1And the LORD said to Moses, 2“Speak to Aaron, and tell him, ‘When you light the lamps, the seven lamps should shed light upon the area in front of the lampstand.’” 3And Aaron did so; he lit and set its lamps to face forward, as the LORD commanded Moses. 4And this lampstand was made of beaten gold - its shaft and its blossoms was made of beaten work: according to the pattern which the LORD had showed Moses.

5And the LORD spoke to Moses, 6“Take the Levites from among the Israelites, and cleanse them. 7And this is what you shall do to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and have them shave all their flesh, and wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean. 8Then have them take a young bullock with his meal (grain) offering, fine flour mixed with oil, and another young bullock shall you take for a sin offering. 9And you shall bring the Levites before the tabernacle of meeting: and gather the entire assembly of the Israelites together: 10And you shall bring the Levites before the LORD: and the Israelites shall put their hands upon the Levites: 11And Aaron shall present the Levites before the LORD for an offering from the Israelites, that they may execute the service of the LORD. 12And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and you shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the LORD, as an atonement for the Levites. 13And you shall have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons; and present them as a special offering unto the LORD. 14In this way, you shall set the Levites apart from the other Israelites: and the Levites shall be Mine. 15And after that the Levites shall go in to do their service of the tabernacle of meeting: because you have cleansed and offered them as a special offering. 16For they are wholly given unto Me from among the Israelites; instead of those that open every womb - the firstborn of all the Israelites - have I taken them unto Me. 17For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are Mine - both man and beast. On the day that I struck every firstborn in Egypt, I sanctified them for Myself. 18And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel. 19And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons on behalf of the Israelites, to perform the service of the Israelites in the tabernacle of meeting, and to make an atonement for the Israelites: so that there is no plague among them, when the Israelites come near the sanctuary.”

20And Moses, Aaron, and all the congregation of the Israelites, did all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites. 21And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron presented them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them. 22And after that, the Levites went in to do their service in the tabernacle of meeting before Aaron and his sons: as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites.

23And the LORD said to Moses, 24“This is what applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and older, they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of meeting: 25And at fifty years of age, they shall cease (retire from) waiting upon its service, and shall serve no more. 26They may assist their brethren in the tabernacle of meeting, by serving as guards; but they, themselves, must not do the work. This is how you shall assign duties to the Levites.”