Numbers 3:1-13

1This is the list of the family of Aaron and Moses. This was at the time when the Lord spoke to Moses on Sinai mountain.

2The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. Nadab was the firstborn son.

3Aaron anointed them, and he gave authority to them to work as priests.

4But Nadab and Abihu fell down and died in front of the Lord. That happened when they offered strange fire to the Lord in the Sinai desert. They had no children. So only Eleazar and Ithamar worked as priests while their father Aaron was alive.

5Then the Lord said to Moses,

6‘Bring the tribe of Levi to Aaron the priest. They must help him.

7They must serve him and all the Israelites. They must work at the Tent of Meeting and take care of it.

8They must work on behalf of the Israelites. They must take care of the things that are in the Tent of Meeting. That is how they will serve God.

9Give the Levites to Aaron and to his descendants. They will be the Israelites who help him. They do not have to do anything else.

10But you must make a list of Aaron and his descendants. They will be the priests. If any other person comes near to the special Tent, they must die.’

11The Lord also said to Moses,

12‘I will not take the firstborn son of every woman in Israel to belong to me. I will take the Levites instead of them.

13I killed all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. But I kept the firstborn sons of every person and animal among the Israelites for myself. They belong to me. I am the Lord!’