27Of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites; these were the families of the Kohathites. 28In the counting of every male from a month old and upward, there were 8,600, performing the duties of the sanctuary. 29The families of the sons of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle, 30and the leader of the fathers’ households of the Kohathite families: [k]Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31Now their duties included the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the utensils of the sanctuary with which they minister, the [l]curtain, and all the service [m]concerning them; 32and Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was the head of the leaders of Levi, and he had the supervision of those who performed the duties of the sanctuary.

33Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites; these were the families of Merari. 34Their numbered men in the counting of every male from a month old and upward: 6,200. 35And the leader of the fathers’ households of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They were to camp on the northward side of the tabernacle. 36Now the appointment of duties of the sons of Merari included the framework of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its bases, all its equipment, and all the service concerning them, 37and the pillars around the courtyard with their bases, their pegs, and their ropes.

38Now those who were to camp in front of the tabernacle eastward, in front of the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, were Moses and Aaron and his sons, performing the duties of the sanctuary for the obligation of the sons of Israel; but the [n]layman coming near was to be put to death. 39All the numbered men of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the [o]command of the LORD by their families, every male from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand.

Firstborn Redeemed

40Then the LORD said to Moses, “Count every firstborn male of the sons of Israel from a month old and upward, and [p]make a list of their names. 41And you shall take the Levites for Me—I am the LORD—instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites in place of all the firstborn among the cattle of the sons of Israel.” 42So Moses counted all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, just as the LORD had commanded him; 43and all the firstborn males, by the number of names from a month old and upward for their numbered men, were 22,273.

44Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 45“Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites in place of their cattle. And the Levites shall be Mine; I am the LORD. 46And as [q]a redemption price for the 273 of the firstborn of the sons of Israel who are in excess of the number of the Levites, 47you shall take five shekels apiece, per head; you shall take them in terms of the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty [r]gerahs), 48and you shall give the money, the redemption price of those who are in excess among them, to Aaron and to his sons.” 49So Moses took the redemption money from those who were in excess of the number of those redeemed by the Levites; 50from the firstborn of the sons of Israel he took the money in terms of the shekel of the sanctuary, 1,365. 51Then Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and to his sons, at the [s]command of the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.