Numbers 3:1-13

1And these are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Jehovah spoke with Moses on mount Sinai.

2And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

3These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, who were consecrated to exercise the priesthood.

4And Nadab and Abihu died before Jehovah when they offered strange fire before Jehovah in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons; and Eleazar and Ithamar exercised the priesthood in the presence of Aaron their father.

5And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

6Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him;

7and they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole assembly, before the tent of meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle.

8And they shall keep all the utensils of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

9And thou shalt give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given to him out of the children of Israel.

10And Aaron and his sons shalt thou appoint that they may attend to their priest's office; and the stranger that cometh near shall be put to death.

11And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

12And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn that breaketh open the womb among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine;

13for every firstborn is mine. On the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both of man and beast; mine shall they be: I am Jehovah.