Numbers 8:17-19

Evangelical Heritage Version

¹⁷ For all the firstborn among the Israelites are mine, both human and animal. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I set the firstborn of the Israelites apart for myself. ¹⁸ But I have taken the Levites in place of every firstborn among the Israelites. ¹⁹ From among the Israelites I have given only the Levites to Aaron and his sons to do the work of the people of Israel at the Tent of Meeting and to make atonement for the people of Israel so that there will not be any plague among the Israelites when the Israelites approach the sanctuary.