12. “Next the Levites will lay their hands on the heads of the young bulls. Present one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the lord, to purify the Levites and make them right with the lord.
13. Then have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons, and raise your hands and present them as a special offering to the lord.
14. In this way, you will set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel, and the Levites will belong to me.
15. After this, they may go into the Tabernacle to do their work, because you have purified them and presented them as a special offering.
16. “Of all the people of Israel, the Levites are reserved for me. I have claimed them for myself in place of all the firstborn sons of the Israelites; I have taken the Levites as their substitutes.
17. For all the firstborn males among the people of Israel are mine, both of people and of animals. I set them apart for myself on the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians.
18. Yes, I have claimed the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons of Israel.