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1 OR nel giorno che Mosè ebbe finito di rizzare il Tabernacolo, e l’ebbe unto e consacrato, con tutti i suoi arredi: e l’Altare, con tutti i suoi strumenti;

2 i principali d’Israele, capi delle case loro paterne, i quali erano i principali delle tribù, ed erano stati sopra le rassegne del popolo, fecero un’offerta.

3 E l’addussero davanti al Signore, cioè: sei carri coperti e dodici buoi; un carro per due di que’ principali, e un bue per uno; e offersero quelli davanti al Tabernacolo.

4 E il Signore parlò a Mosè, dicendo:

5 Prendili da loro, e sieno impiegati nei servigi del Tabernacolo della convenenza, e dalli a’ Leviti; acciocchè se ne servano, ciascuno secondo il suo servigio.

6 Mosè adunque prese que’ carri e quei buoi, e li diede a’ Leviti.

7 A’ figliuoli di Gherson diede due di que’ carri, e quattro di que’ buoi, per servirsene secondo il lor servigio.

8 E a’ figliuoli di Merari diede i quattro altri carri, e gli altri otto buoi, per servirsene secondo il lor servigio; sotto la sopraintendenza d’Itamar, figliuolo del Sacerdote Aaronne.

9 Ma a’ figliuoli di Chehat non ne diede; perciocchè il servigio del Santuario era loro imposto; essi aveano da portare in su le spalle.

10 Oltre a ciò, que’ principali fecero una offerta per la dedicazione dell’Altare, nel giorno ch’egli fu unto; e l’offersero davanti all’Altare.

11 E il Signore disse a Mosè: Di questi capi uno per giorno offerisca la sua offerta, per la Dedicazione dell’Altare.

12 E colui che offerse la sua offerta il primo giorno, fu Naasson, figliuolo di Amminadab, della tribù di Giuda.

13 E la sua offerta fu un piattel d’argento, di peso di centrenta sicli; un nappo di argento, di settanta sicli, a siclo di Santuario; amendue pieni di fior di farina, stemperata con olio, per offerta di panatica;

14 un turibolo d’oro, di dieci sicli, pien di profumo;

15 un giovenco, un montone, un agnello di un anno, per olocausto;

16 un becco, per sacrificio per lo peccato:

17 e, per sacrificio da render grazie, un par di buoi, cinque montoni, cinque becchi, e cinque agnelli di un anno. Questa fu l’offerta di Naasson, figliuolo di Amminadab.

18 Il secondo giorno, Natanael, figliuolo di Suar, capo d’Issacar, offerse la sua offerta;

19 che fu: un piattel d’argento, di peso di centrenta sicli; un nappo di argento, di settanta sicli, a siclo di Santuario; amendue pieni di fior di farina, stemperata con olio, per offerta di panatica;

20 un turibolo d’oro, di dieci sicli, pien di profumo;

21 un giovenco, un montone, un agnello di un anno, per olocausto;

22 un becco, per sacrificio per lo peccato:

23 e, per sacrificio da render grazie, un par di buoi, cinque montoni, cinque becchi, e cinque agnelli di un anno. Questa fu l’offerta di Natanael, figliuolo di Suar.

24 Il terzo giorno, Eliab, figliuolo di Helon, capo de’ figliuoli di Zabulon, offerse la sua offerta;

25 che fu: un piattel di argento, di peso di centrenta sicli; un nappo di argento, di settanta sicli, a siclo di Santuario; amendue pieni di fior di farina, stemperata con olio, per offerta di panatica;

26 un turibolo d’oro, di dieci sicli, pien di profumo;

27 un giovenco, un montone, un agnello di un anno, per olocausto;

28 un becco, per sacrificio per lo peccato:

29 e, per sacrificio da render grazie, un par di buoi, cinque montoni, cinque becchi, e cinque agnelli di un anno. Questa fu l’offerta di Eliab, figliuolo di Helon.

30 Il quarto giorno, Elisur, figliuolo di Sedeur, capo de’ figliuoli di Ruben, offerse la sua offerta;

31 che fu: un piattel di argento, di peso di centrenta sicli; un nappo di argento, di settanta sicli, a siclo di Santuario; amendue pieni di fior di farina, stemperata con olio, per offerta di panatica;

32 un turibolo d’oro, di dieci sicli, pien di profumo;

33 un giovenco, un montone, un agnello di un anno, per olocausto;

34 un becco, per sacrificio per lo peccato:

35 e, per sacrificio da render grazie, un par di buoi, cinque montoni, cinque becchi, e cinque agnelli di un anno. Questa fu l’offerta di Elisur, figliuolo di Sedeur.

