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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 ISV</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> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><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="../">ISV</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">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/numbers/3.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Aaron’s Descendants</p><p class="cross_ref">(<a href="http://isv.scripturetext.com/leviticus/10.htm">Leviticus 10:1-7</a>)</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>This is a record of the genealogies<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:1 Lit. generations">a</a></span> of Aaron and Moses current as of<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:1 The Heb. lacks current as of">b</a></span> the day on which the LORD addressed Moses on Mount Sinai. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>The<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:2 Lit. These are the names of the">c</a></span> sons of Aaron were Nadab the first-born, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>who<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:3 Lit. These are the names of the sons of Aaron who">d</a></span> were anointed priests and whom he consecrated<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:3 Lit. filled their hands">e</a></span> as priests. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Nadab and Abihu died in the LORD’s presence when they offered unauthorized<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:4 Lit. strange">f</a></span> fire before him<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:4 Lit. the LORD">g</a></span> in the Sinai wilderness. Since they didn’t have their own children, Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priest under the authority of<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:4 Lit. priest before">h</a></span> Aaron their father.</p> <p class="heading">Appointment of the Descendants of Levi as Priests</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>The LORD told Moses, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>“Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them to Aaron the priest so they may serve him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>They are to take care of his needs and the needs of the whole congregation at the Tent of Meeting by performing duties<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:7 Or work">i</a></span> at the tent. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>They are to take charge of the utensils at the Tent of Meeting and meet the needs of the Israelis by performing duties on behalf of the tent. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Assign<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:9 Lit. Give">j</a></span> the descendants of Levi to Aaron and his sons from among the Israelis. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Appoint Aaron and his sons so that they are to take responsibility for their priesthood. Any unauthorized<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:10 Or undesignated">k</a></span> person who approaches it is to be put to death.”</p> <p class="heading">The Descendants of Levi as Substitutes for the First-born</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Later, the LORD told Moses, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>“I’m taking the descendants of Levi for myself from among the Israelis in place of every first-born who opens the womb.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:12 Lit. womb from among the Israelis">l</a></span> The descendants of Levi belong to me <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>because all the first-born belong to me. When<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:13 Or the day">m</a></span> I destroyed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated all the first-born in Israel for myself—from human beings to livestock. They belong to me, since<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:13 The Heb. lacks since">n</a></span> I am the LORD.”</p> <p class="heading">Numbering the Descendants of Levi</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>The LORD also told Moses in the Sinai wilderness, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>“Number the descendants of Levi according to their ancestral houses and tribes, numbering every male from a month old and above.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>So Moses numbered them according to the instruction<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:16 Lit. mouth">o</a></span> of the LORD, as he had been commanded. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>These are Levi’s descendants by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>These are names of Gershon’s descendants according to their families: Libni and Shimei. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>These are the names of Kohath’s descendants according to their families: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Merari’s descendants according to their families were Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the descendants of Levi according to their ancestral house.</p> <p class="heading">The Descendants of Gershon</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>The families of Libni and Shimei were descendants of Gershon. As families of the descendants of Gershon, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>all the males a month old and above numbered 7,500. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>The families of the descendants of Gershon encamped behind the tent toward the west.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:23 Lit. sea">p</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>The leader of the tribe and family of Gershon was Lael’s son Eliasaph. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>The duties of the descendants of Gershon at the Tent of Meeting pertained to the tent, the tent covering, the curtain<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:25 Or screen">q</a></span> to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>the hangings at the courtyard, the curtain at the entrance of the courtyard that surrounded the tent, the altar, and all of the tent cords in use.</p> <p class="heading">The Descendants of Kohath and Their Duties</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>The families of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel were descendants of Kohath. As families of the descendants of Kohath, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>all the males a month old and above numbered 8,600.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:28 So MT; LXX reads 8,300">r</a></span> They were tasked to the care of the sanctuary. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>The descendants of Kohath encamped beside the tent toward the south. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>The leader of the tribe and family of Kohath was Uzziel’s son Elizaphan. