Numbers 1

²²And I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony; I will speak with you about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.

¹In the third month, on the same day of the month that the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.

¹¹On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle of the Testimony,

¹²and the Israelites set out from the Wilderness of Sinai, traveling from place to place until the cloud settled in the Wilderness of Paran.

¹⁷So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year.

¹In the first month of the second year after Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai:

²“On the first day of the first month you are to set up the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting.

¹²“When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the Lord a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered.

²⁶a beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone twenty years of age or older who had crossed over to be numbered, a total of 603,550 men.

¹⁸and on the first day of the second month they assembled the whole congregation and recorded their ancestry by clans and families, counting one by one the names of those twenty years of age or older,

²“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by the houses of their fathers—all those twenty years of age or older who can serve in the army of Israel.”

³So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest issued the instruction,

²²From the sons of Simeon, according to the records of their clans and families, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

¹Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He stirred up David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”

²So the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number.”

¹⁴Everyone twenty years of age or older who crosses over must give this offering to the Lord.

²⁹Your bodies will fall in this wilderness—all who were numbered in the census, everyone twenty years of age or older—because you have grumbled against Me.

²“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by the houses of their fathers—all those twenty years of age or older who can serve in the army of Israel.”

⁹And Joab reported to the king the total number of the troops. In Israel there were 800,000 men of valor who drew the sword, and in Judah there were 500,000.

¹¹Uzziah had an army ready for battle that went out to war by assigned divisions, as recorded by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officers.

¹²The total number of family leaders of the mighty men of valor was 2,600.

⁵If a man is newly married, he must not be sent to war or be pressed into any duty. For one year he is free to stay at home and bring joy to the wife he has married.

¹⁶These men were appointed from the congregation; they were the leaders of the tribes of their fathers, the heads of the clans of Israel.

²⁵So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

⁴Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that His fierce anger may turn away from Israel.”

³On the east side, toward the sunrise, the divisions of Judah are to camp under their standard: The leader of the Judahites is Nahshon son of Amminadab,

⁴and his division numbers 74,600.

¹⁰When the altar was anointed, the leaders approached with their offerings for its dedication and presented them before the altar.

¹¹And the Lord said to Moses, “Each day one leader is to present his offering for the dedication of the altar.”

¹⁴With him they sent ten chiefs—one family leader from each tribe of Israel, each the head of a family among the clans of Israel.

³⁰On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, the leader of the Reubenites, drew near.

⁵and Bilhah conceived and bore him a son.

⁶Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; He has heard my plea and given me a son.” So she named him Dan.

³²And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”

³³Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon.

⁸Now these are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn.

⁹The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

⁴And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel:

⁵From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000,

¹⁸Then the divisions of the camp of Reuben set out under their standard, with Elizur son of Shedeur in command.

³⁶On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, the leader of the Simeonites, drew near.

¹²The tribe of Simeon will camp next to it. The leader of the Simeonites is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai,

³²the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,

¹⁴First, the divisions of the camp of Judah set out under their standard, with Nahshon son of Amminadab in command.

²⁰Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, Nahshon was the father of Salmon,

¹⁸Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron,

¹⁰Ram was the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, a leader of the descendants of Judah.

¹¹Nahshon was the father of Salmon, and Salmon was the father of Boaz.

³On the east side, toward the sunrise, the divisions of Judah are to camp under their standard: The leader of the Judahites is Nahshon son of Amminadab,

¹⁸On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, the leader of Issachar, drew near.

⁵The tribe of Issachar will camp next to it. The leader of the Issacharites is Nethanel son of Zuar,

¹⁵Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe of Issachar,

²⁴On the third day Eliab son of Helon, the leader of the Zebulunites, drew near.

¹⁶and Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun.

⁷Next will be the tribe of Zebulun. The leader of the Zebulunites is Eliab son of Helon,

⁴⁸On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, the leader of the Ephraimites, drew near.

⁵⁴On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, the leader of the Manassites, drew near.

²⁶Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,

²⁷Nun his son, and Joshua his son.

