18
And I have taken the Levites in place of all of the sons who are born first in Israel.
Numbers 8:18 Meaning and Commentary
Numbers 8:18
And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel. ] Gave up his right in the firstborn, and instead of them took the Levites for his use and service: see ( Numbers 3:12 ) .
16
They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me. I have taken them as my own in place of the firstborn, the first male offspring from every Israelite woman.
17
Every firstborn male in Israel, whether human or animal, is mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set them apart for myself.
18
And I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons in Israel.
19
From among all the Israelites, I have given the Levites as gifts to Aaron and his sons to do the work at the tent of meeting on behalf of the Israelites and to make atonement for them so that no plague will strike the Israelites when they go near the sanctuary.”
20
Moses, Aaron and the whole Israelite community did with the Levites just as the LORD commanded Moses.