The Levites
1Here is the story of the family line of Aaron and Moses. It belongs to the time when the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.
2Aaron’s oldest son was Nadab. Aaron’s other sons were Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 3Those were the names of Aaron’s sons. They were the anointed priests. They were given authority to serve the Lord as priests. 4But Nadab and Abihu made an offering to the Lord by using fire that wasn’t allowed. So they died 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.
5The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, 6“Bring the men of the tribe of Levi to Aaron the priest. They will help him. 7They 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. 8They must take care of everything connected with the tent of meeting. When they do, they are acting for all the Israelites. 9Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They are the men of Israel who must be given completely to him. 10Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Anyone else who approaches the sacred tent must be put to death.”
11The Lord also said to Moses, 12“I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites. I have taken them in place of the son born first to each woman in Israel. The Levites belong to me. 13That’s because every male born first to a mother is mine. In Egypt I struck down all the males born first. I did it when I set apart for myself every male born first to a mother in Israel. That is true for men and animals alike. They belong to me. I am the Lord.”
14The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai. He said, 15“Count the Levites by their family groups. Count every male a month old or more.” 16So Moses counted them. He did just as the word of the Lord had commanded him.
17The sons of Levi were
Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
18The major families from Gershon were
Libni and Shimei.
19The major families from Kohath were
Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.
20The major families from Merari were
Mahli and Mushi.
These were the major families of the Levites.
21The families of Libni and Shimei belonged to the family of Gershon.
22All the males a month old or more were counted. There were 7,500 of them.
23The families of Gershon had to camp on the west side. They had to camp behind the holy tent.
24The leader of the families of Gershon was Eliasaph, the son of Lael.
25Here are the duties of the families of Gershon at the tent of meeting. They were responsible for taking care of the holy tent and its coverings. They took care of the curtain at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 26They took care of the curtains of the courtyard. And they took care of the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. The courtyard was all around the holy tent and altar. The families of Gershon also took care of the ropes. In fact, they had to take care of everything connected with the use of all those things.
27The families of Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel belonged to the family of Kohath.
28All the males a month old or more were counted. There were 8,600 of them.
The families of Kohath were responsible for taking care of the sacred tent.
29They had to camp on the south side of the holy tent.
30The leader of the families of Kohath was Elizaphan, the son of Uzziel.
31They were responsible for taking care of the ark of the covenant law. They took care of the table for the holy bread. They took care of the lampstand and the two altars. They took care of the things used for serving in the sacred tent. They also took care of the inner curtain. In fact, they had to take care of everything connected with the use of all those things.
32The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar. He was the son of Aaron the priest. Eleazar was appointed over those responsible for taking care of the sacred tent.
33The families of Mahli and Mushi belonged to the family of Merari.
34All the males a month old or more were counted. There were 6,200 of them.
35The leader of the families of Merari was Zuriel, the son of Abihail.
The families of Merari had to camp on the north side of the holy tent.
36They were responsible for taking care of the frames of the tent. They took care of its crossbars, posts and bases. They took care of all its supplies. In fact, they had to take care of everything connected with the use of all those things. 37They also took care of the posts of the courtyard around the holy tent. And they took care of the bases, tent stakes and ropes.
38Moses, Aaron and Aaron’s sons had to camp to the east of the holy tent. They had to camp toward the sunrise in front of the tent of meeting.
They were responsible for taking care of the sacred tent. They had to do it for the Israelites.
Anyone else who approached the tent would be put to death.
39The total number of the Levite males was 22,000. They were counted family by family. Every male a month old or more was counted. Moses and Aaron counted them, just as the Lord had commanded.
40The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the Israelite males born first in their families. Count all those a month old or more. Make a list of their names. 41Take the Levites for me in their place. And take the livestock of the Levites in place of all the male animals in Israel born first to their mothers. I am the Lord.”
42So Moses counted all the oldest sons in Israel. He did just as the Lord had commanded him. 43There were 22,273 of those sons a month old or more. They were listed by name.
44The Lord also said to Moses, 45“Take the Levites in place of all the males born first in Israel. Also take the livestock of the Levites in place of the livestock of Israel. The Levites belong to me. I am the Lord. 46But there are 273 more males born first in Israel than there are male Levites. 47Collect two ounces of silver for each of them. Weigh it out according to the standard weights used in the sacred tent. 48Give the silver to Aaron and his sons. It will buy the freedom of the additional sons in Israel.”
49So Moses collected the silver from the additional sons in Israel to buy their freedom. The Levites took the place of all the others. 50Moses collected 35 pounds of silver. It was weighed out according to the weights used in the sacred tent. Moses collected it from the oldest sons in Israel. 51He gave the silver to Aaron and his sons. He did just as the Lord had commanded him.
