The Kohathites

4 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2 “Take a censusl of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. 3 Countm all the men from thirty to fifty years of agen who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

4 “This is the worko of the Kohathitesp at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.q 5 When the camp is to move,r Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtains and put it over the ark of the covenant law.t 6 Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,a u spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the polesv in place.

7 “Over the table of the Presencew they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings;x the bread that is continually therey is to remain on it. 8 They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the polesz in place.

9 “They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays,a and all its jars for the olive oil used to supply it. 10 Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of the durable leather and put it on a carrying frame.b

11 “Over the gold altarc they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with the durable leather and put the polesd in place.

12 “They are to take all the articlese used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with the durable leather and put them on a carrying frame.f

13 “They are to remove the ashesg from the bronze altarh and spread a purple cloth over it. 14 Then they are to place on it all the utensilsi used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans,j meat forks,k shovelsl and sprinkling bowls.m Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the polesn in place.

15 “After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move,o only then are the Kohathitesp to come and do the carrying.q But they must not touch the holy thingsr or they will die.s The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

16 “Eleazart son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light,u the fragrant incense,v the regular grain offeringw and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles.”

17 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 18 “See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not destroyed from among the Levites. 19 So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things,x do this for them: Aaron and his sonsy are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.z 20 But the Kohathites must not go in to looka at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”

The Gershonites

21 The Lord said to Moses, 22 “Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans. 23 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of ageb who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

24 “This is the service of the Gershonite clans in their carrying and their other work: 25 They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle,c that is, the tent of meeting,d its coveringe and its outer covering of durable leather, the curtains for the entrance to the tent of meeting, 26 the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,f the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard,g the ropes and all the equipmenth used in the service of the tent. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things. 27 All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons.i You shall assign to them as their responsibilityj all they are to carry. 28 This is the service of the Gershonite clansk at the tent of meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamarl son of Aaron, the priest.

The Merarites

29 “Countm the Merarites by their clans and families.n 30 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting. 31 As part of all their service at the tent, they are to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases,o 32 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes,p all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry. 33 This is the service of the Merarite clans as they work at the tent of meeting under the direction of Ithamarq son of Aaron, the priest.”

The Numbering of the Levite Clans

34 Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathitesr by their clans and families. 35 All the men from thirty to fifty years of ages who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 36 counted by clans, were 2,750. 37 This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clanst who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

38 The Gershonitesu were counted by their clans and families. 39 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 40 counted by their clans and families, were 2,630. 41 This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command.

42 The Merarites were counted by their clans and families. 43 All the men from thirty to fifty years of agev who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 44 counted by their clans, were 3,200. 45 This was the total of those in the Merarite clans.w Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

46 So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel countedx all the Levites by their clans and families. 47 All the men from thirty to fifty years of agey who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting 48 numbered 8,580.z 49 At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.

Thus they were counted,a as the Lord commanded Moses.

The Purity of the Camp

5 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone who has a defiling skin diseasea b or a dischargec of any kind, or who is ceremonially uncleand because of a dead body.e 3 Send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.f” 4 The Israelites did so; they sent them outside the camp. They did just as the Lord had instructed Moses.

Restitution for Wrongs

5 The Lord said to Moses, 6 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any man or woman who wrongs another in any wayb and so is unfaithfulg to the Lord is guiltyh 7 and must confessi the sin they have committed. They must make full restitutionj for the wrong they have done, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the person they have wronged. 8 But if that person has no close relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the Lord and must be given to the priest, along with the ramk with which atonement is made for the wrongdoer.l 9 All the sacred contributions the Israelites bring to a priest will belong to him.m 10 Sacred things belong to their owners, but what they give to the priest will belong to the priest.n’ ”

The Test for an Unfaithful Wife

11 Then the Lord said to Moses, 12 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man’s wife goes astrayo and is unfaithful to him 13 so that another man has sexual relations with her,p and this is hidden from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act), 14 and if feelings of jealousyq come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure—or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure—15 then he is to take his wife to the priest. He must also take an offering of a tenth of an ephahc r of barley flours on her behalf. He must not pour olive oil on it or put incense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy,t a reminder-offeringu to draw attention to wrongdoing.