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>Their duties pertained to the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, and all the curtains in use. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>The chief of all the leaders of the descendants of Levi was Aaron the priest’s son Eleazar. He was assigned to oversee those who were in charge of the services of the sanctuary.</p> <p class="heading">The Descendants of Merari and Their Duties</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>The families of Mahli and Mushi were descendants of Merari. As families of Merari, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>all the males a month old and above numbered 6,200. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>The leader of the tribe and family of Merari was Abihail’s son Zuriel. The descendants of Merari encamped beside the tent toward the north. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>The duties of the caretakers from the descendants of Merari included the boards of the tent, its bars, crossbars, sockets, all its utensils for their services, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>the pillars around the courtyard, their sockets, pegs, and tent cords.</p> <p class="heading">The Encampment of Moses and Aaron</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>In front of the tent and east of the Tent of Meeting, Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:38 Lit his">s</a></span> sons encamped facing the east. They were tasked to perform the duties of the sanctuary and care for the needs of the Israelis. Any unauthorized<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:38 Or undesignated">t</a></span> person who approached was to be executed. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>As the LORD had instructed, everyone counted by Moses and Aaron from the descendants of Levi, according to their tribe, all males from a month old and above numbered 22,000.</p> <p class="heading">Numbering Israel’s First-born</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-40.htm"><b>40</b></a></span>Later the LORD instructed Moses: “Number all the first-born males of Israel from a month old and above and list their names. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-41.htm"><b>41</b></a></span>Separate<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:41 Lit. Take">u</a></span> the descendants of Levi for me—since<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:41 The Heb. lacks since">v</a></span> I am the LORD—in place of all the first-born sons of Israel. Also separate<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:41 The Heb. lacks separate">w</a></span> the livestock of the descendants of Levi in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of Israel.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-42.htm"><b>42</b></a></span>So Moses numbered all the firstborn from the sons of Israel just as the LORD commanded him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-43.htm"><b>43</b></a></span>All the first-born males according to the list of their names from a month old and above numbered 22,273.</p> <p class="heading">Creation of the Levite Ministry</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-44.htm"><b>44</b></a></span>Then the LORD told Moses, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-45.htm"><b>45</b></a></span>“Separate the descendants of Levi in place of all the firstborn sons of Israel and the livestock of the descendants of Levi in place of their livestock. The descendants of Levi belong to me, since<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:45 The Heb. lacks since">x</a></span> I am the LORD. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-46.htm"><b>46</b></a></span>You are to pay a ransom for the 273 first-born Israelis who exceed the census number of the descendants of Levi, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-47.htm"><b>47</b></a></span>so collect five shekels for each individual,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:47 Lit. head">y</a></span> denominated in shekels of the sanctuary, that is, the shekel that weighs 20 gerahs.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:47 I.e., a unit of weight measurement equal to about 16 barley grains; about 0.025 ounces or 0.5 grams; cf. Exod 30:13; Num 18:16">z</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-48.htm"><b>48</b></a></span>Then give the money meant for ransom of their excess to Aaron and his sons.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-49.htm"><b>49</b></a></span>So Moses took the ransom money to account for the difference in the total number<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="3:49 Lit. the excess">aa</a></span> of those redeemed by the descendants of Levi. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-50.htm"><b>50</b></a></span>From the firstborn of the Israelis, Moses took money amounting to 1,365 shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/3-51.htm"><b>51</b></a></span>Moses gave the ransom money to Aaron and his sons according to the LORD’s instructions, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 3:1 Lit. <i>generations</i><br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 3:1 The Heb. lacks <i>current as of</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 3:2 Lit. <i>These are the names of the</i><br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 3:3 Lit. <i>These are the names of the sons of Aaron who</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 3:3 Lit. <i>filled their hands</i><br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 3:4 Lit. <i>strange</i><br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 3:4 Lit. <i>the L</i>ORD<br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 3:4 Lit. <i>priest before</i><br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 3:7 Or <i>work</i><br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 3:9 Lit. <i>Give</i><br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 3:10 Or <i>undesignated</i><br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 3:12 Lit. <i>womb from among the Israelis</i><br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 3:13 Or <i>the day</i><br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 3:13 The Heb. lacks <i>since</i><br /><span class="fnb">o</span> 3:16 Lit. <i>mouth</i><br /><span class="fnb">p</span> 3:23 Lit. <i>sea</i><br /><span class="fnb">q</span> 3:25 Or <i>screen</i><br /><span class="fnb">r</span> 3:28 So MT; LXX reads <i>8,300</i><br /><span class="fnb">s</span> 3:38 Lit <i>his</i><br /><span class="fnb">t</span> 3:38 Or <i>undesignated</i><br /><span class="fnb">u</span> 3:41 Lit. <i>Take</i><br /><span class="fnb">v</span> 3:41 The Heb. lacks <i>since</i><br /><span class="fnb">w</span> 3:41 The Heb. lacks <i>separate</i><br /><span class="fnb">x</span> 3:45 The Heb. lacks <i>since</i><br /><span class="fnb">y</span> 3:47 Lit. <i>head</i><br /><span class="fnb">z</span> 3:47 I.e., a unit of weight measurement equal to about 16 barley grains; about 0.025 ounces or 0.5 grams; cf. 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