Numbers 3:6-16

6“Gather the tribe of Levi near, and appoint them to attend to Aaron the kohen.

7They are to keep watch over duties for him and the entire community before the Tent of Meeting while performing the service of the Tabernacle.

8They are to tend to all the implements of the Tent of Meeting and the service of Bnei-Yisrael while performing the service of the Tabernacle.

9You are to give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. Out of Bnei-Yisrael they are dedicated entirely to him.

10You are to appoint Aaron and his sons to maintain the priesthood; any commoner who approaches must be executed.”

11Then Adonai said to Moses saying,

12“See, I have taken the Levites from among Bnei-Yisrael in place of the firstborn who open the womb among Bnei-Yisrael. The Levites will be Mine,

13because all the firstborn are Mine. In the day when I was striking down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated to Myself every firstborn in Israel—whether man or animal—as Mine. I am Adonai.”

14Adonai spoke in the Sinai wilderness to Moses saying,

15“Count the sons of Levi. According to their ancestral house, by their families, every male a month old and upward you are to number them.”

16So Moses numbered them in accordance with the word of Adonai, just as he was commanded.