And they shall be Mine, says Jehovah of Hosts, for the day that I will make up My treasure. And I will pity them as a man has pity on his son who serves him.
And I, behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the sons of Israel. They are given to you as a gift by Jehovah, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of all the first-born that open the womb from the sons of Israel. Therefore the Levites shall be Mine.
Take the Levites instead of all the first-born among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle. And the Levites shall be Mine. I am Jehovah.
For all the first-born of the sons of Israel are Mine, both man and animal. On the day that I struck every first-born in the land of Egypt I set them apart for Myself.
At that time Jehovah separated the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, to stand before Jehovah to minister to Him, and to bless in His name, until today.