²⁵ Three days later, while all of them were still in pain,^(A) two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon^(B) and Levi,^(C) Dinah’s brothers, took their swords^(D) and attacked the unsuspecting city,^(E) killing every male.^(F)

³⁰ Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble^(A) on me by making me obnoxious^(B) to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people living in this land.^(C) We are few in number,^(D) and if they join forces against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.”

²⁶ So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.

²⁷ Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’”^{(A) 28} The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. ²⁹ Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.”

⁶ “Bring the tribe of Levi^(A) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.^(B)

¹² “I have taken the Levites^(A) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring^(B) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,^{(C) 13} for all the firstborn are mine.^(D) When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.”^(E)

⁴⁰ The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more^(A) and make a list of their names.^{(B) 41} Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites,^(C) and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord.”^(D)

⁴² So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. ⁴³ The total number of firstborn males a month old or more,^(E) listed by name, was 22,273.^(F)

¹⁶ They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me. I have taken them as my own in place of the firstborn,^(A) the first male offspring^(B) from every Israelite woman. ¹⁷ Every firstborn male in Israel, whether human or animal,^(C) is mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set them apart for myself.^{(D) 18} And I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons in Israel.^{(E) 19} From among all the Israelites, I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons^(F) to do the work at the tent of meeting on behalf of the Israelites^(G) and to make atonement for them^(H) so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the sanctuary.”

Duties of Priests and Levites

18 The Lord said to Aaron, “You, your sons and your family are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the sanctuary,^(A) and you and your sons alone are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the priesthood.