Lewifoɔ
1Ɛberɛ a Awurade kasa kyerɛɛ Mose wɔ Sinai Bepɔ so no.
2Na yeinom ne Aaron ne Mose abusua. Aaron mmammarima edin na ɛdidi soɔ yi: Nadab, nʼabakan, Abihu, Eleasa ne Itamar. 3Yeinom ne Aaron mma a wɔasra wɔn ngo na wɔayi wɔn asi hɔ sɛ asɔfoɔ. 4Nadab ne Abihu deɛ, wɔwuwuu wɔ Awurade anim ɛberɛ a wɔhyee afɔrebɔdeɛ wɔ ogya a ɛmfata so wɔ Sinai ɛserɛ so. Na wɔnni mma enti, Eleasa ne Itamar nko ara na wɔsomm sɛ asɔfoɔ, ɛberɛ a wɔn agya Aaron te ase.
5Awurade ka kyerɛɛ Mose sɛ: 6“Frɛ Lewifoɔ no, na fa wɔn ma ɔsɔfoɔ Aaron sɛ nʼaboafoɔ. 7Wɔbɛyɛ adwuma wɔ Ahyiaeɛ Ntomadan no mu ama ɔsɔfoɔ Aaron ne nnipa no nyinaa. 8Afei, wɔbɛhwɛ nneɛma a wɔde siesie Ahyiaeɛ Ntomadan mu no so, de asi Israelfoɔ no no anan mu ayɛ asodie a wɔyɛ wɔ Ahyiaeɛ Ntomadan no mu. 9Fa Lewifoɔ no ma Aaron ne ne mmammarima; wɔn ne Israelfoɔ a wɔde wɔn bɛma no korakora. 10Ma Aaron ne ne mmammarima no nsom sɛ asɔfoɔ; onipa foforɔ biara a ɔbɛbɛne kronkronbea hɔ no, ɛsɛ sɛ wɔkum no.”
11Awurade ka kyerɛɛ Mose sɛ, 12“Mayi Lewifoɔ no afiri Israelfoɔ no mu de wɔn asi Israel babaa biara abakan a ɔyɛ ɔbarima anan mu. Lewifoɔ no yɛ me dea, 13ɛfiri sɛ abakan biara wɔ me. Ɛberɛ a mekunkum mmakan wɔ Misraim no, megyaa Israel mmakan, sɛ wɔyɛ nnipa anaa mmoa. Wɔyɛ me dea. Mene Awurade.”
14Afei, Awurade ka kyerɛɛ Mose wɔ Sinai ɛserɛ so sɛ, 15“Kan Lewifoɔ no wɔ wɔn mmusua ne afie mu. Kan ɔbarima biara firi deɛ wadi bosome baako so.” 16Enti Mose kanee wɔn sɛdeɛ Awurade hyɛɛ no no.
17Yeinom ne Lewi mmammarima:
Gerson, Kohat ne Merari.
18Gerson asefoɔ nie:
Libni ne Simei.
19Kohat asefoɔ:
Amram, Ishar, Hebron ne Usiel.
20Merari asefoɔ:
Mahli ne Musi.
Yeinom ne Lewifoɔ sɛdeɛ wɔn mmusua ne wɔn afie teɛ.
21Gerson asefoɔ no na wɔyɛ mmusua a wɔfiri Libni ne Simei ase.
22Na Gersonfoɔ mmarima a wɔadi bosome ne deɛ ɛboro saa a wɔfiri Gerson mmusua mu no dodoɔ yɛ mpem ahanson ne ahanum (7,500).
23Wɔn atenaeɛ wɔ Ahyiaeɛ Ntomadan no akyi wɔ atɔeɛ fam.
24Na Gersonfoɔ no ntuanoni ne Lael babarima Eliasaf.
25Saa mmusuakuo mmienu yi na na wɔhwɛ Ahyiaeɛ Ntomadan no ne ne nkataho no ne ɛkwan nsɛnanotam no so. 26Afei, na wɔhwɛ adihɔ nsɛnanotam a ɛtwa Ahyiaeɛ Ntomadan no ho ne afɔrebukyia ne adihɔ nsɛnanotam, nhoma ne ɛhɔ nneɛma a wɔde di dwuma ahodoɔ no nyinaa so.
27Kohat asefoɔ yɛ mmusua a wɔfiri Amram, Ishar, Hebron ne Usiel ase.
28Na Kehat mmusua no mu mmarima a wɔadi bosome ne deɛ ɛboro saa dodoɔ yɛ mpem aha nwɔtwe ne ahansia (8,600).
Wɔn na na wɔhwɛ kronkronbea mu hɔ so.