16 “ ‘The priest shall bring her and have her stand before the Lord. 17 Then he shall take some holy water in a clay jar and put some dust from the tabernacle floor into the water. 18 After the priest has had the woman stand before the Lord, he shall loosen her hairv and place in her hands the reminder-offering, the grain offering for jealousy,w while he himself holds the bitter water that brings a curse.x 19 Then the priest shall put the woman under oath and say to her, “If no other man has had sexual relations with you and you have not gone astrayy and become impure while married to your husband, may this bitter water that brings a cursez not harm you. 20 But if you have gone astraya while married to your husband and you have made yourself impure by having sexual relations with a man other than your husband”—21 here the priest is to put the woman under this curseb—“may the Lord cause you to become a cursed among your people when he makes your womb miscarry and your abdomen swell. 22 May this waterc that brings a cursed enter your body so that your abdomen swells or your womb miscarries.”

“ ‘Then the woman is to say, “Amen. So be it.e”

23 “ ‘The priest is to write these curses on a scrollf and then wash them off into the bitter water. 24 He shall make the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and this water that brings a curse and causes bitter suffering will enter her. 25 The priest is to take from her hands the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the Lordg and bring it to the altar. 26 The priest is then to take a handful of the grain offering as a memoriale offeringh and burn it on the altar; after that, he is to have the woman drink the water. 27 If she has made herself impure and been unfaithful to her husband, this will be the result: When she is made to drink the water that brings a curse and causes bitter suffering, it will enter her, her abdomen will swell and her womb will miscarry, and she will become a curse.i 28 If, however, the woman has not made herself impure, but is clean, she will be cleared of guilt and will be able to have children.

29 “ ‘This, then, is the law of jealousy when a woman goes astrayj and makes herself impure while married to her husband, 30 or when feelings of jealousyk come over a man because he suspects his wife. The priest is to have her stand before the Lord and is to apply this entire law to her. 31 The husband will be innocent of any wrongdoing, but the woman will bear the consequencesl of her sin.’ ”

The Nazirite

6 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vowm, a vow of dedicationn to the Lord as a Nazirite,o 3 they must abstain from winep and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegarq made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapesr or raisins. 4 As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.

5 “ ‘During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razors may be used on their head.t They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the Lord is over; they must let their hair grow long.

6 “ ‘Throughout the period of their dedication to the Lord, the Nazirite must not go near a dead body.u 7 Even if their own father or mother or brother or sister dies, they must not make themselves ceremonially uncleanv on account of them, because the symbol of their dedication to God is on their head. 8 Throughout the period of their dedication, they are consecrated to the Lord.

9 “ ‘If someone dies suddenly in the Nazirite’s presence, thus defiling the hair that symbolizes their dedication,w they must shave their head on the seventh day—the day of their cleansing.x 10 Then on the eighth dayy they must bring two doves or two young pigeonsz to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting.a 11 The priest is to offer one as a sin offeringa b and the other as a burnt offeringc to make atonementd for the Nazirite because they sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. That same day they are to consecrate their head again. 12 They must rededicate themselves to the Lord for the same period of dedication and must bring a year-old male lambe as a guilt offering.f The previous days do not count, because they became defiled during their period of dedication.

13 “ ‘Now this is the law of the Nazirite when the period of their dedication is over.g They are to be brought to the entrance to the tent of meeting.h 14 There they are to present their offerings to the Lord: a year-old male lamb without defecti for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering,j a ramk without defect for a fellowship offering,l 15 together with their grain offeringsm and drink offerings,n and a basket of bread made with the finest flour and without yeast—thick loaves with olive oil mixed in, and thin loaves brushed with olive oil.o

16 “ ‘The priest is to present all thesep before the Lordq and make the sin offering and the burnt offering.r 17 He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offerings to the Lord, together with its grain offeringt and drink offering.u

18 “ ‘Then at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that symbolizes their dedication.v They are to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.

