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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Numbers 3 NLT</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/numbers/3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/numbers/3-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NLT</a> > Numbers 3</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../numbers/2.htm" title="Numbers 2">◄</a> Numbers 3 <a href="../numbers/4.htm" title="Numbers 4">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New Living Translation</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nlt/esv/numbers/3.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="hdg">Levites Appointed for Service</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>This is the family line of Aaron and Moses as it was recorded when the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai: <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>The names of Aaron’s sons were Nadab (the oldest), Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>These sons of Aaron were anointed and ordained to minister as priests. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>But 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.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Then the LORD said to Moses, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>“Call forward the tribe of Levi, and present them to Aaron the priest to serve as his assistants. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>They will serve Aaron and the whole community, performing their sacred duties in and around the Tabernacle.<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">a</span></a> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>They will also maintain all the furnishings of the sacred tent,<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">b</span></a> serving in the Tabernacle on behalf of all the Israelites. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They have been given from among all the people of Israel to serve as their assistants. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Appoint 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.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>And the LORD said to Moses, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>“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, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>for 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.”</p><p class="hdg">Registration of the Levites</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>The LORD spoke again to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. He said, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>“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.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>So Moses listed them, just as the LORD had commanded.</p><p class="b"/><p class="li1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Levi had three sons, whose names were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.</p><p class="li1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>The clans descended from Gershon were named after two of his descendants, Libni and Shimei.</p><p class="li1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>The clans descended from Kohath were named after four of his descendants, Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.</p><p class="li1"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>The clans descended from Merari were named after two of his descendants, Mahli and Mushi.</p><p class="m">These were the Levite clans, listed according to their family groups.</p><p class="b"/><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>The descendants of Gershon were composed of the clans descended from Libni and Shimei. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>There were 7,500 males one month old or older among these Gershonite clans. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>They were assigned the area to the west of the Tabernacle for their camp. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>The leader of the Gershonite clans was Eliasaph son of Lael. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>These two clans were responsible to care for the Tabernacle, including the sacred tent with its layers of coverings, the curtain at its entrance, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>the 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.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>The descendants of Kohath were composed of the clans descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>There were 8,600<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">c</span></a> males one month old or older among these Kohathite clans. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>and they were assigned the area south of the Tabernacle for their camp. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>The leader of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>These 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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, was the chief administrator over all the Levites, with special responsibility for the oversight of the sanctuary.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>The descendants of Merari were composed of the clans descended from Mahli and Mushi. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>There were 6,200 males one month old or older among these Merarite clans. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>They were assigned the area north of the Tabernacle for their camp. The leader of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>These 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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>They were also responsible for the posts of the courtyard and all their bases, pegs, and ropes.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>The area in front of the Tabernacle, in the east toward the sunrise,<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">d</span></a> 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.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>When Moses and Aaron counted the Levite clans at the LORD’s command, the total number was 22,000 males one month old or older.</p><p class="hdg">Redeeming the Firstborn Sons</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-40.htm"><b>40</b></a></span>Then 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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-41.htm"><b>41</b></a></span>The 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.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-42.htm"><b>42</b></a></span>So Moses counted the firstborn sons of the people of Israel, just as the LORD had commanded. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-43.htm"><b>43</b></a></span>The number of firstborn sons who were one month old or older was 22,273.</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-44.htm"><b>44</b></a></span>Then the LORD said to Moses, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-45.htm"><b>45</b></a></span>“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. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-46.htm"><b>46</b></a></span>There are 273 more firstborn sons of Israel than there are Levites. To redeem these extra firstborn sons, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-47.htm"><b>47</b></a></span>collect five pieces of silver<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">e</span></a> for each of them (each piece weighing the same as the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs). <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-48.htm"><b>48</b></a></span>Give the silver to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the extra firstborn sons.”</p><p class="reg"> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-49.htm"><b>49</b></a></span>So Moses collected the silver for redeeming the firstborn sons of Israel who exceeded the number of Levites. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-50.htm"><b>50</b></a></span>He collected 1,365 pieces of silver<a href="#footnotes"><span class="fn">f</span></a> on behalf of these firstborn sons of Israel (each piece weighing the same as the sanctuary shekel). <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-51.htm"><b>51</b></a></span>And Moses gave the silver for the redemption to Aaron and his sons, just as the LORD had commanded.</p><A name="footnotes"></a><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn">a</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">3:7 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="it">around the Tent of Meeting, doing service at the Tabernacle.</span><br><span class="fn">b</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">3:8 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="it">the Tent of Meeting;</span><span class="ft"> also in 3:25.</span><br><span class="fn">c</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">3:28 </span><span class="ft">Some Greek manuscripts read </span><span class="it">8,300;</span><span class="ft"> see total in 3:39.</span><br><span class="fn">d</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">3:38 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="it">toward the sunrise, in front of the Tent of Meeting.</span><br><span class="fn">e</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">3:47 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="it">5 shekels</span><span class="ft"> [2 ounces or 57 grams].</span><br><span class="fn">f</span><note caller="+" style="f"><span class="fr">3:50 </span><span class="ft">Hebrew </span><span class="it">1,365 [shekels] of silver</span><span class="ft"> [34 pounds or 15.5 kilograms].</span><br></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><em>Holy Bible</em>, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. 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