19. "I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons. I have taken them from all of the men of Israel. I have appointed them to do the work at the Tent of Meeting. They will do it in place of the men of Israel. "That is how they will keep the men of Israel from being guilty when they go near the sacred tent. Then no plague will strike the people of Israel when they go near the tent."
20. So Moses and Aaron and the whole community of Israel did with the Levites just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
21. The Levites made themselves pure. They washed their clothes. Then Aaron gave them to the Lord as a wave offering. That's how he paid for their sin to make them pure.
22. After that, the Levites came to do their work at the Tent of Meeting. They worked under the direction of Aaron and his sons. And so Moses and Aaron and the whole community of Israel did with the Levites just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
23. The Lord spoke to Moses. He said,
24. "Here is what the Levites must do. Men who are 25 years old or more must come and take part in the work at the Tent of Meeting.
25. "But when they reach the age of 50, they must not work any longer. They must stop doing their regular work.