36 Il quinto giorno, Selumiel, figliuolo di Surisaddai, capo de’ figliuoli di Simeone, offerse la sua offerta;

37 che fu: un piattel di argento, di peso di centrenta sicli; un nappo di argento, di settanta sicli, a siclo di Santuario; amendue pieni di fior di farina, stemperata con olio, per offerta di panatica;

38 un turibolo d’oro, di dieci sicli, pien di profumo;

39 un giovenco, un montone, un agnello di un anno, per olocausto;

40 un becco, per sacrificio per lo peccato:

41 e, per sacrificio da render grazie, un par di buoi, cinque montoni, cinque becchi, e cinque agnelli di un anno. Questa fu l’offerta di Selumiel, figliuolo di Surisaddai.

42 Il sesto giorno, Eliasaf, figliuolo di Deuel, capo de’ figliuoli di Gad, offerse la sua offerta;

43 che fu: un piattel di argento, di peso di centrenta sicli; un nappo di argento, di settanta sicli, a siclo di Santuario; amendue pieni di fior di farina, stemperata con olio, per offerta di panatica;

44 un turibolo d’oro di dieci sicli, pien di profumo;

45 un giovenco, un montone, un agnello di un anno, per olocausto;

46 un becco, per sacrificio per lo peccato:

47 e, per sacrificio da render grazie, un par di buoi, cinque montoni, cinque becchi, e cinque agnelli di un anno. Questa fu l’offerta di Eliasaf, figliuolo di Deuel.

48 Il settimo giorno, Elisama, figliuolo di Ammiud, capo de’ figliuoli di Efraim, offerse la sua offerta;

49 che fu: un piattel di argento, di peso di centrenta sicli; un nappo di argento, di settanta sicli, a siclo di Santuario; amendue pieni di fior di farina, stemperata con olio, per offerta di panatica;

50 un turibolo d’oro, di dieci sicli, pien di profumo;

51 un giovenco, un montone, un agnello di un anno, per olocausto;

52 un becco, per sacrificio per lo peccato:

53 e, per sacrificio da render grazie, un par di buoi, cinque montoni, cinque becchi, e cinque agnelli di un anno. Questa fu l’offerta di Elisama, figliuolo di Ammiud.

54 L’ottavo giorno, Gamliel, figliuolo di Pedasur, capo de’ figliuoli di Manasse, offerse la sua offerta;

55 che fu: un piattel di argento, di peso di centrenta sicli; un nappo di argento, di settanta sicli, a siclo di Santuario; amendue pieni di fior di farina, stemperata con olio, per offerta di panatica;

56 un turibolo d’oro, di dieci sicli, pien di profumo;

57 un giovenco, un montone, un agnello di un anno, per olocausto;

58 un becco, per sacrificio per lo peccato:

59 e, per sacrificio da render grazie, un par di buoi, cinque montoni, cinque becchi, e cinque agnelli di un anno. Questa fu l’offerta di Gamliel, figliuolo di Pedasur.

60 Il nono giorno, Abidan, figliuolo di Ghidoni, capo de’ figliuoli di Beniamino, offerse la sua offerta;

61 che fu: un piattel di argento, di peso di centrenta sicli; un nappo di argento, di settanta sicli, a siclo di Santuario; amendue pieni di fior di farina, stemperata con olio, per offerta di panatica;

62 un turibolo d’oro, di dieci sicli, pien di profumo;

63 un giovenco, un montone, un agnello di un anno, per olocausto;

64 un becco, per sacrificio per lo peccato:

65 e, per sacrificio da render grazie, un par di buoi, cinque montoni, cinque becchi, e cinque agnelli di un anno. Questa fu l’offerta di Abidan, figliuolo di Ghidoni.

