Aaron's Sons
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.
The Levites Are Appointed to Serve the Priests
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, 12-13 “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.”
The Census of the Levites
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, 16 and Moses did so. 17-20 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.
The Levites Take the Place of the First-Born Sons
40-41 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.” 49 Moses obeyed and took 50 the 1,365 pieces of silver 51 and gave them to Aaron and his sons.
Ovazandu va Aron
1 Inḓa ozo ozondekurona za Aron na Moses moruveze ndwi Muhona tja hungira na wo kondundu Sinai. 2 Aron wa ri novazandu vane: OoNadab, everi re, na Abihu na Eleasar na Itamar. 3 Owo va twirisiwa nave zikwa kutja ve rire ovapristeri. 4 Nungwari ooNadab na Abihu va ṱira momurungu wa Muhona, tji va punguha ombunguhiro oningiririsiwa ohasemba mokuti onguza Sinai, nu kava ri novanatje ovazandu; imba ooEleasar na Itamar opu va karera motjiungura tjoupristeri, ihe yawo Aron ngunda e nomuinyo.
Ovalevi mave zikwa okukarera ovapristeri
5 Nu Muhona wa tja nai ku Moses: 6 “Eta omuhoko wa Levi komurungu, nu u ve zike ve rire ovakarere va Aron motjiungura tje tjoupristeri. 7 Owo ngave tjite otjiungura tjOndanda yOmahakaeneno amave yenenisa imbi oviungura, mbi mavi sokutjitirwa ovapristeri nombongo aihe.Ondanda yOmahakaeneno 8 Owo ngave tjevere oviungurise avihe vyOndanda yOmahakaeneno, nu ngave vatere Ovaisrael okuyenenisa oviungura vyawo. 9 Otjiungura tjOvalevi okukarera Aron novazandu ve porwako. 10 Nove zika Aron novazandu ve kutja ve ungure otjiungura tjoupristeri, nungwari omundu ngamwa auhe ngu ha pwire okuungura otjiungura tjoupristeri na kondjisa okutjitjita, nga ṱe.”
11 Nu Muhona wa tja nai ku Moses: 12 “Ami nambano mbe ritoororere Ovalevi moruveze rwovazandu avehe omaveri wOvaisrael ve rire ovandje. 13 Orondu ovazandu avehe omaveri owo ovandje; moruveze ndo ami tji mba zepere omaveri aehe mOengipte, otji mbe riyapurira omuzandu everi mu ngamwa eṱunḓu arihe rOvaisrael, na wina otjiveri tjotjinamuinyo atjihe; owo ovandje. Owami ngu mbi ri Muhona.”
Omavarero wOvalevi
14 Muhona wa rakiza ku Moses mokuti onguza Sinai, 15 kutja a tjange Ovalevi otja komaṱunḓu nozonganda ama vara omuvena auhe okuuta powomueze umwe nokomurungu. 16 Nu Moses wa tjita nao. 17 Levi wa ri novazandu vetatu: OoGerson na Kehat na Merari. 18 Owo va ri ooihe mukururume otja komana wozonganda zawo. Gerson wa ri novazandu vevari: OoLibni na Simi. 19 Kehat wa ri novazandu vane: OoAmram na Jishar na Hebron na Usiel. 20 Merari wa ri novazandu vevari: OoMakli na Musi. Inḓa onḓe ri ozonganda zOvalevi otja komaṱunḓu wawo.
21 Omaṱunḓu yevari wonganda ya Gerson owo nga: Ovalibni nOvasimi. 22 Otjivaro atjihe kumwe tjovavena okuza powomueze umwe nokomurungu tja ri 7 500. 23 Onganda ya Gerson ngai tone ozondanda zayo kongotwe yOndanda yOmahakaeneno komukuma wokongurova. 24 Ingwi omunane wonganda ya Gerson nga rire Eljasaf, omuzandu wa Lael. 25 Otjiungura tjOvagerson kOndanda yOmahakaeneno otjo hi: Okuṱuna Ondanda yOmahakaeneno, notjikutjire tjokombanda, nerapi etjizikize romoukoto, nerapi etjizikize ropomahitiro wOndanda yOmahakaeneno, 26 nomarapi omatjizikize worumbo rwOndanda yOmahakaeneno, nerapi etjizikize ropomahitiro worumbo ndu kondoroka Ondanda yOmahakaeneno, notjipunguhiro, nozongoze zarwo. Owo omba ri nondjeverero yoviṋa mbi avihe.
