12. “I am choosing the Levites from all the Israelites to take the place of all the firstborn children of Israel. The Levites will be mine,
13. because the firstborn are mine. When you were in Egypt, I killed all the firstborn children of the Egyptians and took all the firstborn of Israel to be mine, both animals and children. They are mine. I am the Lord.”
14. The Lord again said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,
15. “Count the Levites by families and family groups. Count every male one month old or older.”
16. So Moses obeyed the Lord and counted them all.
17. Levi had three sons, whose names were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
18. The Gershonite family groups were Libni and Shimei.
19. The Kohathite family groups were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
20. The Merarite family groups were Mahli and Mushi.These were the family groups of the Levites.
21. The family groups of Libni and Shimei belonged to Gershon; they were the Gershonite family groups.
22. The number that was counted was 7,500 males one month old or older.
23. The Gershonite family groups camped on the west side, behind the Holy Tent.
24. The leader of the families of Gershon was Eliasaph son of Lael.
25. In the Meeting Tent the Gershonites were in charge of the Holy Tent, its covering, the curtain at the entrance to the Meeting Tent,
26. the curtains in the courtyard, the curtain at the entry to the courtyard around the Holy Tent and the altar, the ropes, and all the work connected with these items.
27. The family groups of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel belonged to Kohath; they were the Kohathite family groups.
28. They had 8,600 males one month old or older, and they were responsible for taking care of the Holy Place.