sons a month old or more. They were listed by name.The Lord also said to Moses,“ Take the Levites in place of all the males born first in Israel. Also take the livestock of the Levites in place of the livestock of Israel. The Levites belong to me. I am the Lord.But there are 273 more males born first in Israel than there are male Levites.Collect two ounces of silver for each of them. Weigh it out according to the standard weights used in the sacred tent.Give the silver to Aaron and his sons. It will buy the freedom of the additional sons in Israel.”So Moses collected the silver from the additional sons in Israel to buy their freedom. The Levites took the place of all the others.Moses collected 35 pounds of silver. It was weighed out according to the weights used in the sacred tent. Moses collected it from the oldest sons in Israel.He gave the silver to Aaron and his sons. He did just as the Lord had commanded him.The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,“ Count the Levites who belong to the families of Kohath. Make a list of them family by family.Count all the men 30 to 50 years old. Those are the men who must come and serve at the tent of meeting.“ Here is the work the men of Kohath must do at the tent of meeting. They must take care of the things that are very holy.When the camp is ready to move, Aaron and his sons must go into the tent. They must take down the curtain that hides the ark where the tablets of the covenant law are kept. They must cover the ark with the curtain.Then they must cover that with strong leather. They must spread a solid blue cloth over the leather. And they must put the poles in place.“ They must spread a blue cloth over the table for the holy bread. They must put the plates, dishes and bowls on the cloth. They must also put the jars for drink offerings on it. The bread that is always kept there must remain on it.They must spread a bright red cloth over everything. Then they must cover that with the strong leather. And they must put the poles of the table in place.“ They must get a blue cloth. With it they must cover the lampstand that gives light. They must also cover its lamps, trays and wick cutters. And they must cover all its jars. The jars are for the olive oil used in the lampstand.Then Aaron and his sons must wrap the lampstand and all the things used with it. They must cover it with the strong leather. And they must put it on a frame to carry it.“ They must spread a blue cloth over the gold altar for burning incense. They must cover that with the strong leather. And they must put the poles of the altar in place.“ They must get all the things used for serving in the sacred tent. They must wrap them in a blue cloth. They must cover that with the strong leather. Then they must put those things on a frame to carry them.“ They must remove the ashes from the bronze altar for burnt offerings. They must spread a purple cloth over it.Then they must place all the tools on it. The tools are used for serving at the altar. They include the pans for carrying ashes. They also include the meat forks, shovels and sprinkling bowls. Aaron and his sons must cover the altar with the strong leather. And they must put its poles in place.“ Aaron and his sons must cover all the holy things that belong to the holy tent. Only then are the men of Kohath to come and carry everything. They must do so only when the camp is ready to move. But they must not touch the holy things. If they do, they will die. The men of Kohath must carry everything in the tent of meeting.“ Eleazar the priest will be in charge of the olive oil for the light. He is the son of Aaron. Eleazar will be in charge of the sweet- smelling incense. He will be in charge of the regular grain offering and the anointing oil. He will be in charge of the entire holy tent. He will also be in charge of everything in it. That includes all the things that belong to the tent.”The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said,“ Make sure that the Kohath families are not destroyed from among the Levites.I want them to live and not die when they come near the very holy things. So here is what you must do for them. Aaron and his sons must go into the sacred tent and tell each man what to do. They must tell each man what to carry.But the men of Kohath must not go in and look at the holy things. They must not look at them even for a moment. If they do, they will die.”The Lord said to Moses,“ Count the families of Gershon. Make a list of them family by family.Count all the men 30 to 50 years old. Those are the men who must come and serve at the tent of meeting.“ Here is how the families of Gershon must serve. They must carry things.They must carry the curtains of the holy tent of meeting. They must carry its covering and the outside covering of strong leather. They must carry the curtains that cover the entrance to the tent of meeting.They must carry the curtains of the courtyard. The courtyard is all around the holy tent and altar. They must carry the curtain for the entrance. They must carry the ropes. They must also carry all the supplies used for any purpose in the tent. The families of Gershon must do everything that needs to be done with those things.All their work must be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons. That includes carrying and everything else they do. Aaron and his sons must tell them what to carry. And that will be their work.It is what the families of Gershon must do at the tent of meeting. They must work under the direction of Ithamar the priest. He is the son of Aaron.