Numbers 3:5-13 - The Assignment Of The Levites

⁵ The LORD told Moses, ⁶ "Bring the tribe of Levi near and present them to Aaron the priest so they may serve him. ⁷ They are to take care of his needs and the needs of the whole congregation at the Tent of Meeting by performing duties at the tent. ⁸ They are to take charge of the utensils at the Tent of Meeting and meet the needs of the Israelis by performing duties on behalf of the tent. ⁹ Assign the descendants of Levi to Aaron and his sons from among the Israelis. ¹⁰ Appoint Aaron and his sons so that they are to take responsibility for their priesthood. Any unauthorized person who approaches it is to be put to death."

¹¹ Later, the LORD told Moses, ¹² "I'm taking the descendants of Levi for myself from among the Israelis in place of every first-born who opens the womb. The descendants of Levi belong to me ¹³ because all the first-born belong to me. When I destroyed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated all the first-born in Israel for myself from human beings to livestock. They belong to me, since I am the LORD."