^{6 Ref} "Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.

^{7 Ref} They shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle.

^{8 Ref} They shall keep all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, and the obligations of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

^{9 Ref} You shall give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons. They are wholly given to him on the behalf of the children of Israel.

^{10 Ref} You shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death."

¹¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

^{12 Ref} "Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be mine:

^{13 Ref} for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I made holy to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal. They shall be mine. I am Yahweh."