66 Il decimo giorno, Ahiezer, figliuolo di Ammisaddai, capo de’ figliuoli di Dan, offerse la sua offerta;

67 che fu: un piattel di argento, di peso di centrenta sicli; un nappo di argento, di settanta sicli, a siclo di Santuario; amendue pieni di fior di farina, stemperata con olio, per offerta di panatica;

68 un turibolo d’oro, di dieci sicli, pien di profumo;

69 un giovenco, un montone, un agnello di un anno, per olocausto;

70 un becco, per sacrificio per lo peccato:

71 e, per sacrificio da render grazie, un par di buoi, cinque montoni, cinque becchi, e cinque agnelli di un anno. Questa fu l’offerta di Ahiezer, figliuolo di Ammisaddai.

72 L’undecimo giorno, Paghiel, figliuolo di Ocran, capo de’ figliuoli di Aser, offerse la sua offerta;

73 che fu: un piattel di argento, di peso di centrenta sicli; un nappo di argento, di settanta sicli, a siclo di Santuario; amendue pieni di fior di farina, stemperata con olio, per offerta di panatica;

74 un turibolo d’oro, di dieci sicli, pien di profumo;

75 un giovenco, un montone, un agnello di un anno, per olocausto;

76 un becco, per sacrificio per lo peccato:

77 e, per sacrificio da render grazie, un par di buoi, cinque montoni, cinque becchi, e cinque agnelli di un anno. Questa fu l’offerta di Paghiel, figliuolo di Ocran.

78 Il duodecimo giorno, Ahira, figliuolo di Enan, capo de’ figliuoli di Neftali, offerse la sua offerta;

79 che fu: un piattel di argento, di peso di centrenta sicli; un nappo di argento, di settanta sicli, a siclo di Santuario; amendue pieni di fior di farina, stemperata con olio, per offerta di panatica;

80 un turibolo d’oro, di dieci sicli, pien di profumo;

81 un giovenco, un montone, un agnello di un anno, per olocausto;

82 un becco, per sacrificio per lo peccato;

83 e, per sacrificio da render grazie, un par di buoi, cinque montoni, cinque becchi, e cinque agnelli di un anno. Questa fu l’offerta di Ahira, figliuolo di Enan.

84 Questa fu l’offerta della Dedicazione dell’Altare, nel giorno ch’esso fu unto, fatta da’ Capi d’Israele, cioè: dodici piattelli di argento, dodici nappi di argento, dodici turiboli d’oro.

85 Ciascun piattello di argento era di peso di centrenta sicli, e ciascun nappo di settanta; tutto l’argento di que’ vasellamenti era di duemila quattrocento sicli, a siclo di Santuario.

86 Ciascuno di que’ dodici turiboli d’oro, pieni di profumo, era di dieci sicli, a siclo di Santuario; tutto l’oro di que’ turiboli era cenventi sicli.

87 Tutti i buoi per olocausto erano dodici giovenchi; con dodici montoni, e dodici agnelli di un anno, e le loro offerte di panatica; vi erano anche dodici becchi, per sacrificio per lo peccato.

88 E tutti i buoi del sacrificio da render grazie erano ventiquattro giovenchi; con sessanta montoni, sessanta becchi, e sessanta agnelli di un anno. Questa fu l’offerta della Dedicazione dell’Altare, dopo che fu unto.

89 Or da indi innanzi, quando Mosè entrava nel Tabernacolo della convenenza, per parlar col Signore, egli udiva la voce che parlava a lui, d’in sul Coperchio ch’era sopra l’Arca della Testimonianza, di mezzo de’ due Cherubini; ed egli parlava a lui.

   


To many Protestant and Evangelical Italians, the Bibles translated by Giovanni Diodati are an important part of their history. Diodati’s first Italian Bible edition was printed in 1607, and his second in 1641. He died in 1649. Throughout the 1800s two editions of Diodati’s text were printed by the British Foreign Bible Society. This is the more recent 1894 edition, translated by Claudiana.

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Apocalypse Explained # 277

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277. And in the midst of the throne and around the throne were four animals, full of eyes before and behind, signifies the Lord's guard and providence that the interior heavens be not approached except by the good of love and charity, that lower things depending thereon may be in the order. This is evident from the signification of "out of the midst of the throne," as being from the Lord, for the "One sitting upon the throne" was the Lord (See above, n. 268); also from the signification of "around the throne," as being the interior or higher heavens, for these are most nearly around the Lord; also from the signification of "four animals," which were cherubim, as being the Divine guard and providence that the interior or higher heavens be not approached except from the good of love and charity (of which in what follows); also from the signification of "eyes," of which they were full before and behind, as being the Lord's Divine Providence; for "eyes," in reference to man, signify the understanding, which is his internal sight; but when "eyes" are predicated of God, they signify the Divine Providence (See above, n. 68, 152). And since "eyes" here signify the Lord's Divine Providence that the higher heavens be not approached except from the good of love and of charity, therefore these cherubim were seen "full of eyes before and behind."

