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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//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 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></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="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</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">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">The Sons of Aaron</h3><p class="par"><span class="v4_3_1"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.1" class="v4_3_1">1</span>When the <span class="nd">Lord</span> talked with Moses on Mount Sinai, </span><span class="v4_3_2"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.2" class="v4_3_2">2</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Num.3.2!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Aaron's four sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, </span><span class="v4_3_3"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.3" class="v4_3_3">3</span>were the ones to be ordained as priests. </span><span class="v4_3_4"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.4" class="v4_3_4">4</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Num.3.4!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> But the <span class="nd">Lord</span> killed Nadab and Abihu in the Sinai Desert when they used fire that was unacceptable<a href="#fn" id="link_Num.3.4!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> in their offering to the <span class="nd">Lord</span>.<a href="#fn" id="link_Num.3.4!f.3" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> And because Nadab and Abihu had no sons, only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests with their father Aaron.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The Duties of the Levites</h3><p class="par"><span class="v4_3_5"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.5" class="v4_3_5">5</span>The <span class="nd">Lord</span> said to Moses:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v4_3_6"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.6" class="v4_3_6">6</span>Assign the Levi tribe to Aaron the priest. They will be his assistants </span><span class="v4_3_7"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.7" class="v4_3_7">7</span>and will work at the sacred tent for him and for all the Israelites. </span><span class="v4_3_8"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.8" class="v4_3_8">8</span>The Levites will serve the community by being responsible for the furnishings of the tent. </span><span class="v4_3_9"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.9" class="v4_3_9">9</span>They are assigned to help Aaron and his sons, </span><span class="v4_3_10"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.10" class="v4_3_10">10</span>who have been appointed to be priests. Anyone else who tries to perform the duties of a priest must be put to death.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v4_3_11"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.11-Num.3.13" class="v4_3_11">11-13</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Num.3.11-Num.3.13!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Moses, I have chosen these Levites from all Israel, and they will belong to me in a special way. When I killed the first-born sons of the Egyptians, I decided that the first-born sons in every Israelite family and the first-born males of their flocks and herds would be mine.<a href="#fn" id="link_Num.3.11-Num.3.13!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> But now I accept these Levites in place of the first-born sons of the Israelites.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The Levites Are Counted</h3><p class="par"><span class="v4_3_14"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.14" class="v4_3_14">14</span>In the Sinai Desert the <span class="nd">Lord</span> said to Moses, </span><span class="v4_3_15"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.15" class="v4_3_15">15</span>“Now I want you to count the men and boys in the Levi tribe by families and by clans. Include every one at least a month old.” </span><span class="v4_3_16"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.16" class="v4_3_16">16</span>So Moses obeyed and counted them.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v4_3_17"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.17" class="v4_3_17">17</span>Levi's three sons, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, had become the heads of their own clans. </span><span class="v4_3_18"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.18" class="v4_3_18">18</span>Gershon's sons were Libni and Shimei. </span><span class="v4_3_19"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.19" class="v4_3_19">19</span>Kohath's sons were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. </span><span class="v4_3_20"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.20" class="v4_3_20">20</span>And Merari's sons were Mahli and Mushi. These were the sons and grandsons of Levi, and they had become the leaders of the Levite clans.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v4_3_21"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.21" class="v4_3_21">21</span>The two Gershon clans were the Libnites and Shimeites, </span><span class="v4_3_22"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.22" class="v4_3_22">22</span>and they had 7,500 men and boys at least one month old. </span><span class="v4_3_23"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.23-Num.3.24" class="v4_3_23">23-24</span>The Gershonites, under the leadership of Eliasaph son of Lael, were to camp on the west side of the sacred tent. </span><span class="v4_3_25"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.25" class="v4_3_25">25</span>Their duties at the tent included taking care of the tent itself, along with its outer covering, the curtain for the entrance, </span><span class="v4_3_26"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.26" class="v4_3_26">26</span>the curtains hanging inside the courtyard around the tent, as well as the curtain and ropes for the entrance to the courtyard and its altar. The Gershonites were responsible for setting these things up and taking them down.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v4_3_27"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.27" class="v4_3_27">27</span>The four Kohath clans were the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and the Uzzielites, </span><span class="v4_3_28"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.28" class="v4_3_28">28</span>and they had 8,600<a href="#fn" id="link_Num.3.28!