“ Count the families of Merari. Count them family by family.Count all the men 30 to 50 years old. Those are the men who must come and serve at the tent of meeting.Here is the work they must do at the tent of meeting. They must carry the frames of the holy tent. They must carry its crossbars, posts and bases.They must also carry the posts of the courtyard. The courtyard is all around the holy tent. And they must carry the bases for the posts as well as their tent stakes and ropes. They must also carry all the supplies and everything connected with their use. Tell each man exactly what to carry.That is the work the families of Merari must do at the tent of meeting. They must work under the direction of Ithamar the priest. He is the son of Aaron.”Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the men of Kohath. They counted them family by family.They counted all the men from 30 to 50 years old. They were the men who came and served at the tent of meeting.There were 2,750 men. They were counted family by family.That was the total of all the men in the families of Kohath who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them. They did just as the Lord had commanded through Moses.The men of Gershon were counted family by family.All the men from 30 to 50 years old were counted. They were the men who came and served at the tent of meeting.There were 2,630 men. They were counted family by family.That was the total of the men in the families of Gershon who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them. They did just as the Lord had commanded.The men of Merari were counted family by family.All the men from 30 to 50 years old were counted. They were the men who came and served at the tent of meeting.There were 3,200 men. They were counted family by family.That was the total of the men in the families of Merari. Moses and Aaron counted them. They did just as the Lord had commanded through Moses.So Moses and Aaron counted all the Levites. The leaders of Israel helped them. They counted the Levites family by family.All the men from 30 to 50 years old were counted. They were the men who came and served at the tent of meeting. They were also supposed to carry it.The total number of men was 8,580.Everything was done as the Lord had commanded through Moses. Each man was given his work. And each one was told what to carry. So they were counted, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
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1 Chronicles 6 1-1 Chronicles 6 81
The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath and Merari.The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.Aaron, Moses and Miriam were born into the family line of Amram. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.Eleazar was the father of Phinehas. Phinehas was the father of Abishua.Abishua was the father of Bukki. Bukki was the father of Uzzi.Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah. Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth.Meraioth was the father of Amariah. Amariah was the father of Ahitub.Ahitub was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz.Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah. Azariah was the father of Johanan.Johanan was the father of Azariah. Azariah served as priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem.Azariah was the father of Amariah. Amariah was the father of Ahitub.Ahitub was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Shallum.Shallum was the father of Hilkiah. Hilkiah was the father of Azariah.Azariah was the father of Seraiah. And Seraiah was the father of Jozadak.Jozadak was taken away from his own land. The Lord took the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the land of Babylon. He used Nebuchadnezzar to take them there as prisoners.The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath and Merari.The names of the sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei.The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. Here are the members of the family groups of the Levites. They are listed under the names of their fathers.Gershon was the father of Libni. Jahath was Libni’s son. Zimmah was Jahath’s son.Joah was Zimmah’s son. Iddo was Joah’s son. Zerah was Iddo’s son. And Jeatherai was Zerah’s son.The family line of Kohath included his son Amminadab. Korah was Amminadab’s son. Assir was Korah’s son.Elkanah was Assir’s son. Ebiasaph was Elkanah’s son. Assir was Ebiasaph’s son.Tahath was Assir’s son. Uriel was Tahath’s son. Uzziah was Uriel’s son. And Shaul was Uzziah’s son.The family line of Elkanah included his son Amasai. Amasai was the father of Ahimoth.Elkanah was Ahimoth’s son. Zophai was Elkanah’s son. Nahath was Zophai’s son.Eliab was Nahath’s son. Jeroham was Eliab’s son. Elkanah was Jeroham’s son. And Samuel was Elkanah’s son.The sons of Samuel were his first son Joel and his second son Abijah.The family line of Merari included his son Mahli. Libni was Mahli’s son. Shimei was Libni’s son. Uzzah was Shimei’s son.Shimea was Uzzah’s son. Haggiah was Shimea’s son. And Asaiah was Haggiah’s son.Here are the Levites David put in charge of the music in the house of the Lord. He did it after the ark was placed there.The men used their music to serve in front of the holy tent, the tent of meeting. They served there until Solomon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They did their work according to the rules they had been given.Here are the men who served. The list also includes their sons. The family line of Kohath included Heman. He led the music. He was the son of Joel. Joel was the son of Samuel.Samuel was the son of Elkanah. Elkanah was the son of Jeroham. Jeroham was the son of Eliel. Eliel was the son of Toah.Toah was the son of Zuph. Zuph was the son of Elkanah. Elkanah was