1. Here is the story of the family of Aaron and Moses. It belongs to the time when the Lord talked with Moses on Mount Sinai.
2. Aaron's oldest son was Nadab. His other sons were Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
3. Those were the names of Aaron's sons. They were the anointed priests. They were prepared to serve the Lord as priests.
4. But Nadab and Abihu made an offering to the Lord by using fire that wasn't allowed. So they fell dead in front of him. That happened in the Desert of Sinai. They didn't have any sons. Only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests while their father Aaron was living.
5. The Lord spoke to Moses. He said,
6. "Bring the men of the tribe of Levi to the priest Aaron. They will help him.
7. They must work at the Tent of Meeting for Aaron and for the whole community. They must do what needs to be done at the holy tent.
8. They must take care of everything that is connected with the Tent of Meeting. When they do, they are acting for all of the people of Israel.
9. Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They are the men of Israel who must be given completely to him.
10. "Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Anyone else who approaches the sacred tent must be put to death."
11. The Lord also said to Moses,
12. "I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel. I have taken them in place of the oldest son who is born to each woman in Israel. The Levites belong to me.
13. That is because every male that is born first to a mother is mine. In Egypt I struck down all of the males that were born first. I did it when I set apart for myself every male that is born first to a mother in Israel. That is true for men and animals alike. They belong to me. I am the Lord."
14. The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai. He said,