Numbers 8

(Exodus 25:31–40; Exodus 37:17–24)

1Then the LORDH3068 saidH1696 toH413 MosesH4872H559, 2“SpeakH1696 toH413 AaronH175 and tellH559 himH413: ‘When you set upH5927 the sevenH7651 lampsH5216, they are to lightH215 the area in frontH4136H6440 of the lampstandH4501.’”

3And AaronH175 didH6213 soH3651; he set upH5927 the lampsH5216 facingH6440 towardH413 the frontH4136 of the lampstandH4501, just asH834 the LORDH3068 had commandedH6680 MosesH4872.

4This is howH2088 the lampstandH4501 was constructedH4639: it was made of hammeredH4749 goldH2091 fromH5704 its baseH3409 toH5704 its blossomsH6525, fashionedH6213 according to the patternH4758 the LORDH3068 had shownH7200 MosesH4872H3651.

Cleansing the Levites

5Again the LORDH3068 spokeH1696 toH413 MosesH4872, sayingH559, 6“TakeH3947 the LevitesH3881 from amongH8432 the IsraelitesH1121H3478 and make them ceremonially cleanH2891. 7This is whatH3541 you must doH6213 to cleanse themH2891: SprinkleH5137 themH5921 with the waterH4325 of purificationH2403. Have them shaveH5674H8593H5921 their wholeH3605 bodiesH1320 and washH3526 their clothesH899, and so purify themselvesH2891.

8Then have them takeH3947 a young bullH6499H1121H1241 with its grain offeringH4503 of fine flourH5560 mixedH1101 with oilH8081, and you are to takeH3947 a secondH8145H1121H1241 young bullH6499 for a sin offeringH2403. 9BringH7126 the LevitesH3881 beforeH6440 the TentH168 of MeetingH4150 and assembleH6950 the wholeH3605 congregationH5712H1121 of IsraelH3478. 10You are to presentH7126 the LevitesH3881 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068 and have the IsraelitesH1121H3478 layH5564 their handsH3027 uponH5921 them. 11AaronH175 is to presentH5130 the LevitesH3881 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068H854 as a wave offeringH8573 from the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478H1961, so that they may performH5647 the serviceH5656 of the LORDH3068. 12And the LevitesH3881 are to layH5564 their handsH3027 onH5921 the headsH7218 of the bullsH6499, and offerH6213 to the LORDH3068 oneH259 as a sin offeringH2403 and the otherH259 as a burnt offeringH5930, to make atonementH3722 forH5921 the LevitesH3881.

13You are to have the LevitesH3881 standH5975 beforeH6440 AaronH175H6440 and his sonsH1121 and then presentH5130 themH853 before the LORDH3068 as a wave offeringH8573. 14In this way you shall separateH914 the LevitesH3881 fromH8432 the rest of the IsraelitesH1121H3478, and the LevitesH3881 will belongH1961 to Me. 15AfterH310 you have cleansedH2891 themH853 and presentedH5130 themH853 as a wave offeringH8573, they may comeH935 to serveH5647 at the TentH168 of MeetingH4150.

16ForH3588 the Levites have been wholly givenH5414 to Me from amongH8432 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478. I have takenH3947 themH853 for Myself in place ofH8478 allH3605 who come firstH6363 from the wombH7358, the firstbornH1060 of allH3605 the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478. 17ForH3588 everyH3605 firstbornH1060 maleH1121 in IsraelH3478 is Mine, both manH120 and beastH929. I set them apartH6942 for Myself on the dayH3117 I struck downH5221 allH3605 the firstbornH1060 in the landH776 of EgyptH4714. 18But I have takenH3947 the LevitesH3881 in place ofH8478 allH3605 the firstbornH1060 among the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478. 19And I have givenH5414 the LevitesH3881 as a giftH5414 to AaronH175 and his sonsH1121 from amongH8432 the IsraelitesH1121H3478, to performH5647 the serviceH5656 for the IsraelitesH1121H3478 at the TentH168 of MeetingH4150 and to make atonementH3722 on theirH1121H3478 behalfH5921, so that noH3808 plagueH5063 will comeH1961 against the IsraelitesH1121H3478 when theyH1121H3478H413 approachH5066 the sanctuaryH6944.”

20So MosesH4872, AaronH175, and the wholeH3605 congregationH5712H1121 of IsraelH3478 didH6213 with the LevitesH3881 everythingH3605 thatH834 the LORDH3068 had commandedH6680 MosesH4872H3651 they should doH6213. 21The LevitesH3881 purifiedH2398 themselves and washedH3526 their clothesH899, and AaronH175 presentedH5130 themH853 as a wave offeringH8573 beforeH6440 the LORDH3068. AaronH175 also made atonementH3722 for themH5921 to cleanse themH2891. 22AfterH310 thatH3651, the LevitesH3881 cameH935 to performH5647 their serviceH5656 at the TentH168 of MeetingH4150 in the presenceH6440 of AaronH175H6440 and his sonsH1121. ThusH3651 they didH6213 with the LevitesH3881 just asH834 the LORDH3068 had commandedH6680 MosesH4872.

Retirement for Levites

23And the LORDH3068 saidH1696 toH413 MosesH4872, 24“ThisH2063 appliesH834 to the LevitesH3881: Men twenty-fiveH2568H6242 years of ageH1121H8141 or olderH4605 shall enterH935 to performH6633 the serviceH6635 in the workH5656 at the TentH168 of MeetingH4150. 25But at the ageH1121 of fiftyH2572H8141, they must retireH7725 from performingH6635 the workH5656 and noH3808 longerH5750 serveH5647.

26After that, they may assistH8334 their brothersH251 in fulfillingH8104 their dutiesH4931 at the TentH168 of MeetingH4150, but they themselves are notH3808 to doH5647 the workH5656. This is howH3602 you are to assignH6213 responsibilitiesH4931 to the LevitesH3881.”