Font Size
Numbers 3:5-37
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Numbers 3:5-37
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Levites in Place of the Firstborn. 5 Now the Lord said to Moses: 6 Summon the tribe of Levi and station them before Aaron the priest to serve him.(A) 7 They shall discharge his obligations and those of the whole community before the tent of meeting(B) by maintaining the tabernacle. 8 They shall have responsibility for all the furnishings of the tent of meeting and discharge the obligations of the Israelites by maintaining the tabernacle. 9 You shall assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons;(C) they have been assigned unconditionally to him from among the Israelites. 10 But you will appoint only Aaron and his descendants to exercise the priesthood.(D) Any unauthorized person who comes near shall be put to death.
11 The Lord said to Moses: 12 I hereby take the Levites from the Israelites in place of every firstborn that opens the womb among the Israelites.(E) The Levites, therefore, are mine, 13 because every firstborn is mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated to me every firstborn in Israel, human being and beast alike. They belong to me; I am the Lord.
Census of the Levites. 14 The Lord said to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai: 15 Enroll the Levites by their ancestral houses and clans, enrolling every male of a month or more.(F) 16 Moses, therefore, enrolled them at the direction of the Lord, just as the Lord had charged.
17 (G)These were the sons of Levi by name: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. 18 These were the names of the sons of Gershon, by their clans: Libni and Shimei. 19 The sons of Kohath, by their clans, were Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel. 20 The sons of Merari, by their clans, were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites by their ancestral houses.
Duties of the Levitical Clans. 21 To Gershon belonged the clan of the Libnites and the clan of the Shimeites; these were the clans of the Gershonites. 22 Their enrollment, registering every male of a month or more, was seven thousand five hundred. 23 The clans of the Gershonites camped behind the tabernacle, to the west. 24 The leader of the ancestral house of the Gershonites was Eliasaph, son of Lael. 25 (H)At the tent of meeting their responsibility was the tabernacle:[a] the tent and its covering, the curtain at the entrance of the tent of meeting, 26 the hangings of the court, the curtain at the entrance of the court enclosing both the tabernacle and the altar, and the ropes—whatever pertained to their maintenance.
27 To Kohath belonged the clans of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites; these were the clans of the Kohathites. 28 Their enrollment, registering every male of a month or more, was eight thousand three hundred. They were the ones who performed the duties of the sanctuary. 29 The clans of the Kohathites camped on the south side of the tabernacle. 30 And the leader of their ancestral house of the clan of the Kohathites was Elizaphan, son of Uzziel. 31 Their responsibility was the ark, the table, the menorah, the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which the priests minister, the veil, and everything pertaining to their maintenance.[b] 32 The chief of the leaders of the Levites, however, was Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest; he was in charge of those who performed the duties of the sanctuary.
33 To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites; these were the clans of Merari. 34 Their enrollment, registering every male of a month or more, was six thousand two hundred. 35 The leader of the ancestral house of the clans of Merari was Zuriel, son of Abihail. They camped at the north side of the tabernacle. 36 [c]The Merarites were assigned responsibility for the boards of the tabernacle, its bars, columns, pedestals, and all its fittings—and everything pertaining to their maintenance, 37 as well as the columns of the surrounding court with their pedestals, pegs and ropes.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 3:25–26 The Gershonites had two wagons for transporting these things; cf. 7:7. For a description of the tabernacle, see Ex 26:1–6; the tent, Ex 26:7–13; its covering, Ex 26:14; the curtain at the entrance, Ex 26:36; the hangings of the court, Ex 27:9–15; the curtain at the entrance of the court, Ex 27:16; the ropes of the tabernacle, Ex 35:18.
- 3:31 The Kohathites had to carry these sacred objects on their shoulders; cf. 7:9. For a description of the ark, see Ex 25:10–22; the table, Ex 25:23–30; the menorah, Ex 25:31–40; the altars, Ex 27:1–8; 30:1–10.
- 3:36–37 The Merarites had four wagons for transporting this heavy material; cf. 7:8. For a description of the boards, bars, etc., of the tabernacle, see Ex 26:15–30; the columns, pedestals, etc., of the court, Ex 27:9–19.
Numbers 3:5-37
New International Version
Numbers 3:5-37
New International Version
5 The Lord said to Moses, 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi(A) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.(B) 7 They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community(C) at the tent of meeting by doing the work(D) 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;(E) they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.[a] 10 Appoint Aaron(F) and his sons to serve as priests;(G) anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”(H)
11 The Lord also said to Moses, 12 “I have taken the Levites(I) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring(J) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,(K) 13 for all the firstborn are mine.(L) 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.”(M)
14 The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,(N) 15 “Count(O) the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”(P) 16 So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.
