David separated the Levites into three groups. They were the family groups of Levi’s three sons, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Numbers 3:3 - Easy To Read Version These sons were the chosen [27] priests. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom Aaron consecrated and ordained to minister in the priest's office. American Standard Version (1901) These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests that were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest’s office. Common English Bible These are the names of Aaron’s sons, who are the anointed priests and ordained to the priesthood. Catholic Public Domain Version These the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed and whose hands were filled and consecrated in order to exercise the priesthood. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version These the names of the sons of Aaron the priests that were anointed, and whose hands were filled and consecrated, to do the functions of priesthood. |
David separated the Levites into three groups. They were the family groups of Levi’s three sons, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Put the clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons. Then pour the special oil on them to make them priests. This will make them holy, and they will serve me as priests.
Then put the special clothes on Aaron. Anoint [491] him with the oil and make him holy. [492] Then he can serve me as a priest.
Anoint the sons in the same way that you anointed their father. Then they can also serve me as priests. When you anoint them, they will become priests. That family will continue to be priests for all time to come.”
Then Moses poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head. In this way, he made Aaron holy.
Moses took some of the anointing oil [99] and some of the blood that was on the altar. [100] Moses sprinkled some on Aaron and on Aaron’s clothes. Moses sprinkled some on Aaron’s sons that were with Aaron and on their clothes. In this way, Moses made Aaron, his clothes, his sons, and his sons’ clothes holy. [101]
But Nadab and Abihu died {because they sinned} while serving the Lord. They used fire that the Lord did not allow when they made an offering to the Lord. So Nadab and Abihu died there, in the Sinai desert. They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar took their place and served the Lord as priests. This happened while their father Aaron was still alive.
The law chooses high priests who are people and have the same weaknesses as people. But God made a promise that came after the law. God spoke those words with a vow (promise), and those words made the Son of God to be the high priest. And that Son has been made perfect forever.