On this providence of the Lord, lower things, which are the lower heavens and also the church on earth, depend, that they may be in order, because the influx of the Lord is both immediate from Himself, and also mediate through the higher heavens into the lower heavens and into the church; consequently unless the higher heavens were in order the lower could not be in order. (On this influx see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 277-278.)

[2] That by "the four animals" here cherubim are meant is evident in Ezekiel, by whom like things were seen at the river Chebar, which are described by him in chap. 1 and in chap. 10, and in the latter called "cherubim" (Ezekiel 10:1-2, 4-9, 14, 16, 18-19), and it is said of them:

The cherubim mounted up; these are the animals that I saw by the river Chebar. These are the animals that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubim (Ezekiel 10:15, 20).

These "four animals, that were cherubim," are thus described by that prophet:

Near the river Chebar appeared the likeness of four animals. This was their aspect: they had the likeness of a man, and each one had four faces, and each one of them had four wings. This was the likeness of their faces: the four of them had the face of a man and the face of a lion on the right side, and the four of them had the face of an ox on the left side, and the four of them had the face of an eagle. Their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of lamps; the same went up and down among the animals, so that the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. Over the heads of the animals was an expanse of the appearance of a wonderful crystal. Above the expanse which was over their head was as it were the appearance of a sapphire stone, the likeness of a throne; and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man upon it. From the appearance of his loins and downwards I saw as it were an appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about, as the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud; so was the appearance of the brightness of Jehovah round about; this appearance was the likeness of the glory of Jehovah (Ezekiel 1:5-6, 10, 13, 22, 26-28).

By these representatives the Divine of the Lord in the higher heavens, and His Providence that they be not approached except from the good of love and charity, are described; and in this description are contained all the things that are mentioned in this chapter of Revelation respecting the arrangement of the heavens, and signified by "the throne on which was One sitting in aspect like a jasper stone and a sardius;" also by the "rainbow round about the throne," by the "lamps of fire burning before the throne," and the other things which it is not necessary therefore to explain here singly.

[3] It shall now be shown merely that "cherubim" in the Word signify the guard and providence of the Lord that the higher heavens be not approached except from the good of love and charity, that lower things may be in order. This is plainly seen by the cherubim placed before the garden of Eden, when man was driven from it, which are thus described in Moses:

When Jehovah God had driven out the man, He made to dwell on the east of Eden the cherubim, and the flame of a sword turning hither and thither, to guard the way of the tree of life (Genesis 3:24).

What is meant by the "man" and "his wife" in these chapters may be seen explained in the Arcana Coelestia, namely, that "man" here means the Most Ancient Church, which was a celestial church; and the celestial is distinguished from the spiritual church in this, that the celestial church is in the good of love to the Lord, but the spiritual in the good of charity towards the neighbor (See in the work onHeaven and Hell 20-28). Of the men who constitute these two churches on the earth the two higher heavens are formed. When, therefore, the celestial church, which was the most ancient and primary church on this earth, declined and began to recede from the good of love, it is said that "cherubim were made to dwell on the east of Eden, and the flame of a sword turning hither and thither, to guard the way of the tree of life." The "east of Eden" signifies where the good of celestial love enters; "the flame of a sword turning hither and thither" signifies truth from that good, protecting; and "the tree of life" signifies the Divine that is from the Lord in the higher heavens, which is the good of love and charity and heavenly joy therefrom. From this it is clear that "cherubim" signify guards that these heavens be not approached except through the good of love and charity; for this reason they are also said "to guard the way of the tree of life." (That the "east" signifies the good of love, see Arcana Coelestia 1250, 3708; that "Eden" signifies wisdom therefrom, n. 99, 100; that "sword" signifies truth combating against falsity and dispersing it, thus truth protecting, above, n. 73, 131; that "flame" signifies truth from celestial good, Arcana Coelestia 3222, 6832, 9570; that "the tree of life" signifies the good of love from the Lord and the heavenly joy therefrom, see above, n. 109, 110.)