²⁰The tribe of Manasseh will be next to it. The leader of the Manassites is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur,

¹⁸On the west side, the divisions of Ephraim are to camp under their standard: The leader of the Ephraimites is Elishama son of Ammihud,

²²Next, the divisions of the camp of Ephraim set out under their standard, with Elishama son of Ammihud in command.

²³Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh,

⁶⁰On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, the leader of the Benjamites, drew near.

²⁴and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin.

²²Next will be the tribe of Benjamin. The leader of the Benjamites is Abidan son of Gideoni,

⁶⁶On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, the leader of the Danites, drew near.

²⁵On the north side, the divisions of Dan are to camp under their standard: The leader of the Danites is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai,

²⁵Finally, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out under their standard, serving as the rear guard for all units, with Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai in command.

⁷²On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran, the leader of the Asherites, drew near.

²⁶Pagiel son of Ocran was over the division of the tribe of Asher,

²⁷The tribe of Asher will camp next to it. The leader of the Asherites is Pagiel son of Ocran,

¹⁴Next will be the tribe of Gad. The leader of the Gadites is Eliasaph son of Deuel,

⁴²On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the Gadites, drew near.

²⁰and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad.

⁷⁸On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, the leader of the Naphtalites, drew near.

²⁷and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali.

²⁹Next will be the tribe of Naphtali. The leader of the Naphtalites is Ahira son of Enan,

²⁵So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

²¹Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

²And the leaders of Israel, the heads of their families, presented an offering. These men were the tribal leaders who had supervised the registration.

⁹and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. It was Dathan and Abiram, chosen by the congregation, who rebelled against Moses and Aaron with the followers of Korah who rebelled against the Lord.

¹⁶These officers were in charge of the tribes of Israel: Over the Reubenites was Eliezer son of Zichri; over the Simeonites was Shephatiah son of Maacah;

¹⁷over Levi was Hashabiah son of Kemuel; over Aaron was Zadok;

⁴And one man from each tribe, the head of each family, must be there with you.

⁵These are the names of the men who are to assist you: From the tribe of Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;

⁶from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;

⁴And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel:

⁵From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000,

³The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

⁵⁹The following came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, but they could not prove that their families were descended from Israel:

⁶¹The following came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove that their families were descended from Israel:

³Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.

⁶But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

¹On the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, the Lord spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Wilderness of Sinai. He said:

²“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.

¹Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He stirred up David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”

²So the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number.”

¹After the plague had ended, the Lord said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron the priest,

²“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by the houses of their fathers—all those twenty years of age or older who can serve in the army of Israel.”

⁵Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. These were the descendants of Reuben: The Hanochite clan from Hanoch, the Palluite clan from Pallu,

⁶the Hezronite clan from Hezron, and the Carmite clan from Carmi.

¹⁰On the south side, the divisions of Reuben are to camp under their standard: The leader of the Reubenites is Elizur son of Shedeur,

¹¹and his division numbers 46,500.

³Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.

⁴Uncontrolled as the waters, you will no longer excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, onto my couch, and defiled it.

⁹The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

³²And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.”

¹These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright.

⁷These were the clans of Reuben, and their registration numbered 43,730.

¹⁰On the south side, the divisions of Reuben are to camp under their standard: The leader of the Reubenites is Elizur son of Shedeur,

¹¹and his division numbers 46,500.

¹²These were the descendants of Simeon by their clans: The Nemuelite clan from Nemuel, the Jaminite clan from Jamin, the Jachinite clan from Jachin,

¹³the Zerahite clan from Zerah, and the Shaulite clan from Shaul.

⁵Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are weapons of violence.

⁶May I never enter their council; may I never join their assembly. For they kill men in their anger, and hamstring oxen on a whim.

¹⁰The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.

²⁵Three days later, while they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons (Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi) took their swords, went into the unsuspecting city, and slaughtered every male.

²⁶They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with their swords, took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went away.

³³Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon.

¹²The tribe of Simeon will camp next to it. The leader of the Simeonites is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai,

¹³and his division numbers 59,300.

