35. The chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. These were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.
36. Under the oversight and guard of the sons of Merari were the frames of the tabernacle, the bars, the pillars, the sockets, all their accessories, all the service pertaining to these,
37. and the pillars of the court all around, with their sockets, and pins, and cords.
38. But those who were to camp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tent of meeting on the east side, were Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the guard of the sanctuary for the guard of the children of Israel, and the foreigner who approached was to be put to death.
39. All who were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the Lord, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and older, were twenty-two thousand.
40. The Lord said to Moses: Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and older and take the number of their names.
41. You will take the Levites for Me (I am the Lord) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the children of Israel.
42. Moses numbered, as the Lord commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
43. All the firstborn males, by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those who were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred and seventy-three.
44. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
45. Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock, and the Levites will be Mine. I am the Lord.
46. For those who are to be redeemed of the two hundred and seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites,
47. you will take five shekels apiece by the poll; according to the shekel of the sanctuary you will take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs).
48. And you will give the money, by which the number of them is to be redeemed, to Aaron and to his sons.
49. Moses took the redemption money of those who were over and above those who were redeemed by the Levites.
50. Of the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary.