⁵ The Lord said to Moses, ⁶ “Bring the tribe of Levi^(A) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.^{(B) 7} They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community^(C) at the tent of meeting by doing the work^(D) of the tabernacle. ⁸ They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. ⁹ Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons;^(E) they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.^{[a] 10} Appoint Aaron^(F) and his sons to serve as priests;^(G) anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”^(H)

¹¹ The Lord also said to Moses, ¹² “I have taken the Levites^(I) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring^(J) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,^{(K) 13} for all the firstborn are mine.^(L) 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.”^(M)