Bible Cross References
But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.
Numbers 1:3
twenty years old or older who are fit for military service.
Numbers 1:50
Instead, put the Levites in charge of the Tent of my presence and all its equipment. They shall carry it and its equipment, serve in it, and set up their camp around it.
Numbers 2:33
As the LORD had commanded Moses, the Levites were not registered with the rest of the Israelites.
Numbers 3:1-51
1
This is the family of Aaron and Moses at the time the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai.
2
Aaron had four sons: Nadab, the oldest, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
3
They were anointed and ordained as priests,
4
but Nadab and Abihu were killed when they offered unholy fire to the LORD in the Sinai Desert. They had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during Aaron's lifetime.
5
The LORD said to Moses,
6
"Bring forward the tribe of Levi and appoint them as servants of Aaron the priest.
7
They shall do the work required for the Tent of my presence and perform duties for the priests and for the whole community.
8
They shall take charge of all the equipment of the Tent and perform the duties for the rest of the Israelites.
9
The only responsibility the Levites have is to serve Aaron and his sons.
10
You shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; anyone else who tries to do so shall be put to death."
11
The LORD said to Moses,
12
"The Levites are now to be mine. When I killed all the first-born of the Egyptians, I consecrated as my own the oldest son of each Israelite family and the first-born of every animal. Now, instead of having the first-born sons of Israel as my own, I have the Levites; they will belong to me. I am the LORD."
14
In the Sinai Desert the LORD commanded Moses
15
to register the Levites by clans and families, enrolling every male a month old or older,
17
Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, who were the ancestors of the clans that bear their names. Gershon had two sons: Libni and Shimei; Kohath had four sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel; and Merari had two sons: Mahli and Mushi. They were the ancestors of the families that bear their names.
21
The clan of Gershon was composed of the families of Libni and Shimei.
22
The total number of males one month old or older that were enrolled was 7,500.
23
This clan was to camp on the west behind the Tent,
24
with Eliasaph son of Lael as chief of the clan.
25
They were responsible for the Tent, its inner cover, its outer cover, the curtain for the entrance,
26
the curtains for the court which is around the Tent and the altar, and the curtain for the entrance of the court. They were responsible for all the service connected with these items.
27
The clan of Kohath was composed of the families of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
28
The total number of males one month old or older that were enrolled was 8,600.
29
This clan was to camp on the south side of the Tent,
30
with Elizaphan son of Uzziel as chief of the clan.
31
They were responsible for the Covenant Box, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the utensils the priests use in the Holy Place, and the curtain at the entrance to the Most Holy Place. They were responsible for all the service connected with these items.
32
The chief of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He was in charge of those who carried out the duties in the Holy Place.
33
The clan of Merari was composed of the families of Mahli and Mushi.
34
The total number of males one month old or older that were enrolled was 6,200.
35
This clan was to camp on the north side of the Tent, with Zuriel son of Abihail as chief of the clan.
36
They were assigned responsibility for the frames for the Tent, its bars, posts, bases, and all its fittings. They were responsible for all the service connected with these items.
37
They were also responsible for the posts, bases, pegs, and ropes for the outer court.
38
Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp in front of the Tent on the east. They were responsible for carrying out the services performed in the Holy Place for the people of Israel. Anyone else who tried to do so was to be put to death.
39
The total number of all the Levite males one month old or older that Moses enrolled by clans at the command of the LORD, was 22,000.
40
The LORD said to Moses, "All of Israel's first-born sons belong to me. So register by name every first-born male Israelite, one month old or older. But in place of them I claim all the Levites as mine! I am the LORD! I also claim the livestock of the Levites in place of all the first-born of the livestock."
42
Moses obeyed, and registered all the first-born males
43
one month old or older; the total was 22,273.
44
The LORD said to Moses,
45
"Now dedicate the Levites as mine in place of all the first-born Israelite sons, and dedicate the livestock of the Levites in place of the first-born of the Israelites' livestock.
46
Since the first-born Israelite sons outnumber the Levites by 273, you must buy back the extra sons.
47
For each one pay five pieces of silver, according to the official standard,
48
and give this money to Aaron and his sons."
