Immerse: Beginnings Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 220
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IMMERSE
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BEGINNINGS
3:42–4:12
the Lord. And the Levites’ livestock must be reserved for me as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the whole nation of Israel.”
So Moses counted the firstborn sons of the people of Israel, just as the
Lord had commanded. The number of firstborn sons who were one
month old or older was 22,273.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take the Levites as substitutes for the
firstborn sons of the people of Israel. And take the livestock of the Levites
as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the people of Israel. The Levites belong to me; I am the Lord. There are 273 more firstborn sons of
Israel than there are Levites. To redeem these extra firstborn sons, collect
five pieces of silver for each of them (each piece weighing the same as the
sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs). Give the silver to Aaron
and his sons as the redemption price for the extra firstborn sons.”
So Moses collected the silver for redeeming the firstborn sons of Israel
who exceeded the number of Levites. He collected 1,365 pieces of silver
on behalf of these firstborn sons of Israel (each piece weighing the same
as the sanctuary shekel). And Moses gave the silver for the redemption to
Aaron and his sons, just as the Lord had commanded.
Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Record the names of the members of the clans and families of the Kohathite division of the tribe of Levi.
List all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are eligible to
serve in the Tabernacle.
“The duties of the Kohathites at the Tabernacle will relate to the most
sacred objects. When the camp moves, Aaron and his sons must enter the
Tabernacle first to take down the inner curtain and cover the Ark of the
Covenant with it. Then they must cover the inner curtain with fine goatskin leather and spread over that a single piece of blue cloth. Finally, they
must put the carrying poles of the Ark in place.
“Next they must spread a blue cloth over the table where the Bread of
the Presence is displayed, and on the cloth they will place the bowls, ladles,
jars, pitchers, and the special bread. They must spread a scarlet cloth over
all of this, and finally a covering of fine goatskin leather on top of the scarlet cloth. Then they must insert the carrying poles into the table.
“Next they must cover the lampstand with a blue cloth, along with its
lamps, lamp snuffers, trays, and special jars of olive oil. Then they must
cover the lampstand and its accessories with fine goatskin leather and
place the bundle on a carrying frame.
“Next they must spread a blue cloth over the gold incense altar and
cover this cloth with fine goatskin leather. Then they must attach the carrying poles to the altar. They must take all the remaining furnishings of