the son of Mahath. Mahath was the son of Amasai.Amasai was the son of Elkanah. Elkanah was the son of Joel. Joel was the son of Azariah. Azariah was the son of Zephaniah.Zephaniah was the son of Tahath. Tahath was the son of Assir. Assir was the son of Ebiasaph. Ebiasaph was the son of Korah.Korah was the son of Izhar. Izhar was the son of Kohath. Kohath was the son of Levi. And Levi was the son of Israel.Heman had a relative named Asaph. Asaph served as Heman’s helper at his right side. Asaph was the son of Berekiah. Berekiah was the son of Shimea.Shimea was the son of Michael. Michael was the son of Baaseiah. Baaseiah was the son of Malkijah.Malkijah was the son of Ethni. Ethni was the son of Zerah. Zerah was the son of Adaiah.Adaiah was the son of Ethan. Ethan was the son of Zimmah. Zimmah was the son of Shimei.Shimei was the son of Jahath. Jahath was the son of Gershon. And Gershon was the son of Levi.Here are the Levites in the family line of Merari who served as Heman’s helpers at his left side. They were relatives of the Kohathites. Ethan was the son of Kishi. Kishi was the son of Abdi. Abdi was the son of Malluk.Malluk was the son of Hashabiah. Hashabiah was the son of Amaziah. Amaziah was the son of Hilkiah.Hilkiah was the son of Amzi. Amzi was the son of Bani. Bani was the son of Shemer.Shemer was the son of Mahli. Mahli was the son of Mushi. Mushi was the son of Merari. And Merari was the son of Levi.The rest of the Levites were appointed to do all the other work at the holy tent. It was the house of God.Aaron and his sons after him brought the offerings. They sacrificed them on the altar of burnt offering. They also burned incense on the altar of incense. That was part of what they did in the Most Holy Room. That’s how they paid for the sin of Israel. They did everything just as Moses, the servant of God, had commanded.Here are the members of the family line of Aaron. Eleazar was Aaron’s son. Phinehas was Eleazar’s son. Abishua was Phinehas’s son.Bukki was Abishua’s son. Uzzi was Bukki’s son. Zerahiah was Uzzi’s son.Meraioth was Zerahiah’s son. Amariah was Meraioth’s son. Ahitub was Amariah’s son.Zadok was Ahitub’s son. And Ahimaaz was Zadok’s son.Here were the places where they made their homes. These places were given to them as their territory. Some were given to the children of Aaron who were from the family group of Kohath. They were given out by casting lots. The first lot was for Kohath.In Judah the Kohathites were given Hebron. They also received the grasslands around Hebron.But the fields and villages around the city were given to Caleb, the son of Jephunneh.So the people in the family line of Aaron received Hebron. It was a city where people could go for safety. Aaron’s family line received Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa,Hilen and Debir.They also received Ashan, Juttah and Beth Shemesh. They were given all these towns together with their grasslands.From the tribe of Benjamin they received Gibeon, Geba, Alemeth and Anathoth. They received these towns together with their grasslands. All these towns were handed out to the family groups of Kohath. The total number of towns was 13.The rest of the members of the family line of Kohath were given ten towns. The towns were from the family groups of half of the tribe of Manasseh.The members of the family line of Gershon were given 13 towns. They received them family group by family group. Most of the towns were from the tribes of Issachar, Asher and Naphtali. The rest were from the other half of the tribe of Manasseh. It’s in Bashan.The members of the family line of Merari were given 12 towns. They received them family group by family group. The towns were from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun.So the Israelites gave the Levites all these towns and their grasslands.They gave other towns to them from the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin.Some of the family groups of Kohath were given towns from the tribe of Ephraim as their territory.In the hill country of Ephraim they received Shechem. Shechem was a city where people could go for safety. The Kohathites also received Gezer,Jokmeam, Beth Horon,Aijalon and Gath Rimmon. They were given all these towns together with their grasslands.From half of the tribe of Manasseh the people of Israel gave the towns of Aner and Bileam. They gave them to the rest of the family groups of Kohath. They gave them together with their grasslands.Here is what the members of the family line of Gershon were given. From half of the tribe of Manasseh they received Golan in Bashan and also Ashtaroth. They received them together with their grasslands.From the tribe of Issachar they received Kedesh, Daberath,Ramoth and Anem. They received them together with their grasslands.From the tribe of Asher they received Mashal, Abdon,Hukok and Rehob. They received them together with their grasslands.From the tribe of Naphtali they received Kedesh in Galilee. They also received Hammon and Kiriathaim. They were given all these towns together with their grasslands.The members of the family line of Merari make up the rest of the Levites. Here is what they were given. From the tribe of Zebulun they received Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmono and Tabor. They received them together with their grasslands.The tribe of Reuben was across the Jordan River east of Jericho. From that tribe the Merarites received Bezer in the desert, Jahzah,Kedemoth and Mephaath. They received them together with their grasslands.From the tribe of Gad they received Ramoth in Gilead. They also received Mahanaim,Heshbon and Jazer. They received all these towns together with their grasslands.
