The Seven Lamps
(Exodus 25:31-40)
1And the LORDspakeunto Moses,saying,2Speakunto Aaron,and sayunto him, When thou lightestthe lamps,the sevenlampsshall give lightover againstthe candlestick.3And Aarondidso; he lightedthe lampsthereof over againstthe candlestick,as the LORDcommandedMoses.4And this workof the candlestick[was of] beatengold,unto the shaftthereof, unto the flowersthereof, [was] beaten work:according unto the patternwhich the LORDhad shewedMoses,so he madethe candlestick.
Cleansing the Levites
5And the LORDspakeunto Moses,saying,6Takethe Levitesfrom amongthe childrenof Israel,and cleansethem.7And thus shalt thou dounto them, to cleansethem: Sprinklewaterof purifyingupon them, and let them shaveall their flesh,and let them washtheir clothes,and [so] make themselves clean.8Then let them takea youngbullockwith his meat offering,[even] fine flourmingledwith oil,and anotheryoungbullockshalt thou takefor a sin offering.9And thou shalt bringthe Levitesbeforethe tabernacleof the congregation:and thou shalt gatherthe whole assemblyof the childrenof Israeltogether:10And thou shalt bringthe Levitesbeforethe LORD:and the childrenof Israelshall puttheir handsupon the Levites:11And Aaronshall offerthe Levitesbeforethe LORD[for] an offeringof the childrenof Israel,that they may executethe serviceof the LORD.12And the Levitesshall laytheir handsupon the headsof the bullocks:and thou shalt offerthe one[for] a sin offering,and the other[for] a burnt offering,unto the LORD,to make an atonementfor the Levites.13And thou shalt setthe LevitesbeforeAaron,and beforehis sons,and offerthem [for] an offeringunto the LORD.
14Thus shalt thou separatethe Levitesfrom amongthe childrenof Israel:and the Levitesshall be mine.15And afterthat shall the Levitesgo into do the serviceof the tabernacleof the congregation:and thou shalt cleansethem, and offerthem [for] an offering.16For they [are] wholly givenunto me from amongthe childrenof Israel;instead of such as openevery womb,[even instead of] the firstbornof all the childrenof Israel,have I takenthem unto me.17For all the firstbornof the childrenof Israel[are] mine, [both] manand beast:on the daythat I smoteevery firstbornin the landof EgyptI sanctifiedthem for myself.18And I have takenthe Levitesfor all the firstbornof the childrenof Israel.19And I have giventhe Levites[as] a giftto Aaronand to his sonsfrom amongthe childrenof Israel,to dothe serviceof the childrenof Israelin the tabernacleof the congregation,and to make an atonementfor the childrenof Israel:that there be no plagueamong the childrenof Israel,when the childrenof Israelcome nighunto the sanctuary.
20And Moses,and Aaron,and all the congregationof the childrenof Israel,didto the Levitesaccording unto all that the LORDcommandedMosesconcerning the Levites,so didthe childrenof Israelunto them.21And the Leviteswere purified,and they washedtheir clothes;and Aaronofferedthem [as] an offeringbeforethe LORD;and Aaronmade an atonementfor them to cleansethem.22And afterthat wentthe Levitesin to dotheir servicein the tabernacleof the congregationbeforeAaron,and beforehis sons:as the LORDhad commandedMosesconcerning the Levites,so didthey unto them.
Retirement for Levites
23And the LORDspakeunto Moses,saying,24This [is it] that [belongeth] unto the Levites:from twentyand fiveyearsoldand upwardthey shall go into waitupon the serviceof the tabernacleof the congregation:25And from the ageof fiftyyearsthey shall ceasewaitingupon the service[thereof], and shall serveno more:26But shall ministerwith their brethrenin the tabernacleof the congregation,to keepthe charge,and shall dono service.Thus shalt thou dounto the Levitestouching their charge.