¹⁴These were the clans of Simeon, and there were 22,200 men.

¹⁴The name of the Israelite who was slain with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, the leader of a Simeonite family.

⁸followed the Israelite into the tent, and drove the spear through both of them—through the Israelite and on through the belly of the woman. So the plague against the Israelites was halted,

⁹but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.

¹³and his division numbers 59,300.

¹⁵These were the descendants of Gad by their clans: The Zephonite clan from Zephon, the Haggite clan from Haggi, the Shunite clan from Shuni,

¹⁶the Oznite clan from Ozni, the Erite clan from Eri,

¹⁹Gad will be attacked by raiders, but he will attack their heels.

¹⁴Next will be the tribe of Gad. The leader of the Gadites is Eliasaph son of Deuel,

¹⁵and his division numbers 45,650.

¹⁰And Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son.

¹¹Then Leah said, “How fortunate!” So she named him Gad.

¹⁶The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.

¹⁸These were the clans of Gad, and their registration numbered 40,500.

¹⁵and his division numbers 45,650.

³⁵And once more she conceived and gave birth to a son and said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.

¹⁹The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan.

²⁰These were the descendants of Judah by their clans: The Shelanite clan from Shelah, the Perezite clan from Perez, and the Zerahite clan from Zerah.

⁹And Joab reported to the king the total number of the troops. In Israel there were 800,000 men of valor who drew the sword, and in Judah there were 500,000.

²And though Judah prevailed over his brothers and a ruler came from him, the birthright belonged to Joseph.

⁸Judah, your brothers shall praise you. Your hand shall be on the necks of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down to you.

⁹Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?

³On the east side, toward the sunrise, the divisions of Judah are to camp under their standard: The leader of the Judahites is Nahshon son of Amminadab,

⁴and his division numbers 74,600.

²²These were the clans of Judah, and their registration numbered 76,500.

⁹And Joab reported to the king the total number of the troops. In Israel there were 800,000 men of valor who drew the sword, and in Judah there were 500,000.

³On the east side, toward the sunrise, the divisions of Judah are to camp under their standard: The leader of the Judahites is Nahshon son of Amminadab,

⁴and his division numbers 74,600.

¹⁴These are their numbers according to the houses of their fathers: From Judah, the commanders of thousands: Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 mighty men of valor;

¹⁵next to him, Jehohanan the commander, and with him 280,000;

⁵The tribe of Issachar will camp next to it. The leader of the Issacharites is Nethanel son of Zuar,

⁶and his division numbers 54,400.

²³For there is no spell against Jacob and no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What great things God has done!’

²⁴Behold, the people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion, not resting until they devour their prey and drink the blood of the slain.”

¹⁸Then Leah said, “God has rewarded me for giving my maidservant to my husband.” So she named him Issachar.

²³These were the descendants of Issachar by their clans: The Tolaite clan from Tola, the Punite clan from Puvah,

²⁴the Jashubite clan from Jashub, and the Shimronite clan from Shimron.

¹⁴Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds.

¹⁵He saw that his resting place was good and that his land was pleasant, so he bent his shoulder to the burden and submitted to labor as a servant.

¹³The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Job, and Shimron.

²⁵These were the clans of Issachar, and their registration numbered 64,300.

⁶and his division numbers 54,400.

²⁶These were the descendants of Zebulun by their clans: The Seredite clan from Sered, the Elonite clan from Elon, and the Jahleelite clan from Jahleel.

²⁷These were the clans of Zebulun, and their registration numbered 60,500.

⁷Next will be the tribe of Zebulun. The leader of the Zebulunites is Eliab son of Helon,

⁸and his division numbers 57,400.

¹³Zebulun shall dwell by the seashore and become a harbor for ships; his border shall extend to Sidon.

¹⁴The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.

²⁰“God has given me a good gift,” she said. “This time my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons.” And she named him Zebulun.

²⁷These were the clans of Zebulun, and their registration numbered 60,500.

