Numbers 3:6-16

6“Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.

7They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the tent of meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle.

8They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle.

9Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.

10Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”

11The Lord also said to Moses,

12“I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,

13for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.”

14The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,

15“Count the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”

16So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.