16. They will be given to me from the Israelites. I have taken them for myself. They are mine instead of the firstborn son of every Israelite woman.
17. Every firstborn male in Israel—man or animal—is mine. I killed all the firstborn in Egypt. So now I set them aside for myself.
18. I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn sons in Israel.
19. I have chosen the Levites from all the Israelites. And I have given them to Aaron and his sons. They will serve all the Israelites at the Meeting Tent. They will help remove the Israelites’ sins so they will belong to God. Then no disaster will strike the Israelites when they approach the Holy Place.”
20. So Moses, Aaron and all the Israelites obeyed the Lord. They did with the Levites what the Lord commanded Moses.
21. The Levites made themselves clean and washed their clothes. Then Aaron presented them as an offering to the Lord. Aaron also removed their sins so they would be pure for the Lord.
22. After that, the Levites came to the Meeting Tent to work. Aaron and his sons told them what to do. They did with the Levites what the Lord commanded Moses.