50
the 1,365 pieces of silver
51
and gave them to Aaron and his sons.
Numbers 4:1-49
2
to take a census of the Levite clan of Kohath by subclans and families,
3
and to register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who were qualified to work in the Tent of the LORD's presence.
4
Their service involves the most holy things.
5
The LORD gave Moses the following instructions. When it is time to break camp, Aaron and his sons shall enter the Tent, take down the curtain in front of the Covenant Box, and cover the Box with it.
6
They shall put a fine leather cover over it, spread a cloth of solid blue on top, and then insert the carrying poles.
7
They shall spread a blue cloth over the table for the bread offered to the LORD and put on it the dishes, the incense bowls, the offering bowls, and the jars for the wine offering. There shall always be bread on the table.
8
They shall spread a red cloth over all of this, put a fine leather cover over it, and then insert the carrying poles.
9
They shall take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand, with its lamps, tongs, trays, and all the olive oil containers.
10
They shall wrap it and all its equipment in a fine leather cover and place it on a carrying frame.
11
Next they shall spread a blue cloth over the gold altar, put a fine leather cover over it, and then insert the carrying poles.
12
They shall take all the utensils used in the Holy Place, wrap them in a blue cloth, put a fine leather cover over them, and place them on a carrying frame.
13
They shall remove the greasy ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it.
14
They shall put on it all the equipment used in the service at the altar: fire pans, hooks, shovels, and basins. Then they shall put a fine leather cover over it and insert the carrying poles.
15
When it is time to break camp, the clan of Kohath shall come to carry the sacred objects only after Aaron and his sons have finished covering them and all their equipment. The Kohath clan must not touch the sacred objects, or they will die. These are the responsibilities of the Kohath clan whenever the Tent is moved.
16
Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall be responsible for the whole Tent and for the oil for the lamps, the incense, the grain offerings, the anointing oil, and everything else in the Tent that has been consecrated to the LORD.
17
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
18
"Do not let the clan of Kohath
19
be killed by coming near these most sacred objects. To prevent this from happening, Aaron and his sons shall go in and assign each man his task and tell him what to carry.
20
But if the Kohathites enter the Tent and see the priests preparing the sacred objects for moving, they will die."
22
to take a census of the Levite clan of Gershon by subclans and families,
23
and to register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who were qualified to work in the Tent of the LORD's presence.
24
They shall be responsible for carrying the following objects:
25
the Tent, its inner cover, its outer cover, the fine leather cover on top of it, the curtain for the entrance,
26
the curtains and ropes for the court that is around the Tent and the altar, the curtains for the entrance of the court, and all the fittings used in setting up these objects. They shall perform all the tasks required for these things.
27
Moses and Aaron shall see to it that the Gershonites perform all the duties and carry everything that Aaron and his sons assign to them.
28
These are the responsibilities of the Gershon clan in the Tent; they shall carry them out under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
29
The LORD told Moses to take a census of the Levite clan of Merari by subclans and families,
30
and to register all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who were qualified to work in the Tent of the LORD's presence.
31
They shall be responsible for carrying the frames, bars, posts, and bases of the Tent,
32
and the posts, bases, pegs, and ropes of the court around the Tent, with all the fittings used in setting them up. Each man will be responsible for carrying specific items.
33
These are the responsibilities of the Merari clan in their service in the Tent; they shall carry them out under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.
34
Following the LORD's command, Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the community took a census of the three Levite clans, Kohath, Gershon, and Merari. They did this by subclans and families and registered all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who were qualified to work in the Tent of the LORD's presence, as follows: (Clan: Number); Kohath: 2,750; Gershon: 2,630; Merari: 3,200; Total: 8,580
49
Each man was registered as the LORD had commanded Moses; and at the command of the LORD given through Moses, each man was assigned responsibility for his task of serving or carrying.
Numbers 8:1-26
1
The LORD said to Moses,
2
"Tell Aaron that when he puts the seven lamps on the lampstand, he should place them so that the light shines toward the front."
3
Aaron obeyed and placed the lamps facing the front of the lampstand.