⁸and his division numbers 57,400.

³⁵These were the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: The Shuthelahite clan from Shuthelah, the Becherite clan from Becher, and the Tahanite clan from Tahan.

³⁶And the descendants of Shuthelah were the Eranite clan from Eran.

¹⁷His majesty is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are like those of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even to the ends of the earth. Such are the myriads of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.”

¹Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he set out with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

²When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up in bed.

²²Joseph is a fruitful vine—a fruitful vine by a spring, whose branches scale the wall.

²³The archers attacked him with bitterness; they aimed at him in hostility.

¹Meanwhile, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, where an Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.

²And the Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.

²⁰Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in the land of Egypt by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.

³⁷These were the clans of Ephraim, and their registration numbered 32,500. These clans were the descendants of Joseph.

¹⁹and his division numbers 40,500.

⁵And now your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here shall be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.

¹⁷His majesty is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are like those of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even to the ends of the earth. Such are the myriads of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.”

²⁸The descendants of Joseph included the clans of Manasseh and Ephraim.

²⁹These were the descendants of Manasseh: The Machirite clan from Machir, the father of Gilead, and the Gileadite clan from Gilead.

³⁴These were the clans of Manasseh, and their registration numbered 52,700.

¹⁹But his father refused. “I know, my son, I know!” he said. “He too shall become a people, and he too shall be great; nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.”

²⁰So that day Jacob blessed them and said: “By you shall Israel pronounce this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’” So he put Ephraim before Manasseh.

²¹and his division numbers 32,200.

²⁷Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder.”

²¹The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.

¹⁷From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him 200,000 armed with bows and shields;

³⁸These were the descendants of Benjamin by their clans: The Belaite clan from Bela, the Ashbelite clan from Ashbel, the Ahiramite clan from Ahiram,

³⁹the Shuphamite clan from Shupham, and the Huphamite clan from Hupham.

¹⁶Later, they set out from Bethel, and while they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult.

¹⁷During her severe labor, the midwife said to her, “Do not be afraid, for you are having another son.”

²⁰And we answered, ‘We have an elderly father and a younger brother, the child of his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’

⁴¹These were the clans of Benjamin, and their registration numbered 45,600.

²³and his division numbers 35,400.

⁴⁴And 18,000 Benjamites fell, all men of valor.

⁴⁵Then the Benjamites turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and Israel cut down 5,000 men on the roads. And they overtook them at Gidom and struck down 2,000 more.

¹⁷From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty man of valor, and with him 200,000 armed with bows and shields;

²³The son of Dan: Hushim.

⁴²These were the descendants of Dan by their clans: The Shuhamite clan from Shuham. These were the clans of Dan.

⁴³All of them were Shuhamite clans, and their registration numbered 64,400.

¹⁶Dan shall provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel.

¹⁷He will be a snake by the road, a viper in the path that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward.

⁵and Bilhah conceived and bore him a son.

⁶Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; He has heard my plea and given me a son.” So she named him Dan.

⁴³All of them were Shuhamite clans, and their registration numbered 64,400.

²⁶and his division numbers 62,700.

⁴⁴These were the descendants of Asher by their clans: The Imnite clan from Imnah, the Ishvite clan from Ishvi, and the Beriite clan from Beriah.

⁴⁵And these were the descendants of Beriah: the Heberite clan from Heber and the Malchielite clan from Malchiel.

¹²When Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son,

¹³Leah said, “How happy I am! For the women call me happy.” So she named him Asher.

²⁰Asher’s food will be rich; he shall provide royal delicacies.

²⁷And with the two sons who had been born to Joseph in Egypt, the members of Jacob’s family who went to Egypt were seventy in all.

⁴⁷These were the clans of Asher, and their registration numbered 53,400.

²⁸and his division numbers 41,500.

⁷And Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son.

⁸Then Rachel said, “In my great struggles, I have wrestled with my sister and won.” So she named him Naphtali.

²⁴The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

²¹Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns.

