12. “Now behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be Mine,
13. because all the firstborn are Mine. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They shall be Mine: I am the Lord.”
14. Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying:
15. “Number the children of Levi by their fathers’ houses, by their families; you shall number every male from a month old and above.”
16. So Moses numbered them according to the word of the Lord, as he was commanded.
17. These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.