4
From top to bottom the lampstand was made of hammered gold, according to the pattern that the LORD had shown Moses.
5
The LORD said to Moses,
6
"Separate the Levites from the rest of the people of Israel and purify them
7
in the following way: sprinkle them with the water of purification and have them shave their whole bodies and have them wash their clothes. Then they will be ritually clean.
8
Then they are to take a young bull and the required grain offering of flour mixed with olive oil; and you are to take another bull for the sin offering.
9
Then assemble the whole community of Israel and have the Levites stand in front of the Tent of my presence.
10
The people of Israel are to place their hands on the heads of the Levites,
11
and then Aaron shall dedicate the Levites to me as a special gift from the Israelites, so that they may do my work.
12
The Levites shall then put their hands on the heads of the two bulls; one is to be offered as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, in order to perform the ritual of purification for the Levites.
13
"Dedicate the Levites as a special gift to me, and put Aaron and his sons in charge of them.
14
Separate the Levites in this way from the rest of the Israelites, so that they will belong to me.
15
After you have purified and dedicated the Levites, they will be qualified to work in the Tent.
16
I have claimed them in the place of all the first-born sons of the Israelites, and they belong to me alone.
17
When I killed all the first-born in Egypt, I consecrated as my own the oldest son of each Israelite family and the first-born of every animal.
18
I am now taking the Levites instead of all the first-born of the Israelites,
19
and I assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons, as a gift from the Israelites, to work in the Tent for the people of Israel and to protect the Israelites from the disaster that would strike them if they came too near the Holy Place."
20
So Moses, Aaron, and all the people of Israel dedicated the Levites, as the LORD commanded Moses.
21
The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothes, and Aaron dedicated them as a special gift to the LORD. He also performed the ritual of purification for them.
22
The people did everything the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites. And so the Levites were qualified to work in the Tent under Aaron and his sons.
23
The LORD said to Moses,
24
"From the age of twenty-five each Levite shall perform his duties in the Tent of my presence,
25
and at the age of fifty he shall retire.
26
After that, he may help his fellow Levites in performing their duties in the Tent, but he must not perform any service by himself. This is how you are to regulate the duties of the Levites."
Numbers 26:57-62
57
The tribe of Levi consisted of the clans of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
58
Their descendants included the subclans of Libni, Hebron, Mahli, Mushi, and Korah. Kohath was the father of Amram,
59
who was married to Levi's daughter Jochebed, who was born in Egypt. She bore Amram two sons, Aaron and Moses, and a daughter, Miriam.
60
Aaron had four sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
61
Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unholy fire to the LORD.
62
The male Levites who were one month old or older numbered 23,000. They were listed separately from the rest of the Israelites, because they were not given any property in Israel.
1 Chronicles 6:1-81
1
Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
2
Kohath had four sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
3
Amram had two sons, Aaron and Moses, and one daughter, Miriam. Aaron had four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
4
The descendants of Eleazar from generation to generation are as follows: Phinehas, Abishua,
10
Azariah (the one who served in the Temple which King Solomon built in Jerusalem),
15
King Nebuchadnezzar deported Jehozadak along with the other people of Judah and Jerusalem whom the LORD sent into exile.
16
Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
17
Each of them also had sons. Gershon was the father of Libni and Shimei;
18
Kohath was the father of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel;
19
and Merari was the father of Mahli and Mushi.
20
These are the descendants of Gershon from generation to generation: Libni, Jahath, Zimmah,
21
Joah, Iddo, Zerah, Jeatherai.
22
These are the descendants of Kohath from generation to generation: Amminadab, Korah, Assir,
23
Elkanah, Ebiasaph, Assir,
24
Tahath, Uriel, Uzziah, Shaul.
25
Elkanah had two sons, Amasai and Ahimoth.
26
These are Ahimoth's descendants from generation to generation: Elkanah, Zophai, Nahath,
27
Eliab, Jeroham, Elkanah.
28
Samuel had two sons: Joel, the older, and Abijah, the younger.
29
These are the descendants of Merari from generation to generation: Mahli, Libni, Shimei, Uzzah,
30
Shimea, Haggiah, Asaiah.