[4] Because of this signification of "cherubim," two cherubim of solid gold were placed upon the mercy-seat which was upon the ark, thus described in Moses:

Thou shalt make cherubim, of solid gold thou shalt make them, from the two ends of the mercy-seat; out of the mercy-seat thou shalt make the cherubim. And the cherubim shall spread out their wings upwards, covering the mercy-seat with their wings; towards the mercy-seat shall be the faces of the cherubim. And thou shalt put the mercy-seat upon the ark. And there I will meet with thee, and I will speak with thee between the two cherubim (Exodus 25:18-22; 37:7-9).

The "ark" and the "tent" represented the higher heavens; the "ark," in which was the testimony or law, represented the inmost or third heaven; the "tabernacle," which was without the veil, the middle or second heaven; the "mercy-seat" the hearing and reception of all things of worship which are from the good of love and charity; the "cherubim" guards; and the "gold," of which they were made the good of love. From this it is also clear that the "two cherubim" represented guards that the higher heavens be not approached except through the good of love and charity. (That the "tabernacle" in general represented heaven where the Lord is, see Arcana Coelestia 9457, 9481, 10545; the "ark" the inmost or third heaven, n. 3478, 9485; the "testimony or law in the ark," the Lord in respect to the Word, n. 3382, 6752, 7463; the "habitation," that was without the veil, the middle or second heaven, n. 3478, 9457, 9481, 9485, 9594, 9596, 9632; the "mercy-seat," the hearing and reception of all things of worship that are from the good of love and charity from the Lord, n. 9506; and "gold" the good of love, n. 113, 1551, 1552, 5658, 6914, 6917, 9510, 9874, 9881)

[5] Because "cherubim" signified those guards:

There were cherubim also upon the curtains of the tabernacle and upon the veil (Exodus 26:1, 31).

And for the same reason Solomon made in the oracle of the temple cherubim of olive wood, and set them in the midst of the interior house, and overlaid them with gold, and also carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubim, and also the doors (1 Kings 6:23-29, 32-35).

The "temple" also signified heaven and the church, and its "oracle" the inmost of heaven and the church. The "olive wood," of which the cherubim were made, signifies the good of love; likewise the "gold" with which they were overlaid. The "walls" on which the cherubim were engraved, signify the ultimates of heaven and of the church, and the "cherubim" thereon signify guards. The "doors," on which also there were cherubim, signify entrance into heaven and the church. From this it is clear that "cherubim" signified guards that heaven be not approached except through the good of love and charity. And as "cherubim" signified such guards they also signify the Lord's Divine Providence, for these guards are from the Lord, and are His Divine Providence. (That the "temple" and the "house of God" signify heaven and the church, see above, n. 220; the "oracle" therefore signifies the inmost of these. That "olive wood" signifies the good of love, see Arcana Coelestia 886[1-2], 3728, 4582, 9780, 9954, 10261; likewise "gold," see above, n. 242. That "doors" signify approach and admission, see also above, n. 248)

[6] The new temple is likewise described as ornamented with cherubim, of which in Ezekiel:

There were made cherubim and palm-trees, so that a palm-tree was between a cherub and a cherub; thus it was made for all the house round about, from the ground unto above the door were cherubim and palm-trees made; and the wall of the temple (Ezekiel 41:18-20).

"Palm tree" signifies spiritual good which is the good of charity (See Arcana Coelestia 8369).

[7] Since Divine truth from Divine good is what protects, therefore the king of Tyre is called a "cherub;" for "king" signifies Divine truth, and "Tyre" knowledges; and therefore the "king of Tyre" signifies intelligence, of whom it is thus written in Ezekiel:

Thou, King of Tyre, hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering. Thou cherub, the spreading out of one that protects, I have set thee, on God's mountain of holiness wast thou; thou hast walked in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways in 1 the day that thou wast created (Ezekiel 28:12-16).

(That "king" signifies Divine truth, see above, n. 31; and "Tyre" knowledges, Arcana Coelestia 1201. That "precious stones" signify the truths and goods of heaven and the church, see n. 9863, 9865, 9868, 9873, 9905, which are called "stones of fire" because "fire" signifies the good of love, see n. 934, 4906, 5215, 6314, 6832.) Because the "king of Tyre" signifies intelligence from Divine truth, and this guards or protects, therefore the king of Tyre is called "a cherub, the spreading out of one that protects."

