10. You shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; anyone else who tries to do so shall be put to death.”
11. The Lord said to Moses,
12-13. “The Levites are now to be mine. When I killed all the firstborn of the Egyptians, I consecrated as my own the eldest son of each Israelite family and the firstborn of every animal. Now, instead of having the firstborn sons of Israel as my own, I have the Levites; they will belong to me. I am the Lord.”
14. In the Sinai Desert the Lord commanded Moses
15. to register the Levites by clans and families, enrolling every male a month old or older,
16. and Moses did so.
17-20. Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, who were the ancestors of the clans that bear their names. Gershon had two sons: Libni and Shimei; Kohath had four sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel; and Merari had two sons: Mahli and Mushi. They were the ancestors of the families that bear their names.
21. The clan of Gershon was composed of the families of Libni and Shimei.
22. The total number of males one month old or older that were enrolled was 7,500.
23. This clan was to camp on the west behind the Tent,
24. with Eliasaph son of Lael as chief of the clan.
25. They were responsible for the Tent, its inner cover, its outer cover, the curtain for the entrance,
26. the curtains for the court which is round the Tent and the altar, and the curtain for the entrance of the court. They were responsible for all the service connected with these items.
27. The clan of Kohath was composed of the families of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.