Now the law of Moses required that the priests, who are descendants of Levi, must collect a tithe from the rest of the people of Israel, who are also descendants of Abraham.

那得祭司职任的利未子孙，领命照例向百姓取十分之一，这百姓是自己的弟兄，虽是从亚伯拉罕身中生的，还是照例取十分之一。

那得祭司职分的利未子孙，奉命照例向百姓取十分之一，这百姓是自己的弟兄，虽是从亚伯拉罕亲身生的，还是照例取十分之一。

那得祭司职分的利未子孙，奉命照例向百姓取十分之一，这百姓是自己的弟兄，虽是从亚伯拉罕亲身生的，还是照例取十分之一。

按照犹太人的律法，那些承袭做祭司的利未后裔可以照例向自己的同胞，就是亚伯拉罕的后裔，收取十分之一。

那些领受祭司职分的利未子孙，奉命按照律法向人民，就是自己的弟兄，收取十分之一；虽然他们都是出于亚伯拉罕的。

虽然利未子孙中那些领受祭司职务的，从亚伯拉罕的后裔中出来，他们还是奉命按照律法向子民，就是自己的同胞，收取十分之一。

那得祭司職任的利未子孫，領命照例向百姓取十分之一，這百姓是自己的弟兄，雖是從亞伯拉罕身中生的，還是照例取十分之一。

那得祭司職分的利未子孫，奉命照例向百姓取十分之一，這百姓是自己的弟兄，雖是從亞伯拉罕親身生的，還是照例取十分之一。

那得祭司職分的利未子孫，奉命照例向百姓取十分之一，這百姓是自己的弟兄，雖是從亞伯拉罕親身生的，還是照例取十分之一。

按照猶太人的律法，那些承襲做祭司的利未後裔可以照例向自己的同胞，就是亞伯拉罕的後裔，收取十分之一。

那些領受祭司職分的利未子孫，奉命按照律法向人民，就是自己的弟兄，收取十分之一；雖然他們都是出於亞伯拉罕的。

那些領受祭司職任的利未子孫、按律法受命令向人民收取了十分之一，向他們自己的弟兄收取，雖則弟兄們同是從亞伯拉罕腰腎中生出來的。

雖然利未子孫中那些領受祭司職務的，從亞伯拉罕的後裔中出來，他們還是奉命按照律法向子民，就是自己的同胞，收取十分之一。

夫利未子孫受祭司職者、亦奉命依律取什一於民、即出於亞伯拉罕膝下、為其兄弟者、

利未子孫、有任祭司職者、奉命依例、什一取兄弟所有之物、其兄弟即亞伯拉罕後裔、

利未子孫之得祭司職者、雖與民皆為亞伯拉罕之裔、同為兄弟、仍奉律法之命、以民之物、什取其一、

利未子孫之任司祭者、依例什一以取於兄弟；其兄弟乃亞伯漢之後裔耳。

Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people— that is, from their fellow Israelites— even though they also are descended from Abraham.

Now the law lays down a rule for the sons of Levi who become priests. They must collect a tenth from the people. They must collect it from the other Israelites. They must do this, even though all of them belong to the family line of Abraham.

And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham.

The sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a command according to the law to collect a tenth from the people— that is, from their brothers and sisters— though they have also descended from Abraham.

And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their countrymen, although they are descended from Abraham.

And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham;

And they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive the priest’s office have commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though these have come out of the loins of Abraham:

The sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a command according to the law to collect a tenth from the people— that is, from their brothers— though they have also descended from Abraham.

And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, although they too are descendants of Abraham.

They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham,

but you are not the one to do it. One of your own sons will build the Temple to honor me.’

“ Call for your brother, Aaron, and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Set them apart from the rest of the people of Israel so they may minister to me and be my priests.

For although Levi wasn’t born yet, the seed from which he came was in Abraham’s body when Melchizedek collected the tithe from him.

I also discovered that the Levites had not been given their prescribed portions of food, so they and the singers who were to conduct the worship services had all returned to work their fields.

And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was.

