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.”
16. So Moses obeyed the Lord and counted them all.