17 These were the names of the sons of Levi:(Q)
Gershon,(R) Kohath(S) and Merari.(T)
18 These were the names of the Gershonite clans:
Libni and Shimei.(U)
19 The Kohathite clans:
Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.(V)
20 The Merarite clans:(W)
Mahli and Mushi.(X)
These were the Levite clans, according to their families.
21 To Gershon(Y) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;(Z) 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.(AA) 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(AB) and tent, its coverings,(AC) the curtain at the entrance(AD) to the tent of meeting,(AE) 26 the curtains of the courtyard(AF), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,(AG) and the ropes(AH)—and everything(AI) related to their use.
27 To Kohath(AJ) belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;(AK) these were the Kohathite(AL) clans. 28 The number of all the males a month old or more(AM) was 8,600.[b] The Kohathites were responsible(AN) for the care of the sanctuary.(AO) 29 The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side(AP) of the tabernacle. 30 The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan(AQ) son of Uzziel. 31 They were responsible for the care of the ark,(AR) the table,(AS) the lampstand,(AT) the altars,(AU) the articles(AV) of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,(AW) and everything related to their use.(AX) 32 The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar(AY) son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible(AZ) for the care of the sanctuary.(BA)
33 To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;(BB) these were the Merarite clans.(BC) 34 The number of all the males a month old or more(BD) 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.(BE) 36 The Merarites were appointed(BF) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,(BG) its crossbars,(BH) posts,(BI) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,(BJ) 37 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard(BK) with their bases, tent pegs(BL) and ropes.
Footnotes
- Numbers 3:9 Most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint (see also 8:16) to me
- Numbers 3:28 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts 8,300
Numbers 3:5-37
King James Version
Numbers 3:5-37
King James Version
5 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
6 Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.
7 And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.
8 And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.
9 And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.
10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
11 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;
13 Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the Lord.
14 And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,
15 Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.
16 And Moses numbered them according to the word of the Lord, as he was commanded.
17 And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.
18 And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei.
19 And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
20 And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.
21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.
22 Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred.
23 The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.
24 And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.
25 And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,
26 And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.
27 And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.
28 In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.
29 The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.
30 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.
31 And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.
32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.
33 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.
34 And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.
35 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward.
36 And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto,
37 And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.
Read full chapter
1 Chronicles 26:12-19
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
1 Chronicles 26:12-19
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
12 To these divisions of the gatekeepers, by their chief men, were assigned watches for them to minister in the house of the Lord, for each group in the same way. 13 They cast lots for each gate, small and large families alike. 14 When the lot was cast for the east side, it fell to Meshelemiah. Then they cast lots for his son Zechariah, a prudent counselor, and the north side fell to his lot.(A) 15 To Obed-edom fell the south side, and to his sons the storehouse. 16 To Hosah fell the west side with the Shallecheth gate at the ascending highway. For each family, watches were established. 17 On the east, six watched each day, on the north, four each day, on the south, four each day, and at the storehouse they were two and two; 18 as for the large building[a] on the west, there were four at the highway and two at the large building. 19 These were the classes of the gatekeepers, sons of Korah and Merari.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 26:18 The large building: parbar, mentioned also in 2 Kgs 23:11; the meaning of the word is unclear.
1 Chronicles 26:12-19
New International Version
1 Chronicles 26:12-19
New International Version
12 These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their leaders, had duties for ministering(A) in the temple of the Lord, just as their relatives had. 13 Lots(B) were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.
14 The lot for the East Gate(C) fell to Shelemiah.[a] Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah,(D) a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him. 15 The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-Edom,(E) and the lot for the storehouse fell to his sons. 16 The lots for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the upper road fell to Shuppim and Hosah.
Guard was alongside of guard: 17 There were six Levites a day on the east, four a day on the north, four a day on the south and two at a time at the storehouse. 18 As for the court[b] to the west, there were four at the road and two at the court[c] itself.
19 These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.(F)
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 26:14 A variant of Meshelemiah
- 1 Chronicles 26:18 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- 1 Chronicles 26:18 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
1 Chronicles 26:12-19
King James Version
1 Chronicles 26:12-19
King James Version
12 Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the Lord.
13 And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.
14 And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
15 To Obededom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim.
16 To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.
17 Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.
18 At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
19 These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.
Read full chapter
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.