2. Aaron had four sons. Nadab was the oldest. Then Aaron had Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
3. Those were the names of Aaron’s sons. They were appointed to serve as priests.
4. But Nadab and Abihu died when they sinned in the presence of the Lord. They made an offering to the Lord in the Desert of Sinai. But they used the wrong kind of fire. They had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.
5. The Lord said to Moses,
6. “Bring the tribe of Levi to Aaron the priest. They must help him.
7. They will help him and all the Israelites at the Meeting Tent. They will do the work of the Holy Tent.
8. The Levites must take care of everything in the Meeting Tent. They will serve the people of Israel by doing the work in the Holy Tent.
9. Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. Of all the Israelites, the Levites are given completely to him.
10. Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Anyone else who comes near the holy things must be put to death.”
11. The Lord also said to Moses,
12. “I am choosing the Levites from all the Israelites. They will take the place of all the firstborn children of Israel. The Levites will be mine.
13. All the firstborn are mine. When you were in Egypt, I killed all the firstborn children of the Egyptians. I took all the firstborn of Israel to be mine. Firstborn animals and children are mine. I am the Lord.”
14. The Lord again talked to Moses in the Desert of Sinai. The Lord said,
15. “Count the Levites by families and family groups. Count every male one month old or older.”