Numbers 2-3  New International Version

The Arrangement of the Tribal Camps

2 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ² “The Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting some distance from it, each of them under their standard^(A) and holding the banners of their family.”

³⁴ So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.

The Levites

3 This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses^(AH) at the time the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.^(AI)

² The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn^(AJ) and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.^{(AK) 3} Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests,^(AL) who were ordained to serve as priests. ⁴ Nadab and Abihu, however, died before the Lord^(AM) when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai.^(AN) They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar^(AO) served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.^(AP)

⁵ The Lord said to Moses, ⁶ “Bring the tribe of Levi^(AQ) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.^{(AR) 7} They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community^(AS) at the tent of meeting by doing the work^(AT) of the tabernacle. ⁸ 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. ⁹ Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons;^(AU) they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.^{[b] 10} Appoint Aaron^(AV) and his sons to serve as priests;^(AW) anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”^(AX)

¹¹ The Lord also said to Moses, ¹² “I have taken the Levites^(AY) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring^(AZ) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,^{(BA) 13} for all the firstborn are mine.^(BB) 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.”^(BC)

¹⁴ The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,^{(BD) 15} “Count^(BE) the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”^{(BF) 16} So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

These were the Levite clans, according to their families.

²¹ To Gershon^(BO) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;^(BP) these were the Gershonite clans. ²² The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500. ²³ The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle.^{(BQ) 24} The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. ²⁵ At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle^(BR) and tent, its coverings,^(BS) the curtain at the entrance^(BT) to the tent of meeting,^{(BU) 26} the curtains of the courtyard^(BV), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,^(BW) and the ropes^(BX)—and everything^(BY) related to their use.

²⁷ To Kohath^(BZ) belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;^(CA) these were the Kohathite^(CB) clans. ²⁸ The number of all the males a month old or more^(CC) was 8,600.^[c] The Kohathites were responsible^(CD) for the care of the sanctuary.^{(CE) 29} The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side^(CF) of the tabernacle. ³⁰ The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan^(CG) son of Uzziel. ³¹ They were responsible for the care of the ark,^(CH) the table,^(CI) the lampstand,^(CJ) the altars,^(CK) the articles^(CL) of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,^(CM) and everything related to their use.^{(CN) 32} The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar^(CO) son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible^(CP) for the care of the sanctuary.^(CQ)

³³ To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;^(CR) these were the Merarite clans.^{(CS) 34} The number of all the males a month old or more^(CT) who were counted was 6,200. ³⁵ 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.^{(CU) 36} The Merarites were appointed^(CV) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,^(CW) its crossbars,^(CX) posts,^(CY) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,^{(CZ) 37} as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard^(DA) with their bases, tent pegs^(DB) and ropes.

³⁸ Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east^(DC) of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting.^(DD) They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary^(DE) on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.^(DF)

³⁹ The total number of Levites counted^(DG) at the Lord’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.^(DH)

⁴⁰ The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more^(DI) and make a list of their names.^{(DJ) 41} Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites,^(DK) and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord.”^(DL)

⁴² So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. ⁴³ The total number of firstborn males a month old or more,^(DM) listed by name, was 22,273.^(DN)

⁴⁴ The Lord also said to Moses, ⁴⁵ “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.^(DO) I am the Lord.^{(DP) 46} To redeem^(DQ) the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, ⁴⁷ collect five shekels^[d](DR) for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel,^(DS) which weighs twenty gerahs.^{(DT) 48} Give the money for the redemption^(DU) of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”^(DV)

⁴⁹ So Moses collected the redemption money^(DW) from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. ⁵⁰ From the firstborn of the Israelites^(DX) he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels,^[e](DY) according to the sanctuary shekel. ⁵¹ Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.