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Numbers 1:3
Count all the men able to serve in the army. They must be 20 years old or more. I want you and Aaron to make a list of them group by group.
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Numbers 8:1-26
The Lord said to Moses,“ Say to Aaron,‘ Set up the seven lamps. They will light up the area in front of the lampstand.’ ”So Aaron did it. He set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand. He did just as the Lord had commanded Moses.The lampstand was made out of hammered gold. From its base to its blooms it was made out of hammered gold. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern the Lord had shown Moses.The Lord spoke to Moses. He said,“ Take the Levites from among all the Israelites. Make them‘ clean’ in the usual way.Here is how to make them pure. Sprinkle the special water on them. Then have them shave their whole bodies. Also have them wash their clothes. That is how they will make themselves pure.Have them get a young bull along with its grain offering. The offering must be made out of the finest flour mixed with olive oil. Then you must get a second young bull. You must sacrifice it as a sin offering.Bring the Levites to the front of the tent of meeting. Gather the whole community of Israel together.You must bring the Levites to me. The Israelites must place their hands on them.Aaron must bring the Levites to me. They are a wave offering from the Israelites. That is how they will be set apart to do my work.“ Then I want the Levites to place their hands on the heads of the bulls. They must sacrifice one bull as a sin offering to me. And they must sacrifice the other as a burnt offering. The blood of the bulls will pay for the sin of the Levites.Have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons. Then give them as a wave offering to me.That is how I want you to set apart the Levites from the other Israelites. The Levites will belong to me.“ Make the Levites pure. Give them to me as a wave offering. Then they must come to do their work at the tent of meeting.They are the Israelites who will be given to me completely. I have taken them to be my own. I have taken them in place of every son born first in his family in Israel.Every male born first in Israel belongs to me. That is true whether it is a human or an animal. In Egypt I struck down all the males born first to their mothers. Then I set apart for myself all the males born first in Israel.And I have taken the Levites in place of all the sons born first in Israel.I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons. I have taken them from among all the Israelites. I have appointed them to do the work at the tent of meeting. They will do it in place of the Israelites. That is how they will keep the Israelites from being guilty when they go near the sacred tent. Then no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the tent.”So Moses and Aaron and all the Israelites did with the Levites just as the Lord had commanded Moses.The Levites made themselves pure. They washed their clothes. Then Aaron gave them to the Lord as a wave offering. That’s how he paid for their sin to make them pure.After that, the Levites came to do their work at the tent of meeting. They worked under the direction of Aaron and his sons. And so Moses and Aaron and the whole community of Israel did with the Levites just as the Lord had commanded Moses.The Lord said to Moses,“ Here is what the Levites must do. Men 25 years old or more must come and take part in the work at the tent of meeting.But when they reach the age of 50, they must not work any longer. They must stop doing their regular work.They can help their brothers with their duties at the tent of meeting. But they themselves should not do the work. That is how you must direct the Levites to do their work.”
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Numbers 1:50
Instead, put the Levites in charge of the holy tent. That is where the tablets of the covenant law are kept. The Levites will be in charge of everything that belongs to the holy tent. They must carry the tent and everything that belongs to it. They must take care of it. They must set up camp around it.
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1 Chronicles 21 6
But Joab didn’t include the tribes of Levi and Benjamin in the total number. The king’s command was sickening to Joab.
