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.

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.

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.

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.

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 will not build the temple. Instead, your son will build the temple for my Name. He is your own flesh and blood.’

“ Have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites. His sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar must also be brought. They will serve me as priests.

That’s because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in Abraham’s body.

I also learned that the shares the Levites were supposed to receive hadn’t been given to them. So all the Levites and musicians had to leave their regular temple duties. They had to go back and farm their own fields.

And no one can take this honor for himself. Instead, he receives it when he is appointed by God. That is just how it was for Aaron.

The total number of Jacob’s children and grandchildren was 70. Joseph was already in Egypt.

He has already brought you and all the other Levites near him. But now you want to be priests too.You and all your followers have joined together against the Lord. Why are you telling Aaron you aren’t happy with him?”

God said to him,“ I am the Mighty God. Have children so that there will be many of you. You will become the father of a nation and a community of nations. Your later family will include kings.

But only you and your sons can serve as priests. Only you and your sons can work with everything at the altar and behind the curtain. I am letting you serve as priests. It is a gift from me. Anyone else who comes near the sacred tent must be put to death.”

Hezekiah gave an order to the people who were living in Jerusalem. He commanded them to give to the priests and Levites the share they owed them. Then the priests and Levites could give their full attention to the Law of the Lord.The order went out. Right away the people of Israel began to give freely. They gave the first share of the harvest of their grain, fresh wine, olive oil and honey. They also gave the first share of everything else their fields produced. They brought a large amount. It was a tenth of everything.Here is what the people of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah brought. They brought a tenth of their herds and flocks. They also brought a tenth of the holy things they had set apart to the Lord their God. They put them in piles.

“‘ A tenth of everything the land produces belongs to the Lord. That includes grain from the soil and fruit from the trees. It is holy. It is set apart for him.Suppose someone wants to buy back some of their tenth. Then they must add a fifth of the cost to it.Every tenth part of herds and flocks will be holy. They will be set apart for the Lord. That includes every tenth animal that its shepherd marks with his wooden staff.No one may pick out the good animals from the bad. They must not choose one animal instead of another. But if anyone does, both animals become holy. They can’t be bought back.’ ”

“ The Israelites will give me a tenth of everything they produce. And I will give it to the Levites. They serve at the tent of meeting. I will give them the tenth for the work they do there.From now on the Israelites must not go near the tent of meeting. If they do, they will be punished for their sin. They will die.The Levites will do the work at the tent of meeting. They will be responsible for any sins connected with the tent. This is a law that will last for all time to come. The Levites will not receive any share among the Israelites.Instead, I will give the Levites the tenth as their share. It is the tenth that the Israelites bring me as an offering. That is why I said the Levites would not have any share of land among the Israelites.”The Lord said to Moses,“ Speak to the Levites. Say to them,‘ You will receive the tenth from the Israelites. I will give it to you as your share. When I do, you must give a tenth of that tenth as an offering to the Lord.Your offering will be considered as if you gave grain from a threshing floor. It will be considered as juice from a winepress.In that way, you also will bring an offering to the Lord. You will bring it from the tenth you receive from the Israelites. You must give the Lord’ s part to the priest Aaron. You must bring it from the tenth you receive.You must bring to the Lord a part of everything given to you. It must be the best and holiest part.’“ Say to the Levites,‘ You must bring the best part. Then it will be considered as if you gave grain from a threshing floor. It will be considered as juice from a winepress.You and your families can eat the rest of it anywhere. It is your pay for your work at the tent of meeting.Bring the best part of what you receive. Then you will not be guilty of holding anything back. You will not make the holy offerings of the Israelites“ unclean.” You will not die.’ ”

The total number of people who went to Egypt with Jacob was 66. That number includes only his own children and grandchildren. It doesn’t include his sons’ wives or his grandsons’ wives.

Write Aaron’s name on Levi’s walking stick. There must be one stick for the head of each of Israel’s tribes.Put the walking sticks in the tent of meeting. Place them in front of the ark where the tablets of the covenant law are kept. That is where I meet with you.The walking stick that belongs to the man I choose will begin to grow new shoots. The Israelites are never happy with what you do. I will put an end to what they are saying.”So Moses spoke to the Israelites. Their leaders gave him 12 walking sticks. They gave one for the leader of each of Israel’s tribes. Aaron’s walking stick was among them.Moses put the sticks in front of the Lord in the tent where the tablets of the covenant law were kept.The next day Moses entered the tent. He looked at Aaron’s walking stick. It stood for the tribe of Levi. Moses saw that it had begun to grow new shoots. It had also produced buds and flowers and almonds.Then Moses brought out all the walking sticks from in front of the Lord. He brought them to all the Israelites. They looked at them. And each man took his own walking stick.The Lord said to Moses,“ Put Aaron’s walking stick back in front of the ark where the tablets of the covenant law are kept. The stick will be kept there as a warning to those who refuse to obey. They are never happy with what I do. Aaron’s walking stick will put an end to what they are saying. Then they will not die.”