3. So Aaron did this. He set up the seven lamps so they reflected their light forward, just as the lord had commanded Moses.
4. The entire lampstand, from its base to its decorative blossoms, was made of beaten gold. It was built according to the exact design the lord had shown Moses.
5. Then the lord said to Moses,
6. “Now set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel and make them ceremonially clean.
7. Do this by sprinkling them with the water of purification, and have them shave their entire body and wash their clothing. Then they will be ceremonially clean.
8. Have them bring a young bull and a grain offering of choice flour moistened with olive oil, along with a second young bull for a sin offering.
9. Then assemble the whole community of Israel, and present the Levites at the entrance of the Tabernacle.
10. When you present the Levites before the lord, the people of Israel must lay their hands on them.
11. Raising his hands, Aaron must then present the Levites to the lord as a special offering from the people of Israel, thus dedicating them to the lord’s service.
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.