Numbers 3:12

And I, behold, I have brought near the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of every firstborn that openeth the womb of the sons of Israel; and the Levites shall minister before Me.

Targum Onkelos

In The King James Version

And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;

In Context

11And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying:

13For every firstborn is Mine; on the day that I slew every firstborn in the land of Mizraim, I sanctified before Me every firstborn in Israel from man to animal; they are Mine: I am the Lord.

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Cross References

Numbers 3:41And thou shalt take the Levites before me, I am the Lord, instead of all the firstborn of the sons of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings of the cattle of the Beni Israel.

Numbers 8:16For by a separation are they separated unto Me from among the sons of Israel, instead of every firstborn who openeth the womb of all the children of Israel have I taken them (to be) before Me.

Numbers 18:6And, behold, I have taken your brethren, the Levites, from among the sons of Israel; as a gift are they given to you before the Lord, to perform the service of the tabernacle of ordinance.

Matthew Henry on Numbers 3:2-14

The Separation of the Levites. ( b. c. 1490.) 1 These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the Lord spake with Moses in Mount Sinai. 2 And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office. 4 And Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord , when they offered strange fire before the Lord , in the wilderness of Sinai, and… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Numbers 3:12