[8] Since the higher heavens cannot be approached except through the good of love and charity, that is, cannot be approached through worship and through prayers, except such as proceed from that good, therefore the Lord spoke with Moses and Aaron when they entered the habitation between the two cherubim that were upon the ark (Exodus 25:22). This also is made evident in Moses:

When Moses went into the tent of meeting, he heard the Voice speaking unto him from above the mercy-seat that was upon the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim (Numbers 7:89).

Because it is the Divine proceeding from the Lord that provides and guards, therefore it is said of the Lord that:

He sitteth upon the cherubim (Isaiah 37:16; Psalms 18:9-10; 80:1; 99:1; 1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2).

[9] Since the arrangement of all things for judgment is treated of in this chapter, the cherubim also are here treated of, that is, the Lord's guard and providence that the higher heavens be not approached except through the good of love and charity; for unless this had been done before the judgment, the veriest heavens, in which the true angels are, would have been endangered, because those heavens that were about to perish (See Revelation 21:1) were not in the good of love and charity, but only in some truths. For there were there from the Christian world those who were in the doctrine of faith alone, which some had confirmed by a number of passages from the Word, and thus obtained some conjunction with the ultimate heaven; but this conjunction was broken when the heaven called the former heaven (Revelation 21:1) was dissipated; and it was then ordered by the Lord that hereafter no one shall be conjoined with the heavens unless he be in the good of love to the Lord and in charity towards the neighbor. This is what is specifically meant by the things that now follow in this chapter. Whoever, therefore, believes that the heavens can hereafter be approached through the worship and prayers of those who are in faith alone, and not at the same time in the good of charity, is much mistaken. The worship of such is no longer received, nor are their prayers heard, but attention is directed only to their life's love. Those, therefore, in whom the love of self and the world rules, no matter in what external worship they may have been, are conjoined to the hells, and are also taken there after death, and not previously to any heaven that is to perish, as was the case hitherto.

Poznámky pod čarou:

1. For "in the day" the Hebrew has "from the day," as also found in Arcana Coelestia 114.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.

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Numbers 8

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1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "Speak to Aaron, and tell him, 'When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.'"

3 Aaron did so. He lit its lamps to light the area in front of the lampstand, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

4 This was the workmanship of the lampstand, beaten work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was beaten work: according to the pattern which Yahweh had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.

5 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

6 "Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.

7 You shall do this to them, to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of cleansing on them, let them shave their whole bodies with a razor, and let them wash their clothes, and cleanse themselves.

8 Then let them take a young bull, and its meal offering, fine flour mixed with oil; and another young bull you shall take for a sin offering.

9 You shall present the Levites before the Tent of Meeting. You shall assemble the whole congregation of the children of Israel.

10 You shall present the Levites before Yahweh. The children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites,

11 and Aaron shall offer the Levites before Yahweh for a wave offering, on the behalf of the children of Israel, that it may be theirs to do the service of Yahweh.

12 "The Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and you shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering to Yahweh, to make atonement for the Levites.

13 You shall set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them as a wave offering to Yahweh.

14 Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine.

15 "After that, the Levites shall go in to do the service of the Tent of Meeting: and you shall cleanse them, and offer them as a wave offering.

16 For they are wholly given to me from among the children of Israel; instead of all who open the womb, even the firstborn of all the children of Israel, I have taken them to me.

17 For all the firstborn among the children of Israel are mine, both man and animal. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified them for myself.

18 I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel.

19 I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the Tent of Meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel; that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come near to the sanctuary."

20 Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel did so to the Levites. According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so the children of Israel did to them.

21 The Levites purified themselves from sin, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them for a wave offering before Yahweh; and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them.

22 After that, the Levites went in to do their service in the Tent of Meeting before Aaron, and before his sons: as Yahweh had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.

23 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

24 "This is that which belongs to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall go in to wait on the service in the work of the Tent of Meeting;

25 and from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting on the work, and shall serve no more,

26 but shall minister with their brothers in the Tent of Meeting, to perform the duty, and shall do no service. You shall do thus to the Levites concerning their duties."