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> men and boys at least one month old. </span><span class="v4_3_29"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.29-Num.3.30" class="v4_3_29">29-30</span>The Kohathites, under the leadership of Elizaphan son of Uzziel, were to camp on the south side of the sacred tent. </span><span class="v4_3_31"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.31" class="v4_3_31">31</span>Their duties at the tent included taking care of the sacred chest, the table for the sacred bread, the lampstand, the altars, the objects used for worship, and the curtain in front of the most holy place. The Kohathites were responsible for setting these things up and taking them down.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v4_3_32"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.32" class="v4_3_32">32</span>Eleazar son of Aaron was the head of the Levite leaders, and he made sure that the work at the sacred tent was done.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v4_3_33"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.33" class="v4_3_33">33</span>The two Merari clans were the Mahlites and the Mushites, </span><span class="v4_3_34"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.34" class="v4_3_34">34</span>and they had 6,200 men and boys at least one month old. </span><span class="v4_3_35"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.35" class="v4_3_35">35</span>The Merarites, under the leadership of Zuriel son of Abihail, were to camp on the north side of the sacred tent. </span><span class="v4_3_36"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.36-Num.3.37" class="v4_3_36">36-37</span>Their duties included taking care of the tent frames and the pieces that held the tent up: the bars, the posts, the stands, and its other equipment. They were also in charge of the posts that supported the courtyard, as well as their stands, tent pegs, and ropes. The Merari clans were responsible for setting these things up and taking them down.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v4_3_38"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.38" class="v4_3_38">38</span>Moses, Aaron, and his sons were to camp in front of the sacred tent, on the east side, and to make sure that the Israelites worshiped in the proper way. Anyone else who tried to do the work of Moses and Aaron was to be put to death.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v4_3_39"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.39" class="v4_3_39">39</span>So Moses and Aaron obeyed the <span class="nd">Lord</span> and counted the Levites by their clans. The total number of Levites at least one month old was 22,000.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The Levites Are Accepted as Substitutes for the First-Born Sons</h3><p class="par"><span class="v4_3_40"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.40" class="v4_3_40">40</span>The <span class="nd">Lord</span> said to Moses, “Make a list and count the first-born sons at least one month old in each of the Israelite families. </span><span class="v4_3_41"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.41" class="v4_3_41">41</span>They belong to me, but I will accept the Levites as substitutes for them, and I will accept the Levites' livestock as substitutes for the Israelites' first-born livestock.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v4_3_42"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.42" class="v4_3_42">42</span>Moses obeyed the <span class="nd">Lord</span> and counted the first-born sons; </span><span class="v4_3_43"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.43" class="v4_3_43">43</span>there were 22,273 of them.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v4_3_44"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.44" class="v4_3_44">44</span>Then the <span class="nd">Lord</span> said, </span><span class="v4_3_45"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.45" class="v4_3_45">45</span>“The Levites will belong to me and will take the place of the first-born sons; their livestock will take the place of the Israelites' first-born livestock. </span><span class="v4_3_46"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.46" class="v4_3_46">46</span>But since there are more first-born sons than Levites, the extra 273 men and boys must be bought back from me. </span><span class="v4_3_47"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.47" class="v4_3_47">47</span>For each one, you are to collect five pieces of silver, weighed according to the official standards. </span><span class="v4_3_48"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.48" class="v4_3_48">48</span>This money must then be given to Aaron and his sons.”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v4_3_49"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.49" class="v4_3_49">49</span>Moses collected the silver from the extra 273 first-born men and boys, </span><span class="v4_3_50"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.50" class="v4_3_50">50</span>and it amounted to 1,365 pieces of silver, weighed according to the official standards. </span><span class="v4_3_51"><span class="reftext" id="Num.3.51" class="v4_3_51">51</span>Then he gave it to Aaron and his sons, just as the <span class="nd">Lord</span> had commanded.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">3.4 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">fire that was unacceptable: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">3.4 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">the <char style="nd">Lord</char> killed Nadab and Abihu … to the <char style="nd">Lord</char>: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See Leviticus 10.1,2.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">3.11-13 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">When I killed … mine: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See Exodus 13.1,2, 11-16.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">3.28 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">8,600: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Hebrew; some manuscripts of one ancient translation “8,300.”</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. 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