16. I have claimed them in the place of all the firstborn sons of the Israelites, and they belong to me alone.
17. When I killed all the firstborn in Egypt, I consecrated as my own the eldest son of each Israelite family and the firstborn of every animal.
18. I am now taking the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the Israelites,
19. and I assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons, as a gift from the Israelites, to work in the Tent for the people of Israel and to protect the Israelites from the disaster that would strike them if they came too near the Holy Place.”
20. So Moses, Aaron, and all the people of Israel dedicated the Levites, as the Lord commanded Moses.
21. The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes, and Aaron dedicated them as a special gift to the Lord. He also performed the ritual of purification for them.
22. The people did everything the Lord had commanded Moses concerning the Levites. And so the Levites were qualified to work in the Tent under Aaron and his sons.