Numbers 3:5–13 — The Levites as ransom for their sons

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Num 3:5–13

3:5 The Levites as ransom for their sons

5 Then Yahweh told Mosheh (Moses), 6 “Summon the Levites to come and stand in front of Aharon (Aaron) the priest, so they can assist him. 7 They must perform duties for him and for the entire community at and around the sacred tent, 8 including looking after all of its equipment and fulfilling the obligations of the Israelis. 9 You must assign the Levites to Aharon—out of all the Israelis it’s them who are assigned to serve the priests. 10 Appoint Aharon and his sons as priests and to preserve the priesthood. Any other person who tries to act as a priest must be executed.”

11 Then Yahweh told Mosheh, 12 “Out of all the Israelis, I’ve taken the Levites instead of the oldest son from every family. The Levites will be the ransom for those sons, and so they belong to me, 13 because every firstborn male person and animal is set aside as belonging to me ever since I killed those firstborn males in Mitsrayim (Egypt). I am Yahweh.”

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5 And_ YHWH _he/it _spoke to Mosheh to_saying.

6 Bring _near DOM the _tribe _of Lēvī and_you _will _make _stand DOM_him/it to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before ʼAhₐron the_priest/officer and_they _will _serve DOM_him/it.

7 And_they _will _keep DOM duty _of_his and_DOM the _duty _of all _of the_congregation to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before the _tent _of meeting by_serving DOM the _service _of the _tabernacle.

8 And_they _will _keep DOM all _of the _articles _of the _tent _of meeting and_DOM the _duty _of the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) by_serving DOM the _service _of the _tabernacle.

9 And_you(ms)_will _give DOM the_Lēviyyiy to_ʼAhₐron and_to_sons _of_his are_assigned assigned they to_him/it from_with the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

10 And_DOM ʼAhₐron and_DOM sons _of_his you _will _appoint and_they _will _keep DOM priesthood _of_their and_the_stranger (the)_approaching he _will _be _put _to _death.

11 And_ YHWH _he/it _spoke to Mosheh to_saying.

12 And_I HERE I _have _taken DOM the_Lēviyyiy from_among _of the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) in _place _of every _of firstborn the_firstborn _of a _womb from_(the)_sons of _Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_they _will _be to_me the_Lēviyyiy.

13 If/because to_me every _of firstborn in/on_day I_struck _down every _of firstborn in_land of _Miʦrayim/(Egypt) I _set _apart to_me every _of firstborn in_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) from_humankind unto livestock to_me they _will _belong I am_YHWH.

OET-RV by cross-referenced section NUM 3:5

The Levites as ransom for their sons

Num 3:5–13