11 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
12 I Myself have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that open the womb among the children of Israel. Therefore the Levites will be Mine
13 because all the firstborn are Mine, for on the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I set apart to Me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They will be Mine. I am the Lord.
14 The Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying:
15 Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families. You will number every male from a month old and older.
16 Moses numbered them according to the word of the Lord, as he was commanded.
17 These were the sons of Levi by their names:Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.