Numbers 8

1 And יהוה spake unto Moses (Mosheh), saying,

2 “Speak unto Aaron (Aharon), and say unto him: ‘When you lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light opposite the candlestick (menorah).’”

3 And Aaron (Aharon) did so; he lighted the lamps thereof opposite the candlestick (menorah), as יהוה commanded Moses (Mosheh).

4 And this work of the candlestick (menorah) was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work; according unto the pattern which יהוה had shewed Moses (Mosheh), so he made the candlestick (menorah).

5 And יהוה spake unto Moses (Mosheh), saying:

6 “Take the Levites (Lewiyim) from among the children of Yisrael, and cleanse them.

7 And thus shalt you do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.

8 Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt you take for a sin offering.

9 And you shalt bring the Levites (Lewiyim) before the tabernacle of the congregation: and you shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Yisrael together.

10 And you shalt bring the Levites (Lewiyim) before יהוה; and the children of Yisrael shall put their hands upon the Levites (Lewiyim);

11 And Aaron (Aharon) shall offer the Levites (Lewiyim) before יהוה for an offering of the children of Yisrael, that they may execute the service of יהוה.

12 And the Levites (Lewiyim) shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks; and you shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto יהוה, to make an atonement for the Levites (Lewiyim).

13 And you shalt set the Levites (Lewiyim) before Aaron (Aharon), and before his sons, and offer them for an offering unto יהוה.

14 Thus shalt you separate the Levites (Lewiyim) from among the children of Yisrael; and the Levites (Lewiyim) shall be Mine.

15 And after that shall the Levites (Lewiyim) go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and you shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering.

16 For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Yisrael; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Yisrael, have I taken them unto Me.

17 For all the firstborn of the children of Yisrael are Mine, both man and beast; on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt (Mitsrayim) I sanctified them for Myself.

18 And I have taken the Levites (Lewiyim) for all the firstborn of the children of Yisrael.

19 And I have given the Levites (Lewiyim) as a gift to Aaron (Aharon) and to his sons from among the children of Yisrael, to do the service of the children of Yisrael in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Yisrael, that there be no plague among the children of Yisrael, when the children of Yisrael come near unto the sanctuary.”

20 And Moses (Mosheh), and Aaron (Aharon), and all the congregation of the children of Yisrael, did to the Levites (Lewiyim) according unto all that יהוה commanded Moses (Mosheh) concerning the Levites (Lewiyim), so did the children of Yisrael unto them.

21 And the Levites (Lewiyim) were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron (Aharon) offered them as an offering before יהוה; and Aaron (Aharon) made an atonement for them to cleanse them.

22 And after that went the Levites (Lewiyim) in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron (Aharon), and before his sons; as יהוה had commanded Moses (Mosheh) concerning the Levites (Lewiyim), so did they unto them.

23 And יהוה spake unto Moses (Mosheh), saying,

24 “This is it that belongeth unto the Levites (Lewiyim): From twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation;

25 And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more;

26 But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt you do unto the Levites (Lewiyim) concerning their charge.”