In all, Jacob had seventy descendants in Egypt, including Joseph, who was already there.

Korah, he has already given this special ministry to you and your fellow Levites. Are you now demanding the priesthood as well?The Lord is the one you and your followers are really revolting against! For who is Aaron that you are complaining about him?”

Then God said,“ I am El Shaddai—‘ God Almighty.’ Be fruitful and multiply. You will become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants!

But you and your sons, the priests, must personally handle all the priestly rituals associated with the altar and with everything behind the inner curtain. I am giving you the priesthood as your special privilege of service. Any unauthorized person who comes too near the sanctuary will be put to death.”

In addition, he required the people in Jerusalem to bring a portion of their goods to the priests and Levites, so they could devote themselves fully to the Law of the Lord.When the people of Israel heard these requirements, they responded generously by bringing the first share of their grain, new wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a large quantity— a tithe of all they produced.The people who had moved to Judah from Israel, and the people of Judah themselves, brought in the tithes of their cattle, sheep, and goats and a tithe of the things that had been dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them up in great heaps.

“ One tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy.If you want to buy back the Lord’s tenth of the grain or fruit, you must pay its value, plus 20 percent.Count off every tenth animal from your herds and flocks and set them apart for the Lord as holy.You may not pick and choose between good and bad animals, and you may not substitute one for another. But if you do exchange one animal for another, then both the original animal and its substitute will be considered holy and cannot be bought back.”

As for the tribe of Levi, your relatives, I will compensate them for their service in the Tabernacle. Instead of an allotment of land, I will give them the tithes from the entire land of Israel.“ From now on, no Israelites except priests or Levites may approach the Tabernacle. If they come too near, they will be judged guilty and will die.Only the Levites may serve at the Tabernacle, and they will be held responsible for any offenses against it. This is a permanent law for you, to be observed from generation to generation. The Levites will receive no allotment of land among the Israelites,because I have given them the Israelites’ tithes, which have been presented as sacred offerings to the Lord. This will be the Levites’ share. That is why I said they would receive no allotment of land among the Israelites.”The Lord also told Moses,“ Give these instructions to the Levites: When you receive from the people of Israel the tithes I have assigned as your allotment, give a tenth of the tithes you receive— a tithe of the tithe— to the Lord as a sacred offering.The Lord will consider this offering to be your harvest offering, as though it were the first grain from your own threshing floor or wine from your own winepress.You must present one tenth of the tithe received from the Israelites as a sacred offering to the Lord. This is the Lord’s sacred portion, and you must present it to Aaron the priest.Be sure to give to the Lord the best portions of the gifts given to you.“ Also, give these instructions to the Levites: When you present the best part as your offering, it will be considered as though it came from your own threshing floor or winepress.You Levites and your families may eat this food anywhere you wish, for it is your compensation for serving in the Tabernacle.You will not be considered guilty for accepting the Lord’s tithes if you give the best portion to the priests. But be careful not to treat the holy gifts of the people of Israel as though they were common. If you do, you will die.”

The total number of Jacob’s direct descendants who went with him to Egypt, not counting his sons’ wives, was sixty six.

Inscribe Aaron’s name on the staff of the tribe of Levi, for there must be one staff for the leader of each ancestral tribe.Place these staffs in the Tabernacle in front of the Ark containing the tablets of the Covenant, where I meet with you.Buds will sprout on the staff belonging to the man I choose. Then I will finally put an end to the people’s murmuring and complaining against you.”So Moses gave the instructions to the people of Israel, and each of the twelve tribal leaders, including Aaron, brought Moses a staff.Moses placed the staffs in the Lord’s presence in the Tabernacle of the Covenant.When he went into the Tabernacle of the Covenant the next day, he found that Aaron’s staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds!When Moses brought all the staffs out from the Lord’s presence, he showed them to the people. Each man claimed his own staff.And the Lord said to Moses:“ Place Aaron’s staff permanently before the Ark of the Covenant to serve as a warning to rebels. This should put an end to their complaints against me and prevent any further deaths.”