27 Omaṱunḓu yane wonganda ya Kehat owo nga: Ovaamram nOvajishar nOvahebron nOvausiel. 28 Otjivaro atjihe kumwe tjovavena okuza powomueze umwe nokomurungu mbaa ve karere motjouyapuke tja ri 8 600. 29 Onganda ya Kehat ngai tone ozondanda zayo komukuma wokeyuva kokumuho kwOndanda yOmahakaeneno. 30 Ingwi omunane wonganda ya Kehat nga rire Elisafan, omuzandu wa Usiel. 31 Otjiungura tjOvakehat kOndanda yOmahakaeneno otjo hi: Okuṱuna Otjipwikiro tjOmerikutiropamwe, notjiriro notjikurameno tjomamunine novipunguhiro, noviungurise avihe ovapristeri mbi mave karere na vyo mOtjouyapuke, nerapi etjizikize ropomahitiro wOtjouyapukeyapuke. Owo omba ri nondjeverero yoviṋa mbi avihe.
32 Otjiuru tjovanane vOvalevi wa ri Eleasar, omuzandu womupristeri Aron. Eye ongwa ri omutjevere wa imba mbaa ve karere mOtjouyapuke.
33 Omaṱunḓu yevari wonganda ya Merari owo nga: Ovamahli nOvamusi. 34 Otjivaro atjihe kumwe tjovavena okuza powomueze umwe nokomurungu tja ri 6 200. 35 Ingwi omunane wonganda ya Merari wa ri Suriel, omuzandu wa Abihail. Onganda ndji ngai tone ozondanda zayo kongotwe yOndanda yOmahakaeneno, komukuma wokeyuva kokunene. 36 Otjiungura tjOvamerari otjo hi: Okuṱuna otutapo twOndanda yOmahakaeneno, nomiti omityakaṋa, nozongunḓe puna ozombaze zazo, noviungurise avihe. Owo omba ri nondjeverero yoviṋa mbi avihe; 37 wina va ri nondjeverero yozongunḓe zorumbo ndwa kondoroka Ondanda yOmahakaeneno puna ozombaze nozomboha nozongoze zarwo.
38 Moses na Aron novazandu ve ngave tone ozondanda zawo komurungu wOndanda yOmahakaeneno, komukuma wokomuhuka. Otjiungura tjawo okukarera Ovaisrael nOtjouyapuke. Auhe ngu ha yenenene okuungura otjiungura hi, na ungirire wina, nga ṱe. 39 Ihi otjivaro tjOvalevi avehe kumwe, ovavena okuza powomueze umwe nokomurungu Moses na Aron mbu va vara otja kozonganda zawo, Muhona pa rakiza, tja ri 22,000.
Ovalevi mave kambura oruveze rwomaveri omavena
40 Nu Muhona wa tja nai ku Moses: “Vara omaveri aehe omavena wOvaisrael okuza powomueze umwe nokomurungu, nu u tjange omana wawo. 41 Owami ngu mbi ri Muhona! Ndji pa Ovalevi ve rire ovandje moruveze rwomaveri aehe wOvaisrael, na wina oviveri vyovinamuinyo avihe vyOvalevi vi rire ovyandje moruveze rwoviveri avihe vyovinamuinyo vyOvaisrael.” 42 Moses wa vara omaveri omavena aehe wOvaisrael otja Muhona pa rakiza. 43 Otjivaro tjomaveri omavena aehe otja komana wawo okuza powomueze umwe nokomurungu tja ri 22 273.
44 Muhona wa hungira ku Moses a tja: 45 “Nambano ndji yapurira Ovalevi ve rire ovandje moruveze rwomaveri aehe wOvaisrael, na wina oviveri vyovinamuinyo vyOvalevi moruveze rwoviveri vyovinamuinyo vyOvaisrael. Owami ngu mbi ri Muhona. 46 Nungwari otja komarandururiro womaveri omavena wOvaisrael 273, mba kapita otjivaro tjOvalevi, 47 kambura mo ovisiliveri vitano motjiuru atjihe otja komasasanekero wotjouyapuke. 48 Novimariva mbi yandja ku Aron novazandu ve.” 49 Moses wa tjita otja Muhona pa rakiza, na kambura ovimariva vyomarandururiro. 50 Ovyo vya ri ovisilveri 1 265. 51 Nu Moses wa yandja ovimariva mbi kooAron novazandu ve.
