4. And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered unholy fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father.
5. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,
6. Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.
7. And they shall perform his duties, and the duties of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of meeting, to do the work of the tabernacle.
8. And they shall keep all the furnishings of the tabernacle of meeting, and serve the children of Israel, to do the work of the tabernacle.
9. And you shall give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.
10. And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that comes near shall be put to death.
11. And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,
12. And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that opens the womb among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;
13. Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.
14. And the LORD spoke unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,
15. Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shall you number them.