"But I have takenthe Levitesinsteadof everyfirstbornamong the sonsof Israel.
But Israelstretchedout his righthandand laidit on the headof Ephraim,whowas the younger,and his lefthandon Manasseh'shead,crossinghis hands,althoughManassehwas the firstborn.
"Now, behold,I have takenthe Levitesfrom amongthe sonsof Israelinsteadof everyfirstborn,the firstissueof the wombamongthe sonsof Israel.So the Levitesshall be Mine.
"You shall thus givethe Levitesto Aaronand to his sons;they are whollygivento him from among the sonsof Israel.
"For everyfirstbornamong the sonsof Israelis Mine, among the menand among the animals;on the daythat I struckdownallthe firstbornin the landof EgyptI sanctifiedthem for Myself.
"I have giventhe Levitesas a giftto Aaronand to his sonsfrom amongthe sonsof Israel,to performthe serviceof the sonsof Israelat the tentof meetingand to makeatonementon behalfof the sonsof Israel,so that there will be noplagueamong the sonsof Israelby their comingnearto the sanctuary."