19 “ ‘After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair that symbolizes their dedication, the priest is to place in their hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and one thick loaf and one thin loaf from the basket, both made without yeast.w 20 The priest shall then wave these before the Lord as a wave offering;x they are holyy and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented.z After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.a

21 “ ‘This is the law of the Naziriteb who vows offerings to the Lord in accordance with their dedication, in addition to whatever else they can afford. They must fulfill the vowsc they have made, according to the law of the Nazirite.’ ”

The Priestly Blessing

22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to blessd the Israelites. Say to them:

24 “ ‘ “The Lord bless youe

and keep you;f

25 the Lord make his face shine on youg

and be gracious to you;h

26 the Lord turn his facei toward you

and give you peace.j” ’

27 “So they will put my namek on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Offerings at the Dedication of the Tabernacle

7 When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle,l he anointedm and consecrated it and all its furnishings.n He also anointed and consecrated the altar and all its utensils.o 2 Then the leaders of Israel,p the heads of families who were the tribal leaders in charge of those who were counted,q made offerings. 3 They brought as their gifts before the Lord six covered cartsr and twelve oxen—an ox from each leader and a cart from every two. These they presented before the tabernacle.

4 The Lord said to Moses, 5 “Accept these from them, that they may be used in the work at the tent of meeting. Give them to the Levites as each man’s work requires.”

6 So Moses took the carts and oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7 He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites,s as their work required, 8 and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites,t as their work required. They were all under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest. 9 But Moses did not give any to the Kohathites,u because they were to carry on their shouldersv the holy things, for which they were responsible.

10 When the altar was anointed,w the leaders brought their offerings for its dedicationx and presented them before the altar. 11 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Each day one leader is to bring his offering for the dedication of the altar.”

12 The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nahshony son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah.

13 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekelsa and one silver sprinkling bowlz weighing seventy shekels,b a both according to the sanctuary shekel,b each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;c 14 one gold dishd weighing ten shekels,c e filled with incense;f 15 one young bull,g one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering;h 16 one male goat for a sin offeringd;i 17 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering.j This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.k

18 On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar,l the leader of Issachar, brought his offering.

19 The offering he brought was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 20 one gold dishm weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 21 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 22 one male goat for a sin offering; 23 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.

24 On the third day, Eliab son of Helon,n the leader of the people of Zebulun, brought his offering.

25 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 26 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 27 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 28 one male goat for a sin offering; 29 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.

30 On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur,o the leader of the people of Reuben, brought his offering.

31 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 32 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 33 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 34 one male goat for a sin offering; 35 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.

36 On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai,p the leader of the people of Simeon, brought his offering.

37 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 38 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 39 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 40 one male goat for a sin offering; 41 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

42 On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel,q the leader of the people of Gad, brought his offering.

43 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 44 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 45 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 46 one male goat for a sin offering; 47 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

48 On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud,r the leader of the people of Ephraim, brought his offering.

49 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 50 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 51 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 52 one male goat for a sin offering; 53 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.s

54 On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur,t the leader of the people of Manasseh, brought his offering.

55 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 56 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 57 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 58 one male goat for a sin offering; 59 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

60 On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni,u the leader of the people of Benjamin, brought his offering.

61 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 62 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 63 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 64 one male goat for a sin offering; 65 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.

66 On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai,v the leader of the people of Dan, brought his offering.

67 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 68 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 69 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 70 one male goat for a sin offering; 71 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

72 On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Okran,w the leader of the people of Asher, brought his offering.

73 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 74 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 75 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 76 one male goat for a sin offering; 77 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Okran.

78 On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan,x the leader of the people of Naphtali, brought his offering.

79 His offering was one silver plate weighing a hundred and thirty shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing seventy shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each filled with the finest flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; 80 one gold dish weighing ten shekels, filled with incense; 81 one young bull, one ram and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering; 82 one male goat for a sin offering; 83 and two oxen, five rams, five male goats and five male lambs a year old to be sacrificed as a fellowship offering. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.

84 These were the offerings of the Israelite leaders for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed:y twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowlsz and twelve gold dishes.a 85 Each silver plate weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each sprinkling bowl seventy shekels. Altogether, the silver dishes weighed two thousand four hundred shekels,e according to the sanctuary shekel.b 86 The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel.c Altogether, the gold dishes weighed a hundred and twenty shekels.f 87 The total number of animals for the burnt offeringd came to twelve young bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering.e Twelve male goats were used for the sin offering.f 88 The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offeringg came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambsh a year old. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.i

89 When Moses entered the tent of meetingj to speak with the Lord,k he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement coverl on the ark of the covenant law.m In this way the Lord spoke to him.