29Wɔmaa wɔn atenaeɛ wɔ Ahyiaeɛ Ntomadan no anafoɔ fam.
30Na Kohatfoɔ ntuanoni no ne Usiel babarima Elisafan.
31Saa mmusua ɛnan yi na na wɔhwɛ apam adaka, ɛpono, kaneadua, afɔrebukyia hodoɔ, ne deɛ ɛkeka ho a na wɔde di dwuma wɔ kronkronbea hɔ, mfimfini ntwamutam ne nneɛma a wɔde di dwuma ahodoɔ wɔ hɔ nyinaa no so.
32Aaron babarima ɔsɔfoɔ Eleasa no na na ɔyɛ ɔpanin wɔ Lewifoɔ no nyinaa so. Ɔyɛɛ no panin wɔ asɔfoɔ a wɔhwɛ kronkronbea no so.
33Na Merari asefoɔ no yɛ mmusua a wɔfiri Mahli ne Musi ase.
34Merarifoɔ mmusua no mu na mmarima a wɔadi bosome ne deɛ ɛboro saa dodoɔ yɛ mpem nsia ne ahanu (6,200).
35Merari abusua no ntuanoni ne Abihail babarima Suriel,
na wɔtenaa Ahyiaeɛ Ntomadan no atifi fam.
36Dwumadie a wɔde hyɛɛ saa mmusuakuo mmienu yi nsa ne sɛ, wɔbɛhwɛ Ahyiaeɛ Ntomadan no nnyinasoɔ so. Afei, wɔbɛhwɛ mmeamu nnua, mpunan, nsisisoɔ ne ɛho nneɛma a wɔde di dwuma nyinaa. 37Afei, mpunan a ɛwɔ adihɔ hɔ nyinaa ne ne nsisisoɔ, mpɛɛwa, ne ntampehoma nyinaa, wɔbɛhwɛ so.
38Ahyiaeɛ Ntomadan no apueeɛ fam, deɛ owia pue firi no, wɔgya maa Mose ne Aaron ne ne mmammarima sɛ wɔnsisi wɔn ntomadan wɔ hɔ.
Saa nnipa yi na na wɔsi Israelfoɔ no anan mu di Ahyiaeɛ Ntomadan no ho dwuma nyinaa.
Onipa foforɔ biara a ɔbɛbɛn kronkronbea hɔ no, wɔbɛkum no.
39Lewifoɔ a Awurade hyɛɛ Mose ne Aaron sɛ wɔnkan wɔn sɛdeɛ wɔn mmusua teɛ a ɔbarima biara a wɔadi bosome ne deɛ ɛboro saa ka ho no dodoɔ yɛ mpem aduonu mmienu (22,000).
40Awurade ka kyerɛɛ Mose sɛ, “Kan Israelfoɔ mmakan a wɔyɛ mmarima na wɔadi bosome ne deɛ ɛboro saa no, na twerɛ wɔn edin. 41Lewifoɔ no bɛyɛ me dea. Ma wɔnsi Israelfoɔ mmakan nyinaa anan mu, na Lewifoɔ nyɛmmoa mmakan nsi Israelfoɔ nyɛmmoa mmakan anan mu. Mene Awurade.”
42Enti Mose kanee Israelfoɔ mmakan nyinaa sɛdeɛ Awurade hyɛɛ no no. 43Mmammarima mmakan a wɔadi bosome ne deɛ ɛboro saa no a ɔtwerɛɛ wɔn edin no ano si mpem aduonu mmienu ahanu ne aduɔson mmiɛnsa (22,273).
44Afei, Awurade ka kyerɛɛ Mose sɛ, 45“Ma Lewifoɔ nsi Israelfoɔ mmakan ananmu. Na Lewifoɔ nyɛmmoa mmakan nso nsi Israelfoɔ nyɛmmoa mmakan ananmu. Lewifoɔ yɛ me dea. Mene Awurade. 46Ansa na mobɛgye Israelfoɔ mmakan ahanu aduɔson mmiɛnsa no a wɔboro Lewifoɔ no dodoɔ so no, 47momma wɔntua tiadeɛ, sɛdeɛ hyiadan mu nnwetɛbena teɛ, a emu duru yɛ gram aduonum nson. 48Fa tiadeɛ sika no ma Aaron ne ne mma.”
49Enti Mose gyegyee Israelfoɔ ahanu aduɔson mmiɛnsa a na wɔboro Lewifoɔ no dodoɔ so no tiadeɛ. 50Sika a wɔgyegyeeɛ no nyinaa ano sii dwetɛ kilogram dunum ne fa. 51Na Mose de maa Aaron ne ne mmammarima sɛdeɛ Awurade hyɛɛ no no.
