1. The Lord said to Moses:
2. Speak to Aaron and say: “When you set up the menorah-lamps, have the seven lamps throw their light in front of the menorah.”
3. Aaron did so, setting up the menorah-lamps to face the area in front of the menorah, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
4. This is the construction of the menorah: hammered gold, from its base to its bowls it was hammered; according to the pattern which the Lord had shown Moses, so he made the menorah.
5. The Lord said to Moses:
6. Take the Levites from among the Israelites and cleanse them.
7. This is what you shall do to them to cleanse them. Sprinkle them with the water of purification, have them shave their whole bodies and wash their garments, and so cleanse themselves.
8. Then they shall take a bull from the herd, along with its grain offering of bran flour mixed with oil; and you shall take another bull from the herd for a purification offering.
9. Bringing the Levites before the tent of meeting, you shall assemble also the whole community of the Israelites.
10. When you have brought the Levites before the Lord, the Israelites shall lay their hands upon them.
11. Aaron shall then present the Levites before the Lord as an elevated offering from the Israelites, that they may perform the service of the Lord.
12. The Levites in turn shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, offering one as a purification offering and the other as a burnt offering to the Lord, to make atonement for the Levites.
13. Then you shall have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons, and you shall present them as an elevated offering to the Lord;
14. thus you shall separate the Levites from the rest of the Israelites, and the Levites shall belong to me.
15. Only then shall the Levites enter upon their service in the tent of meeting, when you have cleansed them and presented them as an elevated offering.