31
These are the men whom King David put in charge of the music at the place of worship in Jerusalem after the Covenant Box was moved there.
32
They took regular turns of duty at the Tent of the LORD's presence during the time before King Solomon built the Temple.
33
The family lines of those who held this office are as follows: The clan of Kohath: Heman, the leader of the first choir, was the son of Joel. His family line went back to Jacob as follows: Heman, Joel, Samuel,
34
Elkanah, Jeroham, Eliel, Toah,
35
Zuph, Elkanah, Mahath, Amasai,
36
Elkanah, Joel, Azariah, Zephaniah,
37
Tahath, Assir, Ebiasaph, Korah,
38
Izhar, Kohath, Levi, Jacob.
39
Asaph was leader of the second choir. His family line went back to Levi as follows: Asaph, Berechiah, Shimea,
40
Michael, Baaseiah, Malchijah,
42
Ethan, Zimmah, Shimei,
43
Jahath, Gershon, Levi.
44
Ethan of the clan of Merari was the leader of the third choir. His family line went back to Levi as follows: Ethan, Kishi, Abdi, Malluch,
45
Hashabiah, Amaziah, Hilkiah,
47
Mahli, Mushi, Merari, Levi.
48
The other Levites were assigned all the other duties at the place of worship.
49
Aaron and his descendants presented the offerings of incense and offered the sacrifices that were burnt on the altar. They were responsible for all the worship in the Most Holy Place and for the sacrifices by which God forgives Israel's sins. They did all this in accordance with the instructions given by Moses, God's servant.
50
This is the line of Aaron's descendants: Eleazar, Phinehas, Abishua,
51
Bukki, Uzzi, Zerahiah,
52
Meraioth, Amariah, Ahitub,
54
This is the territory assigned to the descendants of Aaron of the clan of Kohath. They received the first share of the land assigned to the Levites.
55
This included Hebron in the territory of Judah and the pasture lands around it.
56
The fields and villages, however, that belonged to the city were assigned to Caleb son of Jephunneh.
57
The following towns were assigned to Aaron's descendants: Hebron, a city of refuge, Jattir, and the towns of Libnah, Eshtemoa, Hilen, Debir, Ashan, and Beth Shemesh, with their pasture lands.
60
In the territory of Benjamin they were assigned the following towns with their pasture lands: Geba, Alemeth, and Anathoth. This made a total of thirteen towns for all their families to live in.
61
Ten towns in the territory of West Manasseh were assigned by lot to the rest of the clan of Kohath, family by family.
62
To the clan of Gershon, family by family, were assigned thirteen towns in the territories of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and East Manasseh in Bashan.
63
In the same way, twelve towns in the territories of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun were assigned to the clan of Merari, family by family.
64
In this way the people of Israel assigned towns for the Levites to live in, together with the pasture lands around the towns.
65
(The towns in the territories of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, mentioned above, were also assigned by drawing lots.)
66
Some of the families of the clan of Kohath were assigned towns and pasture lands in the territory of Ephraim:
67
Shechem, the city of refuge in the hills of Ephraim, Gezer,
69
Aijalon, and Gath Rimmon.
70
In the territory of West Manasseh they were assigned the towns of Aner and Bileam with the surrounding pasture lands.
71
The families of the clan of Gershon were assigned the following towns, with the surrounding pasture lands: In the territory of East Manasseh: Golan in Bashan, and Ashtaroth.
72
In the territory of Issachar: Kedesh, Daberath,
74
In the territory of Asher: Mashal, Abdon,
76
In the territory of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee, Hammon, and Kiriathaim.
77
The remaining families of the clan of Merari were assigned the following towns with the surrounding pasture lands: In the territory of Zebulun: Rimmono and Tabor.
78
In the territory of Reuben, east of the Jordan River beyond Jericho: Bezer on the plateau, Jahzah,
79
Kedemoth, and Mephaath.
80
In the territory of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim,
1 Chronicles 21:6
Because Joab disapproved of the king's command, he did not take any census of the tribes of Levi and Benjamin.