⁴⁸These were the descendants of Naphtali by their clans: The Jahzeelite clan from Jahzeel, the Gunite clan from Guni,

⁴⁹the Jezerite clan from Jezer, and the Shillemite clan from Shillem.

⁵⁰These were the clans of Naphtali, and their registration numbered 45,400.

³⁰and his division numbers 53,400.

⁶⁴Among all these, however, there was not one who had been numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai.

²“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.

³You and Aaron are to number those who are twenty years of age or older by their divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army.

³⁷The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth with about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children.

²⁶a beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone twenty years of age or older who had crossed over to be numbered, a total of 603,550 men.

⁵¹These men of Israel numbered 601,730 in all.

³²These are the Israelites, numbered according to their families. The total of those counted in the camps, by their divisions, was 603,550.

⁶I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you.

²²Your fathers went down to Egypt, seventy in all, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.

³³But the Levites were not counted among the other Israelites, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

¹This is the account of Aaron and Moses at the time the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.

⁵⁷Now these were the Levites numbered by their clans: The Gershonite clan from Gershon, the Kohathite clan from Kohath, and the Merarite clan from Merari.

⁵⁸These were the families of the Levites: The Libnite clan, the Hebronite clan, the Mahlite clan, the Mushite clan, and the Korahite clan. Now Kohath was the father of Amram,

⁶But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the count, because the king’s command was detestable to him.

¹The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

²The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

¹Then the Lord said to Moses,

²“Speak to Aaron and tell him: ‘When you set up the seven lamps, they are to light the area in front of the lampstand.’”

⁶²The registration of the Levites totaled 23,000, every male a month old or more; they were not numbered among the other Israelites, because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.

³³But the Levites were not counted among the other Israelites, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

²¹This is the inventory for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, as recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

¹⁸When the Lord had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.

¹⁵When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.

²²Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion.

²³The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle,

²⁴and the leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael.

²⁶So Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him.

²⁷He told them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each of you men is to fasten his sword to his side, go back and forth through the camp from gate to gate, and slay his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’”

³⁸Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.

¹⁰So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.”

¹⁹But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh because they looked inside the ark of the Lord. He struck down seventy men, and the people mourned because the Lord had struck them with a great slaughter.

⁷And the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.

²²No longer may the Israelites come near to the Tent of Meeting, or they will incur guilt and die.

¹Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron,

²“Take a census of the Kohathites among the Levites by their clans and families,

²“The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting at a distance from it, each man under his standard, with the banners of his family.

³⁴So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; they camped under their standards in this way and set out in the same way, each man with his clan and his family.

²When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him,

¹Then the Lord said to Moses,

²“Make two trumpets of hammered silver to be used for calling the congregation and for having the camps set out.

⁴⁶Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, place fire from the altar in it, and add incense. Go quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, because wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has begun.”

⁶Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become disheveled and do not tear your garments, or else you will die, and the Lord will be angry with the whole congregation. But your brothers, the whole house of Israel, may mourn on account of the fire that the Lord has ignited.

³²So the Levites were to carry out the responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting and the Holy Place, and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, the service of the house of the Lord.

¹⁹And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites, to perform the service for the Israelites at the Tent of Meeting and to make atonement on their behalf, so that no plague will come against the Israelites when they approach the sanctuary.”

³⁰From the Israelites’ half, take one out of every fifty, whether persons, cattle, donkeys, sheep, or other animals, and give them to the Levites who keep charge of the tabernacle of the Lord.”

⁴⁷From the Israelites’ half, Moses took one out of every fifty persons and animals and gave them to the Levites who kept charge of the tabernacle of the Lord, as the Lord had commanded him.

³²See that you do everything I command you; do not add to it or subtract from it.

²⁰and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

³²They washed whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

³²So all the work for the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

⁴³And Moses inspected all the work and saw that they had accomplished it just as the Lord had commanded. So Moses blessed them.

²¹Pay attention to him and listen to his voice; do not defy him, for he will not forgive rebellion, since My Name is in him.

²²But if you will listen carefully to his voice and do everything I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes.