Num 3:5-9 : 5 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
6 Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may assist him.
7 They shall be responsible for his duties and the duties of the entire congregation before the tent of meeting, to perform the service of the tabernacle.
8 They shall care for all the furnishings of the tent of meeting and the duties of the people of Israel, to perform the service of the tabernacle.
9 You shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are wholly given to him from among the people of Israel.
10 But you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to be responsible for their priesthood, and any unauthorized person who approaches it shall be put to death.
11 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
12 I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the people of Israel. The Levites shall be mine.
13 For all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both of humans and of animals. They shall be mine. I am the LORD.
14 The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying:
15 Take a census of the sons of Levi, by their fathers' houses and by their clans. Count every male a month old and upward.
16 So Moses listed them according to the command of the LORD, as he had been instructed.
17 These were the names of the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
18 The names of the sons of Gershon by their clans were Libni and Shimei.
19 The sons of Kohath by their clans were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
20 The sons of Merari by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of Levi, according to their fathers' houses.
21 To Gershon belonged the clan of the Libnites and the clan of the Shimeites. These are the clans of the Gershonites.
22 Their census, counting every male a month old and upward, numbered 7,500.
23 The clans of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle on the west side.
24 The leader of the fathers' house of the Gershonites was Eliasaph the son of Lael.
25 The duties of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting included the tabernacle, the tent, its covering, the curtain at the entrance of the tent of meeting,
26 the hangings of the courtyard, the curtain at the entrance of the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and the altar, its ropes, and all the service connected with them.
27 To Kohath belonged the clan of the Amramites, the clan of the Izharites, the clan of the Hebronites, and the clan of the Uzzielites. These are the clans of the Kohathites.
28 Their census, counting every male a month old and upward, numbered 8,600, responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.
29 The clans of the Kohathites were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle.
30 The leader of the fathers' house of the clans of the Kohathites was Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.
31 Their duty included the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary used in ministering, the screen, and all the work related to these.
32 The chief of the leaders of the Levites was Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, who had oversight of those keeping charge of the sanctuary.
33 To Merari belonged the clan of the Mahlites and the clan of the Mushites. These are the clans of Merari.
34 Their census, counting every male a month old and upward, numbered 6,200.
35 The leader of the fathers' house of the clans of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.
36 The appointed duty of the sons of Merari included the frames of the tabernacle, its bars, pillars, bases, all its fittings, and all the work associated with these.
37 This also included the pillars of the courtyard all around, their bases, pegs, cords, and all related work.